The Unwinding of Percy Weasley
Audrey giggled with maddening delight as Percy continued to spin her around in jubilation. She felt wildly intoxicated by the excited passion in which he kissed her, so much so that she remained dizzy even after he pulled away to voice his pleasure.
"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed brightly, reminding Audrey of the excitement Christmas used to issue out of her younger siblings. Quite dizzy himself, Percy half fell on to his living room couch, pulling a willing Audrey along with him. She crashed on to his chest clumsily and was surprised she didn't knock the breath out of him. But Percy's face remained set in unrestrained joy, causing her to smile infectiously. He spread out his lengthy frame on his firm couch and she moved to straddle his waist as he propped his laid head with a pillow.
"This has unequivocally been the best day of my life," he announced with a joyful smile, placing his hands lightly on her upper thighs so his thumbs caressed both her skin and the ends of his wrinkled dress shirt. The simple contact shot a spark up her body, and she felt her longing warmth spread with each gentle stroke. She leaned over so she could lay on top of him and dipped down to kiss him once more, running her hands happily through his thick curly hair. He was incredibly handsome when he smiled like that, his eyes shining in simple confidence.
"I'm so happy for you, sweetheart," she beamed as they pulled away, stroking his face gently. "You've worked so hard and you so deserve the post."
"I couldn't have done it without you," he told her seriously.
"Oh, nonsense!" she responded, fluffing his hair playfully in hopes to return the smile to his face. "I'll I did was help push around parchment and occasionally expedite the bureaucratic process with my feminine wiles."
"No," he replied, almost sternly. "You've brought out so many good things in me…I don't even know how to begin to thank you."
Audrey sat back slightly and bit her lip, her heart melting at the passionate mix of sincerity, adoration and guilt that flashed across his face as he stared at her diligently.
"Well," she began, finally able to croak out a word as she once again stroked his face. "Lucky for you it looks like you have a world of time with me to figure that out."
Percy's face lit up into another smile, one which when released was becoming increasingly difficult not to kiss.
"I'll hold you to that," he replied sleepily, happily meeting her in another kiss before reclining back down on the couch.
Audrey could hardly blame him for his exhaustion. The previous night had been the most wonderful of her life. He had taken them right back to his flat after their exclamation in her hallway. Forgoing his hosting duties for the moment, he bypassed the rest of his home and led her straight into his bedroom. They made love fervently, grasping to one another tightly through the whole act as though both were somehow afraid the other would disappear if they released their hold. It had been an unreal experience, surpassing everything she thought she knew on the matter. She felt certain that such a happening could only be one of those perfect moments you experienced once in your life; until she was proven wrong an hour later during their next union. The night had subsequently been filled with blissful exploration and passionate decrees. It had been utterly amazing.
It had also been incredibly emotionally taxing.
They stayed up talking throughout the night. Some of it was the normal, silly, casual talk they always had. The sweet teasing and happy encouragement that was so natural and fulfilling, one of the many things she loved about being around him.
Most of the conversation that night, however, followed heavier themes. After they finally settled into his bed they began to more deeply discuss their newly established relationship. Percy continued to apologize for his mistrust and the way he acted. At the risk of sound crazy he tried to explain the inner battles that raged in his head when he was conflicted, and even divulged that it went to the point once where he saw a physical apparition of his internal thoughts at her flat. They talked a bit about his past and perhaps why he was so quick to think the way he did.
Listening had been the easier part. Though it pained her to hear of his conflicted guilt, she felt she either personally understood where he was coming from, or could empathize in the general direction. She was more than happy to be able to cup his face and kiss him when it seemed to all pile up on him. This was an expression she had found herself wanting to do for months, and to not only be able to show this sort of supporting affection, but to watch his eyes light up and his smile grow after they pulled away was just one of many things she celebrated that night. Ever since she had gotten to know him she wanted nothing more than for him to be able to talk freely to someone about his issues, always secretly hoping it would be to her that he would want to open up to and seek comfort from.
But of course, communication is a two way path. Percy had been completely right when he pointed out her sloppy style of secret keeping. She had always been open by nature, but past events had forced her into keeping things closed, either for selfish or necessary reasons. Even though she acknowledged how wonderful her life had turned out considering all that had happened during the war, it was still difficult to overcome that learned inhibition. It was almost more difficult to come out and talk to Percy than perhaps it would have been to talk to Max, had he ever cared to ask about such things. Percy listened intently, patiently, wanting to hear what she had to say. It was almost intimidating to have such care focused on her.
It was obvious that Percy recognized her hesitation and her silence, but gratefully he did not push. She quickly rambled into her own apologizes, of how there were so many things she wanted to tell him, but how she almost felt like she had lost the ability to express such things. She quickly worked herself up into a state, and soon tears threaten to fall. He smiled calmly, gently stroking her hair and the curve of her hips, reassuring her it was okay, and if there was one thing he had learned was that things like this took time to tell.
His patience only added to her internal frustration. She felt like that night should be the time, like her revelations would help patch over her quiet shortcomings. Percy had expressed how her silence on certain things was what drove him to his irrational quarrels over her character. Although she believed he had overreacted on his trains of thought, she recognized how detrimental not opening up was when they were otherwise so close. Audrey did not want Percy doubting for a single moment whether or not she loved him. She buried her head into his chest desperately, chastising herself for being unable to see how to overcome her hurdles as he held her close.
"Tell me about your mum," Percy asked softly a few moments later, slowly tracing lazy circles across her soft back. Audrey smiled gratefully into his body. Leave it up to Percy to be able to find an appropriate place to start on a chaotic and seemingly impossible project. Her mother would be a safe place to start, an easy place to end, but the perfect transitional leap if she chose to divulge further.
She pulled away slightly and began to oblige him with his request. She talked about how close they had been. She had been a daddy's girl by action and style, and their personalities were dead similar. However, it had been with her mother that she had expressed all of her problems, both big and small. Her mother was only 18 when she had been born so they were naturally close, the issues and feelings of adolescence still fresh on her mind as her daughter experienced them for herself. Her mother was much more pragmatic and grounded than her husband and daughter, and it was really through her that the family's dream of owning their own record shop was realized. But she was a great empathizer, a skill of which Audrey greatly admired and actively tried to replicate. Unfortunately it had been a trait not quite perfected at the end of her teenage years, and this immaturity had loaned itself into her biggest regret.
It had been her mother who had told her not to travel and to stay with the family. For once in their lives Lucia begged her daughter to see what her small sacrifice would mean to the rest of them, and that some things were bigger than personal dreams. It had been a request Audrey had promptly spat at, unaccustomed to her parents not supporting her and too narrow minded to see the consequences for her actions. It was a failing Audrey dealt with daily, and no matter how much effort and sacrifice she made for her siblings, she knew she would never forgive herself for her selfishness.
Percy held her closely as she battled her tears. He said nothing but clutched her firmly; placing light kisses on her forehead as he stroked her hair. Although she knew he was intent on showing his love, support and comfort by such action, she felt she knew intuitively that there was more behind his hold than just that. There was a desperateness to his grip, one that symbolized both grief and thanks simultaneously. She was left in no doubt that he was thinking about his own mother and the similar path he had taken. It could have just as easily been his parents. The loss of a dear younger brother so soon after their reunion had been earthshaking enough, but to have never gotten to express his sorrow and his love for his mother, to have spent over three years apart and to have never gotten to be cradled in her arms again…
Audrey adjusted her embrace slightly to open up her own body, holding him as much as he did her. She kissed his chest lightly, unable to move or even think past such action. Percy let his arms lay still around her for a few moments, causing the two to be locked in a motionless hold sans her sparse kisses, before he suddenly sprang to life. His mouth found hers quickly, desperately, and once again their bodies entwined with each other to form another perfect stream of moments.
The dark and disparaging atmosphere quickly switched back to a lighter mood. For some unknown reason she couldn't stop giggling after feeling the effects of her climax. After being assured it was a strange blend of exhaustion, happiness, and the rush of endorphins that caused her laughter and not some blunder on his part, he teased her sparingly.
She swiftly moved to straddle his waist as he lay stretched across the bed, grinning shamelessly as she let out a few remaining giggles. She found she rather liked this position atop him. Percy's great height had always been an attractive physical trait to her, but she couldn't help but love the new vantage point. She had never been able to look down at him before, and found the change in position oddly pleasurable.
"So this is what it's like to be taller than other people?" she inquired, casting her gaze out below to him. "It's nice. I see why you like it so much." Percy grinned wickedly up at her.
"Although you may be seated temporarily at higher elevation, I can assure you that when it comes to views I by no means have the short stick," he replied coolly, his gaze focused clearly at her bare chest. Audrey laughed again, this time of her own derision.
"I love how even when you're being lewd you're still so sophisticated in your speech," she stated with a chuckle.
"What can I say? I'm a classy man," he teased, lifting his upper body so he could sit up while still keeping her firmly in his lap. He nestled his head into the crook of her neck and kissed her skin slowly. As she closed her eyes she was struck yet again with the realization of just how tender he was. Once, when she was still unhappily with Max, she spent her moments before sleep wondering what it would be like to be with Percy. Her thoughts were spoiled slightly by Max's snores and the laden guilt that comes with thinking about another man while you slept next to your boyfriend. Perhaps that was why she imagined sex with her boss being subpar and perfunctory. Now as she was nestled happily with Percy, she was grateful that she couldn't have been more wrong. He went about love making the same way he went about every task he preformed: fully, thoroughly, and with a drive for perfection. They had only been together three times and already he had a thorough lay out of her body. His attention to the smallest, most mundane detail, while slightly ostentatious when it came to dull Ministry work, had sent her into maddeningly passionate throws during their shags.
"Who was it that taught you to do that tongue thing so I can send her a thank you card?" she asked, grinning upon the memory of a particularly fruitful venture. Percy however pulled away, slightly flustered at the question.
"That…er… that I actually read about in a magazine. I've never actually preformed it, but the procedure always stuck," he explained, his eyes cast down to the side. Audrey burst out into laughter.
"You would actually read those magazines for the articles," she joked, rubbing his arm affectionately. Percy chuckled along with her, his neck and face still slightly flushed. He seemed to have something more to say in response, but each time he opened his mouth to speak he only expelled a muted laugh and ruffed his hair with a grin.
"What is it?" she asked encouragingly, noting this comical yet still serious seeming apprehension.
"It's…I keep wanting to say something, but it's kind of…loaded," he explained fitfully. Audrey cocked an eyebrow.
"About sex? Percy, darling, feel free to suggest anything you want, in fact I kind of demand openness when it comes to, you know, new positions, locations, fantasies, role-play…"
"Whoa!" Percy exclaimed, throwing up his hands with an excited grin. "That's…that's bloody brilliant to know, and believe me I'd love to go back to that topic, but that's not actually what I was about to get at. It was about…er…" Audrey stared at her new boyfriend quizzically as he struggled clumsily for the words, replaying the beginning of their conversation to see what exactly could be placing him in such sorts.
"Oh!" she sang, finally piecing the puzzle together. "The 'who was it that taught you' comment. This is about exs, isn't it?"
"Well, not exactly, but…well…yeah. I mean I figure there are things we should talk about eventually, but…"
"I agree, down and dirty, lets air it out," she stated with a grin, sitting up attentively.
"Wow, I just meant…"
"For Merlin's sake, sweetheart, spit it out!" she demanded with a grin, tossing a pillow into his chest playfully. Percy nodded his head, acknowledging the fact that he had been dancing around what he wanted to say.
"It's just last night and this whole evening has just been perfect. And I mean on top of us getting together, the…the sex, as limited as it has been so far, has been the way I've always wanted. And trust me I realize this seems to be an easy thing to say on its own, but it definitely leads to further explanation," he began.
"Oh yes," she agreed good naturedly. "I mean, I absolutely love what you just said, even though I have almost no idea what you're talking about." Percy laughed heartily.
"It just means that my sexual encounters before you were fundamentally lacking in one way or another," he explained. "With Penny it was all such a big deal. We were together for ages before we finally slept together, and it was all heavily guilt laden."
"What do you mean?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Well, you remember Penelope. She was very old fashioned. And sex before marriage, sex purely for pleasure for that matter, was against part of her nature. I understood this, and was shocked when she told me she wanted to start, but I was seventeen year old boy and all that entails, and was eager for anything." He paused as Audrey giggled slightly at this confession before he continued.
"I guess so she didn't feel bad or slaggy, her words not mine, sex always need to be dressed up: candles, rose petals, what have you. I mean, all that is fine, and I like to be romantic, honestly I do, it's just… it stops being romantic when you have to do it every time you do it. In fact it makes it all rather trying."
"That does sound dreadful," Audrey agreed.
"Yeah. And, I don't know, with us it's just felt so much more organic, the way it should be." Audrey smiled happily and grabbed his hand in agreement. Percy smiled back, grateful for her understanding, and kissed her hand gently.
"And the fundamental flaw with Cordelia?" Audrey asked coyly. "I don't really read her as the romanticizing guilt type."
"Ah no," he replied, grinning sheepishly. "In fact there probably should have been much more guilt involved at the time." He rubbed his face and kept it covered with his hands as he lay back upon the bed, as though trying to hide from this particular section of the conversation.
"And how did that all start?" she asked, urging him on. She had always been rather curious when it came to Percy and Cordelia. In fact, the desire to hear this story was why she so avidly jumped to the chance to talk about their baggage.
"It was back when I first started working for Scrimgeour. We were working together on some project, I scarcely even remember. Sadly, we were a lot alike back then, ruthless, ambitious, and totally alienating. We were a good match in that regard, I suppose. Anyways, we were working late at night in the office, I think I suggested we take a break because then she suggested…well, that we shag basically, I forget the specific innuendo she used. Anyways, I was a twenty year old male, and all that that entails, so naturally I agreed and…"
"Wait a minute!" Audrey implored gleefully. "You went at it right there, in the Minister of Magic's office?"
Percy's face went red, obviously flustered that she had picked up on that little detail. Audrey began to laugh.
"Was it on the desk?"
"I don't want to talk about this."
"I mean, that must have been a big moment for you."
"Seriously, the details aren't what's necessary."
"Did she call you Minister Weasley? Because I totally would have played into the whole thing…"
"ANYWAYS," Percy said loudly, cutting off the rest of her statement with a flushed grin. "We sort of started an agreement. It was strictly physical as we both had neither the time nor inclination for any sort of relationship. It was good, I suppose. It got me through some stressful times, though in hindsight I should have dealt with those issues instead of looking for an outlet. But then, of course, everything changed the year before the Battle. I started to pull away from the Ministry and focus on saving who I could, and she was still about the status quo and gaining her own power. Not a Dark Arts supporter…"
"But still kind of evil," Audrey interjected with a laugh.
"Undoubtedly," Percy agreed. His smile flickered softly and his face fell slightly. "I feel ashamed that I used to revere the wicked qualities in her."
"We all have bad baggage," she assured quickly. "I mean look at me. Roger Davis was a complete git and a serial cheat, Warren was a spineless thief, Tiger was a talentless…"
"You dated a man named Tiger?" Percy asked suddenly, springing up quickly.
"I don't know if you would call it so much dating," she began. Percy crinkled his nose unhappily.
"He was that sculptor who ditched me when I was trapped under the Fidelius Charm and was at St. Mungos," she explained.
"Oh," he replied, softening his features slightly. Still, he retained a slightly indignant look on his face.
"I don't even want to hear it, you had a purely sexual relationship with Cordelia, and she's part demon," Audrey pointed out.
"Touché," he countered with a sheepish grin. "But, Tiger? Really?"
"Not all men can have such strong and charming names like Percival," she pointed out, happily straddling him once more. An indulgent smile crossed his face at the compliment and he reverted to absentmindedly stroking her thigh.
"Still, the name is wildly suggestive," he continued, still trying to find backing to his dislike of the situation. "I can't but conjure up certain images."
"Don't," she grinned, rolling off him so she could lie beside him. "His name is terribly misleading. Irritated House Cat would have been more descriptive." Percy laughed gently.
"And Max?" he inquired lightly.
"Ugh, that was like going at it with an uncontrolled jackhammer," she remembered uncomfortably. After explaining to him just what a jackhammer was, Percy laughed again.
"No, that's not what I meant," he said through chuckles. He turned on his side so he could face her more directly.
"I mean, I get Roger, every girl in school fancied him. Warren you've explained to me a bit and Tiger…anyways, I have a good grasp on your other relationships, but I could never understand you and Max. I know he's a handsome Quidditch player, but that alone seems too shallow for you, especially now," he stated. Audrey sighed, as it was now her turn to explain an embarrassing ex.
"It all was rather shallow," she agreed. "I had just sent the kids back to Hogwarts after Christmas break. It was a hard holiday, the first anniversary of many unhappy events that had happened during that season. But we managed to get through it okay. I had started working at the Ministry, I had moved in to my flat so there was actual space at my Nana's, and we splurged on proper gifts and a big feast to get us through. It all got me thinking of how…grown up I had become. I knew I was doing the right thing and I had no desire to abandon my family or anything of the sort, it just hit me how different my life was than it was a year since then. My desire to be a starving and free moving artist had switched to a rather dull full time job and being responsible for everyone and thing in my life. I went to a tavern to have a pint, reflect on my new life, when he came next to me and said something to the effect of "you look down. How would you like to fly with me to Greece for a week?"."
"Well, that's awfully foreword," Percy stated with a slight grumble.
"I know," Audrey replied with a laugh. "But it was a marvelous outlet. With the kids at school and his off season it was more than easy to collaborate my work schedule around fancy trips of whimsy. It allowed me to both be responsible and still have a wild freedom at once. And for awhile it was perfect."
"Until?" Percy inquired, obviously eager to hear her change of heart. She smiled at his intense look and brushed his hair affectionately.
"Until the beginning of the summer when David and Ama returned and I realized I had no room and really no desire for flashy and flakey people in my life. It was all fine when it was fun and games, but he didn't understand anything about me fundamentally. He couldn't see why I wouldn't want to go out to pubs with him at night, even when I explained that I had to cook a meal for four people and wanted to spend time with my family. He didn't understand why I didn't want to stay over at his place most nights because I wanted to go to Nana's and see how well they all slept. I mean, who can enjoy going to a catered breakfast when all you can think about is whether or not your brother had another one of those nightmares that causes him not to speak for days? Or wondering if your sister actually started her Charms essay like she promised she would after you indulged her a day at the park? It very quickly sunk in that the things that were most important to me in life, my family and keeping us all together and happy, were things he didn't and probably would never appreciate." She paused for a moment, grinning as she picked the next words to finish her explanation.
"And then there was of course another pesky little detail that added to my detachment of Max," she continued, dangling her statement playfully.
"Oh? And what was that?" Percy inquired in genuine curiosity. Audrey's smile grew at his cluelessness.
"The fact that halfway through the summer I realized had I had fallen in love with somebody else," she stated simply. Percy's eyebrows shot up his face in surprise.
"Really? You…that early on?" he asked with a blurt. Audrey laughed at his confusion.
" I'm sorry," he said with his own laugh. "It's just I think you are far more wonderful a person then I am, and it was only very recently that I realized how deeply I feel for you. It's still hard for me to fathom that you love me now, but earlier in the summer? I was a right git."
"No you weren't! Well, maybe a little…" she stated with a giggle. "Okay, perhaps a moderate amount of git."
"Exactly!" he exclaimed. "I can't imagine what I could have done to make you like me then, before I, er…"
"Started laying down your moves?" she suggested with a suppressed smirk. Percy flushed slightly at the comment.
"Well yeah. I mean, what would a girl like you see in me? I'm so unlike the other men you've dated," he stated seriously.
Audrey exhaled in muted exasperation.
"Don't you realize that's the whole point?" she exclaimed desperately. The look of confusion on his face mirrored the perplexing feelings she had struggled with all summer. She sat straight, and began to try and explain to him the progression of her feelings for him.
When she first started working for Percy, she couldn't help but be thoroughly amused. She had spent a good chunk of her school years hearing about how big of a prat he was from Fred and George. Although Percy clearly didn't remember the encounter, they had actually met once before at school. He had scolded her for being too rambunctious in the library as the book she was using to research Laughing Charms wouldn't stop giggling. She had tried to keep it quiet but found the whole situation so humorous she couldn't help but snicker along with her volume. Percy imparted a short lecture about propriety, spiked with him lamenting the fact that he was a year away from being of prefect age and being able to stop people like her. After that moment she guiltlessly joined in Fred and George having a laugh about him during class.
So when professional circumstances paired them up she felt well prepared to take on his wound up attitude with a grain of salt. It was rather amusing those first few days to watch him get so irritated over the smallest of things and she had to keep from laughing at the recollections of Fred and George's impressions of him.
Yet also in those first few days she couldn't help but notice a few other things about him. Buried beneath the pompous impatience he projected was a curt and agile mind. She was thoroughly impressed with the amount of information he was able to recall, and how quickly he was able to understand complex charts or statistical information that made her head spin just by looking at them. He may have been a bit of a windbag, but he was certainly much more capable than some of the other people she had worked for.
With the respect for his intelligence earned, she quickly began to realize how much his job meant to him. She had always just assumed him to be power hungry, willing to do anything to get to the top. Although that may have possibly been true at one point she learned that that was no longer the case. He genuinely loved his job, and viewed the mundane workings of it as very important, which they were, despite their tediousness.
Her respect for him blossomed at this point. He had a real passion for his work not usually seen in a bureaucracy position. It was a passion she seemed to understand thoroughly. It was akin to how she felt about her art, and it was a zeal she actively sought out in other people. If her past lovers had anything in common, besides being eventual disappointments, they all were passionate about what they did. Quidditch, enterprise and art were all ventures that demanded passion, and Audrey couldn't stand the idea of being around someone who wasn't in love with the career they chose to dedicate their life to. It wasn't a fervor she expected to find in the International Trading Standard Body, but once she discovered it, she couldn't help but find herself liking Percy in spite of himself.
There was then of course the matter of his family. His furrowed brow would always clear when his mother was mentioned or his father swung round. She got used to thinking Percy was so much older than he was as he looked so serious, but the lightness that encompassed him when he talked about his family made him look his actual twenty three. She remembered the extreme look of graciousness he had given her when she had told him she wouldn't mind working late so he could have dinner over at The Burrow. She had been taken aback with how handsome he looked when he smiled like that, and even further confused that she had thought that thought. She found herself overly pleased with how quickly Percy had encouraged her to come to dinner and meet his family, and she went about beaming merrily the rest of the day.
And what a family! She had always held a soft spot in her heart for the Weasley clan and adored sitting among them. It was wonderful of course to see George again and loved being able to catch up with him. It was slightly absurd to sit among Harry, Ron and Hermione, the saviors of their world, and see them get treated like any other young members of a family. Molly was a doll and Audrey had found an instant friend in Fleur. But what she had liked the most was seeing Percy in his element. He was the perfect mix of an older and younger brother. He took and even dished out teasing like a pro. He had smiled and laughed constantly, had felt so at ease, so peaceful, and so was different that the uptight image she had carried around of him for so long.
She had meant every word she had said to him on the couch in her flat, about him being witty, a good friend, and a person who was enjoyable to be around. What she had left out however were the strange yet enjoyable feelings he had ignited in her. She had never really been around a man like him before. So serious and particular, yet remarkably easy to soften and be around once you understood his quirks. He worked so hard, yet with a little cajoling could be so much fun. He was eager to please and easily fascinated.
Most importantly and impressively, he was dependable. He had come to her side so many times she was left in no doubt that she could count on him. From her problems with Max to her struggles with her family and artwork he had been there, giving her a security she hadn't felt since she was a child. Percy's innate personality caused him to listen carefully to fix a problem presented to him, and his recent experiences had taught him that sometimes the best cure wasn't a concrete solution, but someone just being there for you. His constant presence and aid throughout the summer had left a huge impression and want for him, and she had been struck with the sobering realization that Percy was the only person she had ever met whom she could truly see herself spending the rest of her life with.
It was a startling revelation, yet not one that made her want to run for a childish outlet like her engagement to Warren or her whole relationship with Max had. Her feelings for Percy, so strong and developed even before she dated him, left her terrified and thrilled all at once. She was overjoyed when he let his interest show and asked her on a date. As surreal and horrifying as was Max's violence, she was so grateful for how Percy fought for her. The end of their night was blissfully perfect, better than she could have ever hoped or imagined, and when she had woken up that morning she didn't think she could have been any happier to have found herself in his arms.
And when she came into his office later, and he had said those things to her, those hurtful, malice filled, accusatory things, she felt like her reconstructed world had crashed down around her. She had never felt so emotionally crushed, despite all she had been through. For the first time since she had left home and lost her parents she had felt certain that she had found a person to share her life with, someone to give and take the slack that reality forced. She had felt so broken and worthless she barely made it to the couch, barely had the effort to breathe.
All the color in Percy's face paled as she told him this. Audrey struggled with new tears as she explained this last bit to him. She didn't want to cry and she didn't want to guilt him any further. She understood the misunderstanding and was more than ready to move past it, but she felt she had to express the power he could hold over her. He had to know what he was capable of doing.
"Audrey…" he croaked, fighting his own tears. "Audrey, I'm so sorry…"
Audrey hid her face in her hands, embarrassed about the vulnerable state she was in and tried desperately to stop the tears from falling. She heard Percy's bed creak and his mattress shift as a body rose from it. Audrey's eyes snapped open as she watched him leave the warm sanctuary of his covers for his cold bedroom floor. He paced nervously, unsure of what to do, looking wracked with guilt and helplessness.
"I don't know what to do. I feel like I can't live with what I put you through. You're so wonderful and I'm so worthless and undeserving and…"
Leave it to him to make me go from inconsolably sad to enraged in just three sentences, she thought through gritted teeth. Audrey flung the quilt off the bed, stomping up to him wearing nothing but the most intensely fierce looks Percy had ever seen.
"That needs to end right now!" she demanded loudly, causing him to flinch. "You make me out to be some kind of saint, but I'm not! I've made so many mistakes in my life, failed so many times, and I'm just a screwed up as you. It's why we work so well. You need to get over yourself and come to terms with the fact that I am so in love with you! So don't you dare call yourself worthless because you mean almost everything to me, do you hear me!"
She pushed him once for good measure, before she entwined her arms and stared at him crossly. Percy stared at the fierce looking creature in front of him and could not help but to fall even more deeply in love with her.
"Yes ma'am," he said simply, smiling happily. "I'm certain I can do that."
"Wonderful!" she exclaimed, quickly shifting her mood back to ecstatic. She threw her arms around him and placed a sweet kiss on his lips. "Now, let's see about getting some food delivered, I'm famished!"
"Percy?"
Percy's eyes fluttered open after happily dozing off for a few moments. He and Audrey were still wrapped up on the couch, her hair still marvelously disheveled from the night.
"Yes, love?" he asked with a sleepy inflection.
"I'm still hungry," she responded with a pout. Percy grinned wickedly.
"I told you the muggle delivery man wouldn't be able to find the place," he stated with a fake pompousness.
"I know!" she groaned, collapsing on to his chest in exasperated misery. Percy chuckled, holding her tightly for a moment, before gently pushing her off so he could get up.
"What are you doing?" she asked as he searched around for his glasses.
"Feeding you," he said determinedly. "My Audrey wants pizza, than pizza we shall have."
He marched into his kitchen, disappearing for a few minutes. Audrey heard a few clinks of glass and tin, accentuated with a few conflicting mummers. He quickly returned with his arms filled with food, none of which was pizza.
"What's all this?" she asked with a laugh.
"Pizza…sort of," he replied with a grin.
"Pizza Sortof," she repeated. "And how exactly does one make Pizza Sortof?"
"It's quite simple really," he explained in his lecture voice. "You start off with a bachelor who rarely eats in his own flat. Then you take two-day-old bakery bread, inspect it thoroughly, and with excruciating detail, scrape off any mold." He grabbed the butter knife he brought along with him and cut off the small fleck of blue that had begun to form.
"Next, you take some butter, which is a dairy product like cheese, and apply liberal amounts to each half of your loaf." He sliced the bread open and began to do just that, keeping a light hearted professional face as Audrey descended into giggles.
"Fourthly, you take and heat up a can of minestrone soup, which has tomatoes and other vegetables often found in pizza," he stated, pointing to the bowl he had brought with him.
"Now, the eating process if very simple, if not a tad messy. Simply grab your buttered bread, soak it thoroughly in the soup and, voila!" He and Audrey both followed his instructions. A part of him couldn't believe he was serving his girlfriend stale bread, butter and soup for dinner, but she never stopped flashing that wonderful smile of hers and began eating the substitute heartily.
"This Pizza Sortof isn't half bad," she exclaimed. "It does almost satiate the cravings for real pizza."
"Ah ha, well, that's because you haven't had the full Pizza Sortof experience," he stated knowingly.
"There's more?" she inquired with a laugh.
"Of course!" he exclaimed through a wild grin. He turned behind the couch and brought out a few more items.
"Pizza Sortof is not complete without the lighting of the bachelor's one and only candle, bought in case of an emergency," he explained.
"Oh, of course," Audrey agreed playfully.
"And this," he completed, holding out the bottle of Sir Percival's Pinot Noir George had bought him long ago. "A bottle of well aged, fine wine that has been saved for a special occasion. And let's admit it, what is more special than Sortof Pizza?"
He cracked open the bottle quickly and poured them both a generous glass. Audrey beamed happily at him and cheered him.
"I think this is the greatest meal any one has ever made for me," she said happily.
"And I am truly sorry for that," he replied with a grin, earning him a playful elbow in the side. "But seriously, I promise I'll start going to the market regularly so I can feed you properly."
"Good!" she exclaimed, placing her food down and turning around on the couch so she could get a sweeping view of his living room. "You have a nice flat! Although it could use some sprucing up. Maybe some paint on that wall there, some pictures on the mantel, maybe a good sturdy house plant…"
"Merlin's beard, are you redecorating my house already?" he asked bemused.
"Sweetheart, a house has to be decorated first before it can be redecorated," she pointed out seriously.
"Touché," he responded, throwing his arms around her shoulders as she curled in next to him. He kissed her temple softly as she played with his fingers.
"I can't believe we actually made it here," she said softly. "I'm so happy."
"It definitely is amazing," he concurred.
"Now, you know we have to be careful," she stated seriously, turning to face him. "Things are going to be a bit different now. We're both starting new jobs on Monday, and we both tend to get caught up in work."
"One of us more than the other," he added with a smile.
"You pointed that out, not me," she replied with a laugh. "Anyways, we need to make sure we maintain a good balance between our careers and…us."
"You could always come back and work for the Ministry," he joked. "I'm a big boss now, I'm sure I could pull some strings, get you a cushy job."
"Hmm, I don't think so," she hummed with a wrinkled nose. "Ministry life is definitely not for me. There was only really one thing I liked about working there."
"The cafeteria food," he answered wisely. Audrey giggled again.
"Where have you been hiding this sense of humor your whole life?" she asked, straddling his waist once more and pushing herself against him. "It's incredibly sexy."
He kissed her for a few moments before responding.
"It had apparently rolled under my desk," he replied with a grin. Audrey stopped kissing him and glared.
"What, too soon?" he asked with a sheepish smile. Audrey rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"You're hopeless, you know that right?" she asked with a sigh.
"Yes, that I do know," he replied humbly.
"Hopeless, and probably far too serious for your own good," she continued, curling back in to him. "But I'm sure we can find a silly streak in you yet."
"What, you mean like this?" he inquired innocently, picking up his butter knife still covered in smear and aimed it at her face.
"You wouldn't dare," she stated. Percy grinned and flicked the butter at her without hesitation.
"You did not just lob butter at my face!" she exclaimed indignantly.
"That's funny, because I could have sworn I just did," he jested playfully, rolling off the couch before she could react.
"Percy Weasley, you get back here this instant!" she shrieked with a smile, rising to her feet. Percy scrambled around the couch, initiating a chase that led to his bedroom door. He stopped suddenly and let her run into him, wrapping his arms around her tightly so she couldn't physically enact her revenge. She wiped her face on his chest thoroughly, staring up at him in defiance when she finished. He swooped down to kiss her passionately.
"Yum, Pizza Sortof flavored kisses, my favorite!" he exclaimed.
"You're gonna pay for that," she replied stubbornly, struggling against her grin.
"I sure hope so," he replied, opening up his bedroom door in a gentlemanly fashion. Audrey turned up her nose and marched inside, grabbing Percy's arm at the last moment to drag him in, fully prepared to make him suffer for her indignities.
Percy, ever the upstanding citizen, was more than happy to pay for his crimes.