Chapter 4: It's Me or Him
Summary: Lance Proudfoot has been in love with Tonks since they met in Auror training and finally takes his shot. Remus is secretly jealous, but still denies his love for Tonks. She's sick of his stubborn nature...will Tonks choose Proudfoot?
Author's Note: Chapter 4 as promised...yes, and that means more sxc Lance!
Disclaimer: No ownage here.
'Yes, Arthur what is his name and address again?' Remus asked hastily as he anxiously wrote things down on parchment.
'Lance Dillon Proudfoot, 6/142 Figaro Avenue London...' Arthur Weasley replied, scratching his head bamboozled. As Remus quickly scribbled the details onto the paper, Arthur declared,
'Remus, I still don't know why you want to know everything about this Auror.'
'Hmpfh...?' Remus managed to reply as he ignored the comment and continued to write a few more words on the parchment. He then leapt out of his chair and dropped a few files before Arthur. Patting him on the back, Remus bolted out of the office as fast as he could.
'This is it,' Tonks told herself before approaching the door on which she exerted a few very loud knocks. For a split second, Tonks stressed over the possibility that Lance would not answer the door; but the squeaking sound of the knob turning brought her back to reality. She braced herse;f as a defeated and sickly looking expression faced her. A cosmic moment passed as Lance Proudfoot jolted in complete shock at the presence of Nymphadora after their last meeting. His jaw dropped slightly, exacerbating his inability to release sound from his voice box. Tonks took the initiative to break the silence.
'Lance, we...uh,' she began, fiddling with her loose strands of hair. '...need to t-talk.'
Words still failed to leave Lance's cracked lips which starkly exposed his tear worn eyes. It felt like hours as Tonks entered his apartment and seated herself timidly on the leather sofa. Still shocked at the arrival of his visitor, Lance finally managed to utter amidst the awkward silence,
'Nymphadora...I'--
'No Lance, please...let me talk,' she interjected. She then clasped her hands before continuing,
'I...I don't want...you to be w-wallowing in pain. Lance, I...really want to get through this.'
Lance looked as if he just got slapped in the face. His dark eyebrows furrowed as he cried,
'Get through this? Get THROUGH...Tonks! If oh-so-lovely Remus told YOU that he never saw you that way then... what the HELL would you...bloody hell, Tonks!' Tonks bit her lip in hurt as he stood up and vented his frustrations pacing the room covering his eyes, breathing deeply.
'Lance...' Tonks began.
'NO! You don't understand what I'm going through, so you have no right to come here and lecture me! So just go!' Lance interrupted furiously, turning his back on her. Tonks sported a deep frown and got to her feet before she exclaimed,
'LANCE! I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU! I AM TRYING TO HEAL WHATEVER IS LEFT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP'--
'WHAT RELATIONSHIP?' He bellowed back. 'TONKS WE HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP! AND YOU WANTING TO HELP ME IS ABSURD! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO NEEDS HELP'--
'Lance!' Tonks pleaded. Lance pursed his lips before continuing in a low, raspy voice,
'Let's see what problems you are in! Hmm...say, has Remus given in yet? Or... are you STILL on square one?! Oh yes! He's still fucking around with you!'
'L-Lance!!' Tonks whispered, tears swelling in her eyes. She tried to hide them by turning away, but Lance turned her around with his consoling arm. She attempted to look away, but he cupped her left cheek with his right hand and pulled her face so close to his that her gleaming eyes and reddened nose was so close to his face that they almost touched.
'Lance, please...' she whispered pleadingly. His dark blue eyes also began swimming in tears while he replied,
'F-forget him...and take me.'
And with that, Lance pulled her into a needing kiss. Fingers tangled in hair, bodies joined at the hips; the only space between then was the quarter centimetre distance between their feet. Lance's lips clung to Tonks' with evident urgency, like there was no tomorrow. Although she tried to deny it, Tonks was tired of Remus' aversion and just as enthusiastically enjoyed her passionate embrace with Lance. Lance's fingers slowly moved from Tonks' short brown locks to the back of her neck and made their way to the small of her back. Exerting a soft whimper, Tonks wrapped her arms around Lance's neck and hugged him closer, tears streaming from her tightly shut eyes. Although he remained in bliss, Lance knew in the back of his head that Tonks would pull away and make him wish they never touched. And soon enough, Tonks' did release herself from him coldly before muttering,
'We...We can't...'
Lance winced in pain from her words, his body still in embracing position; worsening his hurt expression. Suddenly, Tonks gasped and covered her mouth.
'Remus!' she cried, pointing at the figure of Remus Lupin which lurked by the ajar front door. His expression looked confused, but the lines on his face expressed the disbelief and heartbreak consuming him...until his temperature began to rise and his ferocious qualities began to show. Lance and Tonks stared at him in fear and surprise as he removed his wand from his coat pocket. Instinctively, Lance tried to protect Tonks by positioning half of his body before her. While Tonks looked guilty, Remus and Lance glared at each other with the same repressed hate. Remus stepped inside the apartment and pointed his wand directly at the glaring Lance.
'Remus! What are you...' Tonks began.
'Remove your wand, Proudfoot,' Remus ordered, ignoring Tonks' interjection. Lance smirked as he took out his own wand, keeping his gaze at Remus.
'I'm happy to destroy my place, but would you like to settle this anywhere else old man Lupin?' Lance asked cockily. Tonks swallowed as a million thoughts crossed her head on how to stop the conflict. Remus fumed in anger before replying,
'I know an appropriate place.' And within seconds, Tonks saw Lance and Remus disapparate without warning.
Author's Note: Sorry it was a bit short. And peoples! So many of u are adding this to ur story alert/fave list but ur NOT reviewing! c'mon! tell me what u think! I want to know! Just takes 10 seconds!