May 29, 2011 Prompt: Soldier

XXV. The Soldier and His Arms

Severus wasn't really quite sure what he was doing here. Although, he had stopped trying to think in those terms. When it came to Luna, he never knew what he was doing. And he never knew how she managed to make him do things, that it wasn't in his nature to do. She simply had that power over him, and he was trying to simply go with it these days.

This time, he had allowed her to drag him to a pub, in London. It was called The Soldier's Arms, and Luna was dragging him to celebrate as he had finished working on the repairs of her home.

However, Severus didn't much feel like celebrating. After all, this meant that very soon, Luna would be leaving.

The thought of it, made his heart throb, and his mouth to taste bitter. He was trying to wash the pain and taste away with Firewhiskey. It wasn't until he drank about his third or fourth that he started to feel a slight buzz thrumming through his body, that made him begin to forget his foul mood.

He looked around the establishment. It was rather a nice pub or at least not seedy an dank. Almost reminded him of the Three Broomsticks, except it was less crowded and had comfy booths as well as tables. The room itself was made up of dark ebony tables, deep blue walls and the violet upholstery of the booths, of which he found himself seated across from Luna.

"How did you find this place?" Severus found himself asking as he looked around. The room was lit by gas lamps set on the center of the tables. Some of the chairs were extraordinary high backed chairs, with black leather cushions. There was a bar too, with stools and waitresses in loose kakhi pants with black dress shirts waited on tables, though there was no food to be had except for peanuts.

"A few days after the Final Battle, I met up here with Dean Thomas," Luna replied with a shrug as she downed her drink. She was drinking shots, which came in colorful little vials. Already she had downed two and was raising her vial to get another. She said when she'd ordered them that to her they tasted like rainbows... whatever that meant.

"I wasn't aware you two were friends," Severus said conversationally, his voice coming out in a slower drawl than was usual. The Fireswhiskey sort of made his tongue feel heavy and lazy. However, he was not slurring.

"Well we used to be in the DA together, but we became a little closer after we were saved from Malfoy Manor and we were staying with Bill Weasley and his wife, there wasn't much to do there," Luna replied, not looking at him but rather taking another colorful vial with a smile from the waitress. "Dean is nice. He seemed to like cunnilingus, and he didn't seem to mind me telling him how I liked it ," she went on, causing Severus to choke as he had been drinking at the time and spit it back in his cup.

Luna furrowed her brow and scooted around the booth so that she sat next to him instead of across, and patted him on the back. "Have you slept with every boy you've been friends with?" he suddenly snapped, looking at her with a furrowed brow.

"Of course not. I only had oral sex with Dean, and George was my first," Luna replied airily as she waved for another vial. "The wanted to be just be friends, and why not? They're attractive, nice and rather gentlemanly about it. And it's only natural to be curious about sex, and after discovering sex is enjoyable, why should I desist? Why should I care for what society dictates? I'm not hurting anyone or using anyone," Luna said, drowning another drink.

Severus grudgingly accepted what she said, though he didn't like it. Instead, he decided to change the subject to something that didn't make him angry. "Don't you think you're drinking a bit much?"

"I'm not sure, I can hardly taste any alcohol in these, and they taste so sweet," Luna replied as she started nodding her head as though she were listening to music in her head. Severus didn't really put it past her. After all, Luna marched to the beat of her own drum most of her life. Maybe there was music in her head.

Severus started to feel uncomfortable that she was still sitting next to him. However, he was seating to near the edge of the booth, that he didn't have room to move. Not unless he got up and moved to the other side. "Luna... don't you mind?"

"Mind what?" she asked, humming to herself as she looked up as the waitress walked over to take Severus' sullied drink and give him another. She motioned for another drink.

"Not having a steady boyfriend?"

Luna furrowed her brow and looked at him confused. "No, why would I?"

"For the stability."

Luna smiled at him, as if she thought he were a child. "Labeling it so, doesn't give more stability to a relationship. Calling someone a boyfriend or girlfriend or spouse even, doesn't ensure that they will still feel in love with you every morning for the rests of their life. Really, you can only promise someone your feelings, for the moment.

"The true love that endures, is companionship. With labels or without, it endures because two people enjoy each others company and are committed to working through the kinks, and have an understanding of what each other wants or expects," Luna explained, though as she was on about her fifth drink, her voice wasn't as sing-song and more of a slow drawl.

Severus furrowed his brow, unsure what she was talking about. However, love was never something he could figure out. He would question Luna, how she could possibly know this at such a young age, however, he'd feel foolish doing so. He'd grown to understand that Luna despite being human... was something more ethereal. She seemed dotty at times, but she was wise beyond her years.

A movement at his side, had him turning to look. Luna had sat up, and was kneeling in the seat next to him, facing him. Under the scrutiny of her large blue eyes, he felt uncomfortable. He was near enough squirming under her intense gace before she trapped his face between hers and leaned in closer, staring deep into his eyes. "I'll tell you a secret," she said, with a bleary smile.

Severus could smell her breath, and wondered dazedly that it smelled like rainbows.

Just thinking it, he wanted to mentally slap himself. However, he was trying to keep his heart from beating wildly as he looked up into her eyes. "What's that?"

"I'm really happy you're having a real discussion with me," she said, with a grin so wide, it put the Cheshire cat to shame. Here was this sprite of a girl, and to him she seemed to be Alice and Wonderland all at once.

Her smile was oddly beautiful. It was completely Luna.

Severus felt like he couldn't breath anymore. Her gaze had trapped him, paralyzed him, and now there was no escape.

Luna sighed and closed her eyes, leaning her head forehead against his. "Its too bad you've trapped your heart in a dungeon," she said enigmatically, pulling away from him and waving for another drink.

TBC...

A/n: Please Review!