Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the words. Oh, except for the names. I hate disclaimers.

A/N: This teeny tiny little fic is just to force myself back into writing. It's kind of all over the place, but I think I rather like it. Feedback would be much appreciated, as I haven't ever really posted any of my fics before. Also: yeah, sorry the title sucks. I couldn't think of anything.

Shining Moments

It's been months, now, and I still don't know him, not really.

Actually, that's a bit of a lie.

He's familiar, on the surface, at least.

I know every aspect of his body...intimately.

He comforts me and scares me, with his touch, his smell; with his moments of cool indifference, simmering, raw anger, and rare moments of undisguised tenderness.

He must have loved his father, I know. He has revealed to me, on occasion, the strange dynamic they had. He was raised to respect, and respect is love. I can see clearly in my mind, Lucius taking his tow-headed little boy and imposing upon him his beliefs, his values. Power, money, self-preservation, and - the thing that perhaps shaped him the most - pride. Violence, only when necessary. Composure, always.

It was the only thing he'd ever known, and it still shows. He's insufferable, a lot of the time, and I hate how he's so calm when I lose control and just want to wring his neck.

But like I said before, he has his shining moments, ones where he's revealed to me.

And I can't reach out and just know him.

Because he won't let me. And I am forced to just revel in the closeness, and allow him his distance the rest of the time.

All of this runs through my head now, as he reaches out to pull me to his embrace. I lean against his shoulder, and we stare into flickering flames, and we are warmed by the heat. I sink into the carpet and into him, and close my eyes.

Maybe I do know him.