This story was written for The Multi-Ship Challenge by Elizabeth Blossom on HPFC. The prompt was Neville/Daphne and 'Mexico.'
so do i
"Let's run away," Daphne said, lifting her head from where it rested against his chest.
Neville's eyebrows rose slightly as he lifted his own head to meet her gaze.
"Oh?" he said. "And where exactly would we go?"
"Anywhere," she responded, settling back down. Neville's hand went back to her hair, rhythmically running through the strands. "Let's go to… Mexico."
"Mexico, yeah?" Neville said, fighting to hold in a bout of laughter at the strange answer.
"Well, I guess it doesn't have to be Mexico," Daphne conceded, "but it does have to be far away… and exotic."
"Ah, yes, Mexico is very exotic," Neville said, trying to keep a straight face.
"I said it doesn't have to be Mexico!"
"Where else if not Mexico?" Neville teased.
"Greece would be lovely, or Bulgaria, or the Netherlands, or Madagascar – now that's definitely exotic – or—"
"What's this sudden fascination with anywhere other than where we are right now?" Neville said.
Daphne sighed, burying her head further into his chest.
"Here, no matter how hard we may try not to be, we are on different sides. We are constantly being pulled apart. Anywhere else, we would be free to make our own choices, choose our sides and our destinies and who we want to spend tomorrow and every day after with."
Neville watched as her forehead scrunched up in distress.
"I want that," she finished quietly.
Neville (not quite knowing how to fix her, how to put her back together again, how to make her strong, stronger than she was now, as strong as she was before) merely let his head fall back onto the pillow and whispered three words that meant nothing in that moment and yet meant everything.
"So do I."