This is the first ficlet in this collection that I would classify as AU, though in many ways the AU elements remain vague enough that it might be possible to make them work within canon. I had wanted to keep AU ficlets out of this collection, but considering the length of this, I think it's best to put it here.

Warning for deception in a marriage as well as references to murder and death.

The rain battered against Scorpius' body, compelling him to escape from it, but he couldn't. The hatred in Albus' eyes as he stood in the doorway to the home they'd shared held him in place with a force that nothing else could have exerted. Though the rain soaking through his robes sucked the heat from his body, the rush of his frantic heart kept him going.

His carefully constructed lies had come falling down just like his parents had warned they would if he didn't keep his emotions at bay. He'd failed his assigned task the second he'd fallen for the boy he was supposed to be probing for information, but he'd been convinced he could make it work. No one wanted to hurt Albus after all. Scorpius could love him and complete his familial duties at the same time.

But, seeing the anger in his husband's eyes, he knew that had always been a false hope. All Scorpius had done was hurt them both as well as his family, who no longer had the spy they had worked hard to groom for his position. He dreaded returning to them and hearing them say, "We told you your fanciful ideas would harm us all in the end." There was the possibility of disownment. He could lose his family along with his husband after fighting for so long to keep them both.

The insults his family had told him about Albus over the years ran through Scorpius' mind. His grandmother loved to describe Albus as ornery, going on about how he wore his emotions on his sleeve. He didn't bottle them up like a respectable pureblood would. Scorpius had bit his tongue to stop himself from telling her that was one of the many things Scorpius loved about him so much. He wasn't always pleasant to be around, but Scorpius had always known where he stood with him. That had made it more rewarding when he found his affections returned. Even now, while on the receiving end of more anger than Scorpius had ever seen Albus possess before, Scorpius relished it. He wanted to know how much he had hurt Albus; that was better than cold detachment that made it seem like he had never loved Scorpius back.

"Please don't say anything to others," Scorpius said, tears falling down his cheeks and mixing with the rain. "I know that's too much to ask, but if they find out the truth, I could be killed."

"Then why don't you kill me?" Albus snapped.

He was standing on the porch, leaving him dry. He looked warm with the glow of the light from the open door behind him forming a halo. Scorpius' body longed to return to him and the life they'd had together inside. Every tear that lined Albus' face was visible with the absence of the rain.

"That would take out the threat, wouldn't it?" Albus continued to push.

Scorpius was frantically shaking his head before Albus had finished speaking.

"I can't do that. My parents would tell me to, but I can't." His voice cracked as he struggled to get the words out. "I'd rather you do something that gets me killed than do anything that could lead to your death."

Albus cringed, looking away from Scorpius to the ground.

Scorpius knew he should leave before the situation grew worse, but he couldn't stop himself from speaking.

"There's no way you'll forgive me. I understand that, and I know I deserve it. But I can't leave without making sure you understand that I really do love you. I always have. That's never been fake. I'll leave because you want me too, but you're always going to have my heart. That'll stay with you wherever I physically am because I can't take it with me no matter how hard I try."

Albus balled his hands into fists.

"All I want to know is why," he said, voice barely capable of being heard over the rain.

"And I wish I could tell you," Scorpius said, "but I can't. There are secrets the Malfoy family has kept for generations. If I share them… I'm worried that I wouldn't be the only one who'd pay the price."

Albus stared at the ground for a long time before saying one simple word.

"Go."

Scorpius allowed himself one more second to drink in the sight of Albus before nodding and turning on the spot, disappearing with a pop.

Prompts:

Hogwarts Challenges and Assignments

Fortnightly - From the Shadows: "Tears and rain, fall down on my face, my body is unable to stay yet my heart is unwilling to leave." - Sasuke Uchiha

Advent Calendar: (word) ornery

HPFC

Favourite Character Boot Camp: Scorpius Malfoy - pleasant

The Golden Snitch

Anniversary Event: (words) husband, hatred, spy

Word count: 742