Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenge list at the bottom.
A Surprise Celebration
"Where did you get those brooms from?" Bella asked, smirking as Rod handed one to her, arranging his bag on his back as soon as she took it.
He just raised his eyebrow at her. "Where d'ya think?" he asked, nodding his head to the house behind him. "We should go, I don't fancy a jaunt with the Auror's tonight."
"You sure?" Bella asked, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "A nice battle for our lives could break up the monotony nicely."
"We've a job to do, Bella. Let's go."
She muttered under her breath but mounted the broom, taking off as soon as he nodded at her. Bellatrix wasn't one to follow orders, but she trusted her husband like she trusted nobody else, and she knew he was doing what he could to keep them free.
Freedom was a luxury that they were holding onto by a thread.
Rodolphus flew behind his wife, glancing around them to make sure they weren't being followed. They were travelling cross country and while he wasn't a fan of flying, he knew should they apparate or floo, they would be tracked and traced within minutes.
He knew that they would be caught eventually. Freedom was an illusion, had been from the moment they'd tortured their first victim, but he wanted to give Bellatrix all she wanted, and he knew Freedom was what she cherished the most.
That and an ample supply of victims.
They flew for hours, Bella slightly in front so that Rod could keep his eye on her, until the dawn started to break around them. Taking to the ground in a heavily covered forest, Rodolphus pulled a tent from his backpack, throwing it to the ground.
He was beyond grateful that it was a magical tent, as it erected under its own power, quickly building itself up into a shelter for the night.
Rodolphus gestured Bella to proceed him into the tent.
She was twirling her wand in between her fingers as he followed her, and he barely held back his sigh. He knew she was missing using her magic, but it wasn't safe for them at the moment.
Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her into his chest, pressing his lips to her neck.
"One day, darling, one day we'll make them all sorry for making us hide away like this. I swear it to you."
Bella gripped his robe between her fingers, dropping her wand. "Make me feel, Rod."
They lay under plain sheets, the sweat cooling on their worked bodies, Bellatrix resting her head on her husbands chest.
"Happy birthday, Rod."
He squeezed her tighter. He hadn't expected her to remember.
"We'll make up for the lack of real celebration next year," she murmured into his skin.
Rod smirked. Bella's idea of a celebration tended to involve a lot of blood and copious use of Cruciatus. He was about to reply when the faint cracks of apparition were heard all around the tent.
Their eyes met, and they smiled simultaneously.
"Well. Perhaps we can celebrate after all."
Written for;
Showtime - 10. Only Us - Only two characters can be mentioned
Yule Ball - 25. Something that only happens once a year.
WC, Book Club - Penny: (word) illusion, (word) plain, (character) Bellatrix Lestrange
Buttons - Rodolphus Lestrange
Stickers - Transportation - Hogwarts Express - Write about a long journey across the country
Insane House Challenge - 50. Rodolphus Lestrange
Dragon Appreciation Month - WC - 512
Writing Month - WC - 512