Tangled Web: KingsleyAmelia
Word Count: 743
"You know how inappropriate this is," Amelia murmurs as she locks the door behind them. "I'm your boss, for Merlin's sake."
Kingsley laughs. "More than that."
It isn't fair that they're suddenly expected to drop everything simply because she's been promoted. They've been lovers for too long, and Kingsley can't bring himself to just give that up.
"Is it inappropriate to flirt with you?" he teases.
Amelia chuckles and shakes her head, slipping out of his grip. She offers him an amused smile. "You have more on your mind than just flirting," she says, fingers fidgeting with the pale pink stone in her necklace. "We shouldn't…"
He grins and leans in, stealing a quick kiss. "I know. That's what makes it fun."
He's all talk, of course. At the end of the day, he would never cross any lines. Still, teasing her is too fun. Kingsley loves the way she blushes and becomes flustered so easily.
"Get back to work," she says with a laugh. "That's an order."
Kingsley stands in the empty office, his heart heavy. Amelia should be here, but she will never sit in that seat again.
He swallows dryly and walks around. No one has cleaned it out yet. Kingsley supposes her brother will be by soon enough. Somehow, it just feels wrong to know that her things will be taken away.
"I miss her too."
He looks over his shoulder, surprised. John hadn't made a sound when he'd come in. His lips quirk, but Kingsley can't bring himself to smile. "What do we do?"
John moves closer, standing at Kingsley's side. "Is there anything we can do? I mean, aside from finding the bastards who did this."
There's that, of course, but it isn't enough. Kingsley wonders if anything will ever be enough to make things feel even halfway okay again.
John rests a hand on his shoulder. "Get some rest, mate."
...
"You look absolutely beautiful," he says, watching as Amelia places freshly-picked flowers in the vase on the dining room table.
She looks up at him, grinning. "Oh?" Amelia steps forward, reaching out for him. "I haven't changed anything."
"Exactly. You always look beautiful." He holds her close, leading her in a slow dance in the middle of the dining room. There's no music, but he doesn't need it. "I was thinking maybe we could go to Paris next weekend. What do you think?"
They always make plans, but it always falls through somehow. By now, Kingsley thinks it's almost like an inside joke between them. If they don't plan some extravagant escape, something isn't right.
This house feels colder without her. Kingsley sits at the table, his stomach tying itself into painful knots. The flowers have wilted and died, but he can't bring himself to throw them out.
He holds a photograph in his hands. Amelia looks up at him, smiling and laughing. Though she had such a stern persona at work, Kingsley had known the real Amelia. There had been countless days of laughter and joy.
And now that's gone.
"We should have gone to Paris," he sighs. "I regret that."
He's spent so much time trying to be strong, but he's breaking down. It hurts too much, and everything reminds him of her.
Kingsley slumps forward, his cheek resting against the photograph. He has to find his strength. It's what she would have wanted.
…
"Are you happy?" he asks as they sit together, enjoying their wine.
Amelia glances up from the book that rests in her lap. "Incredibly," she answers. She never has to pause or think; Kingsley has always loved that about her.
He leans back, lifting his glass to his lips and sipping. "Good," he says when sets the glass aside once more.
"I think you would be happy," he tells the photograph as he reaches the Eiffel Tower. "Paris is beautiful, but it would have been better with you here."
He sets the photograph at the base of the tower and pauses. They had so many big plans. Maybe, if the world hadn't been so cruel, they could have had a chance to make them happen.
For now, all Kingsley can do is make those trips on his own, leaving photos of the woman he loved at each monument. If only she could have been here while she was alive. However, Kingsley is content to honor her memory now. He will carry her in his heart, and he will live.
