This chapter is kind of short, mainly because it concludes Phase 1 of this story. The groundwork for the next two parts has been laid - Phase 2 will be dealing with a ton of changes and transitions, and things will really rev up in Phase 2. For now, enjoy this short filler, and I'll see you guys again next month!
People are usually so predictable.
After a good while of star-gazing, Tom notices his companion's figure droop, eyes fighting the exhaustion so clear on her body. "Kate," he murmurs, lightly tapping her leg to break her out of her stupor, "you need to get to bed." That doesn't do the trick, so Tom loudly snaps his fingers, shaking her off her sleepy tracks.
She apologises, profusely rubbing her eyes as he discards the apple cores in a nearby bush and slowly hoists her to her feet. Once the coast is completely clear, they Apparate into their bedroom. The journey has forced her into being wide awake, but the way she slumps shows the weariness.
"Shower first, then bed," he instructs, and Merlin knows how much he hates babying people. It is a different thing to order people around, and another to baby them, and the latter is simply a tad too annoying for him to do it successfully. Kate kicks her shoes off and peels off her socks, but beyond that shows no inclination to do as he says. "All right then," he mutters under his breath, taking her by the hand into the bathroom.
"What are you doing?"
"We're getting in the shower." That seems to fully bring her to the land of the waking.
"We're doing what now?"
"We both need a shower, you more than I." She steps under the shower head and turns it on, a defiant glint in her eyes as the water soaks her, clothes and all. He follows suit, slipping off his shoes and socks as he enters, pressured beams of warm water soaking him through. A minute passes after which she undoes her hair, letting the water turn it into a sheet of black around her, eyes still trained on him with a piercing gaze, and Tom finds himself taking off his t-shirt, the item of clothing discarded by his feet as the water now runs down his bare torso. She is still looking at him with that inscrutable expression, stepping forward until their noses touch, beads of water resting upon this new bridge created.
"Now give me the shampoo bottle, and get out." Of all the outcomes he had predicted, this was not one of them. He does as asked, quickly exiting the bathroom, sopping wet. In the while she takes to shower, Tom analyses the odd series of events from just moments before. Puzzlement turns to appreciation as he sees it for the power play it is, and rather than being angry at the switch in their dynamic, he feels a surge of mild admiration. I chose the right witch to pursue - if all goes to plan, she will be a force worth fearing.
The door suddenly opens, and dry clothes and a fresh towel go flying from the cupboard into the bathroom, Kate emerging a few minutes later clothed and dried, jabbing a thumb in the direction she came from and he quickly follows, the warm shower soothing his tense back.
She's in bed when he returns, eyes fixed upon an old copy of Transfiguration Today and does not deign to look up when he climbs into bed. Where this behaviour should irk him, all it does is increase his current appreciation of her. When she's done reading and turns the lights off, Tom decides to speak.
"I don't think you'll ever find me patronising you again," he finally says, an arm lightly over her body.
"Good." Unless he is quite mistaken, he can hear a note of amusement in her voice. She turns towards him now, a confident, wicked look playing on her face. "And take that shirt off," she says as her lips find his collarbone, hands trailing his sides as he does what he's told, "Merlin knows I like you better without it." And just when he thinks they will slide back into their usual rhythm she turns her back to him, leaving him with a burning need to kiss her senseless.
His sleep breaks earlier than usual and for reasons not quite known, he doesn't feel sleep laden anymore. So Tom chooses to watch Kate, burrowing his way into her mind as she continues to sleep. There's mostly Auror training occupying the front of her brain, and as he digs further, he finds the mindscape to be populated by memories dating back to third and fourth years. There is nothing of much interest there, but the fact that he has breached a major barrier in his abilities gives him cause to continue this Legilimency expedition.
He makes it all the way past two years' worth of memories when she wakes, sleepily regarding himr. His mood is triumphant from his latest achievement, and a satisfying revenge for last night make its way into his actions as he lazily plants kisses along her collarbone, her pulse quickening after each one.
"I'm very clearly awake now, Riddle" she stifles a groan into her pillow, but he simply stays the course. "This is for last night, I assume?" she inhales sharply after a particularly long, lingering one at the base of her neck.
"A night's frustration," he whispers into her skin, "paid in full throughout the day."
"Why must you torture me so," she mutters, but that she hasn't told him to stop lets him know just how much his captive is enjoying herself.
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