Promises of the Future
(A Rose/Scorpius story)
By Hondagirl
He wants her.
He needs her.
From the shadows he watches her. Her cheeks flushed with happiness, her eyes bright with laughter. The sunlight glitters off her auburn hair, creating a halo around her angelic face.
He wants her in a way he's never wanted anything else.
The festivities continue around him but Scorpius pays them no mind. All he can see is her. All he can focus on is her.
It takes all his will not to leave the shadows and touch. To yield to the rise in his blood and the primitive ache in his heart that demands he claim her for his own.
But he doesn't dare.
He has no right to this girl, nay woman, who belongs to another. No right to a woman whose heart is entrusted to someone else. No right at all.
But none of that matters to his heart. For the mind cannot override the heart.
She can feel him. His eyes on her.
Watching, waiting.
She smiles softly as she moves throughout the children, helping the younger ones with painting their Easter Eggs. A sigh escapes her lips as she feels an arm encircled her waist. Warm air tickles her ear as he whispers softly, "Miss me?"
Rose turns around to gaze into warm brown eyes. Her heart leaps as he leans forward to capture her mouth in a kiss, his warm hands coming up to cup her face.
He kissed her softly, almost preciously and then draws back, his eyes never leaving hers. At that moment everyone else fades away and no one exists but them. And their love.
She loves him. Him alone. She believes he is the only one for her. They are just 17.
The horn sounds, signaling the start of the hunt and efficiently bringing them out of their trance. She laughs as he takes her hand, dragging her with him as they start to run. They run together. As one.
They pass by a tree where a lone figure stands, half hidden in the shadows. Rose glances over as they pass.
His face comes out of the shadows and for a span of a second, brown eyes meet grey. And at that moment, all the promises of the future are revealed.
Two years later she's back. This time alone.
Her feels lonely, her arms empty.
She shivers in the warm sunlight, unconsciously rubbing her arms.
She tries to smile at the children, holding their eggs up for her to see but she can't. Her facial muscles are stiff, unyielding. She doubts she can smile at anyone.
She wonders if she will be able to again.
She tries not to give into the sobs that have been threatening to overtake her, tries to be strong. But sometimes she's sick of being so bloody strong.
She walks past the sympathetic stares of her family and friends, knowing that while they mean well, it doesn't help. It only makes things worse. For nothing they say or do makes the pain go away. They can't bring him back. They can't bring her back.
They can't bring them back.
She wanders towards the lake and stars idly at her reflection, wondering who the face is staring back at her. Wondering what went wrong.
She feels alone. Like half of her is missing. She wonders how long this feeling will last.
Her eyes prickle with tears and she bows her head, finally giving into them. Her body shakes silently with sobs as she crumbles to the ground, not caring if anyone is watching. For she has no choice but to give into the pain, give into the tears.
She has to let go.
He sees her.
A lonely figure on the edge of the lake. All alone in a world full of people.
He halts, unsure of what to do.
The urge to hold her, comfort her, astonishes him. It's not in his nature.
But she has a way of bringing out emotions in him that no one else can.
She is crying. Not loud sobs, just quiet tears that slip down her face and quietly break his heart.
He has never felt so helpless in his life.
He wishes he could do something, anything. Even if it would take her pain away for just a second.
He would do it.
The noise of the hunt behind him quiets as walks towards her.
Her silhouette is heartbreaking. She sits hunched, curled into herself as if trying to disappear. The once vibrant and exuberant girl he once knew is no longer.
Her light is dimmed.
And he hates it.
He doesn't know what to say, he doesn't know what to do but the need to soothe her consumes him.
He wants to bring her back.
She wipes her damp cheeks with her hand as she ceases crying.
She feels a tad bit better.
She needed that cry.
A shadow falls over her and she looks up, confused to see an old classmate standing there.
Her confusion turns to amusement as he holds out a hankie in one hand, and a bottle of Firewhiskey in the other.
She chuckles, the noise sounding ill used in her throat.
He plops himself down next to her as she takes the hankie.
She feels calmer, more peaceful with him by her side.
There is silence for awhile. A comfortable silence that is only broken by the sound of the bottle being open.
She looks over and for a span of a second, brown eyes meet grey.
And at that moment, all the promises of the future are revealed.