In honor of Assur finding my stories again
(I was so happy to get your review!)
Tempests
Monday afternoon, Corbin stood in their kitchen mentally checking off his list. He'd dropped Harry off with Stevens, even packing an overnight bag for Harry because he had no idea what to expect once Cassius got home. He'd made tea, putting a stasis charm on it so it would stay hot. He'd decided he'd go to the ministry to meet Cassius, he wasn't going to take the chance that Cassius would go to the Dark Forest again instead of coming straight home.
Corbin was standing opposite the exit of the auror training room when Cassius walked out. He was the first student out of the room, not surprising because Corbin knew the other trainees liked to socialize a bit before they left for the day.
"Cory?" Cassius looked surprised to see him.
"Hey," Corbin gathered Cassius in for a hug, and closing his eyes tightly, apparated them both to their kitchen.
"Where's Harry?"
"With Stevens," Corbin answered as he started to loosen his hold on Cassius. Cassius's arms tightened around him like iron bands. There was a thrum of energy and the teacups rattled on the table.
"It's all right, I'm here," Corbin said as the large window above the sink cracked from one side to the other. The pages of his open book fluttered in a cold wind. He didn't have to look to know Cassius's eyes were ink black. Corbin kept up a steady stream of soothing words, "I know, it's alright, I'm here, I'm here."
The poor teapot cracked in two for...Corbin had lost track of how many times it had been broken and repaired. There was a loud crash from the sitting room which Corbin suspected was a bookcase tipping over.
He wasn't sure why Cassius was going to the Dark Forest - so far this magical outburst was very similar to ones he'd had in the past. But they had been happening so rarely, maybe Cassius had forgotten how bad they could get.
"Do you want tea?" Corbin asked after the kitchen stopped exploding around them.
Cassius shook his head, "I want to lie down with you," he murmured.
Cassius still didn't loosen his hold so Corbin apparated them both into their bedroom. Cassius sat down on the bed, yanking his laces loose on his boots and pulling them off. Corbin laid down on the bed on his back, and in a moment, Cassius was settled against his side, his head resting on Corbin's chest.
"Oh," Corbin jolted as Cassius's ice-cold hand snuck under his shirt to rest over his heart.
"Sorry," Cassius whispered, nuzzling behind Corbin's ear with a cold nose making Corbin shiver.
"It's alright," Corbin said reassuringly, rubbing Cassius's back.
Cassius tried to keep taking slow breaths in and out, counting in his head. He could hear Corbin's heartbeat and feel Corbin breathing. It was going to be alright.
"You're like cuddling a block of ice, for goodness sake," Corbin said with another shiver, "What do you do when you're in the Dark Forest?"
"I just…" Cassius didn't know, and he couldn't tell Corbin that.
"If you tell me you cuddle with any willing centaur who trots along, I will cut off sugar at tea time for a week. No, a month."
"Centaurs do not like to cuddle," Cassius murmured.
"Mmm, I suppose it'd be uncomfortable, what with the hooves and all," Corbin said thoughtfully, his hand continuing to stroke up and down Cassius's back.
Cassius could feel himself relaxing against Corbin's body. Everything was going to be alright, he was with Corbin.
There was a loud humming noise, and the bed shook. From a distance, Cassius heard glass breaking and the house creaking.
He opened his eyes and Corbin was sitting next to him on the bed humming a tune. Corbin had a lovely singing voice, Cassius liked to listen to it. Corbin's hand touched his forehead and then his cheek.
"Sing 'Blackbird'," Cassius said.
Corbin switched to the song, it was one of Cassius's favorites.
"I think I have an obscurus."
Corbin stopped singing, "A what?" he asked.
"What?" Cassius repeated.
"You think you have a what?" Corbin asked, and Cassius bit his lip hard enough that he tasted blood, he hadn't thought he'd said that out loud.
"An obscurus," he said softly, "It is something awful. I think I have it."
"How would we know for certain?" Corbin asked, which reassured Cassius more than an instant denial. Corbin would find out. Then Corbin would help. Corbin was brilliant.
"I don't know." Cassius closed his eyes and focused on the feel of Corbin's fingers in his hair and over his cheek.
Corbin said, "I'd love some tea, you alright to stay here for a moment while I get it?"
Cassius nodded, feeling the bed shift as Corbin stood up. He heard Corbin disapparate and then apparate. Corbin never did that in the house.
"I've got tea for you too, with all your loads of sugar, must be why you're so sweet."
Cassius laughed and sat up. Corbin's hand touched his forehead again. Cassius reached for his teacup. He gulped down the hot sweet tea, he was so thirsty. He held out his cup to Corbin for more. Corbin took it and poured more tea into the empty cup.
"Why did you start going to the Dark Forest anyway?" Corbin asked as he started to stir in five teaspoons of sugar.
"I didn't want to scare Harry," Cassius said.
"Because you had seizures?" Corbin asked.
"I've never had a seizure." Cassius shook his head as he took the cup Corbin held out.
"You just did," Corbin said as his brows drew together with worry. "Cassie, what do you think happens when you go to the Dark Forest?"
Cassius drank his tea silently. When it was all gone, he set the cup down. "I don't know. I open my eyes and I'm on the ground and it's dark. I lose time," he said softly.
"How much time?" Corbin asked.
"An hour or two...sometimes more."
"Oh my God!" Corbin exclaimed, "So you aren't staying after class to study."
It wasn't a question so Cassius didn't answer.
"Bloody hell." Corbin put his head in his hands and took a deep breath in and out. "Is there anything else you haven't told me?"
"And sometimes I'm hurt," Cassius said, the words rushing out, he half hoped that Corbin wouldn't understand them.
"Sometimes." Corbin repeated, looking up at him, "Cassius Malfoy."
"Most times," Cassius looked down at the quilt covering their bed, "Every time."
Corbin didn't say anything and Cassius couldn't make himself look up to see his face. He had been stupid to say anything to Owen and Stevens, it had been better when Corbin hadn't known. He was weak and Corbin wouldn't love him now.
"Hey," Corbin said, his blue eyes were very close. Corbin had gotten hold of both his hands, Cassius wasn't sure when. "Stop, you're hurting yourself."
"It doesn't matter," Cassius felt water dripping onto his hands.
Corbin's hand came towards his face, and he flinched. Malfoys should not flinch. He flung himself down on the bed and buried his head under his pillow to block the sound of someone crying.
Corbin stared down at Cassius's back. He'd pulled a pillow over his head but Corbin could still hear Cassius crying. His own stomach was in knots and he swallowed hard to keep from throwing up. Slowly, being careful not to startle Cassius again, he laid down on his side next to Cassius and gently tugged until he could get both arms around Cassius and get Cassius's head settled over his heart again. Cassius's body was still cold and although his eyes were closed, Corbin was sure they were still black. Corbin had never known him to have convulsions or lose time.
Cassius was saying something in Malfoytongue, it was too difficult to understand through his sobs, but Corbin could guess at the sentiment.
"I will not leave you. You are my dearest love. Nothing will change that," Corbin said firmly. He began to recite Shakespeare's Sonnet 116: "'Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove.'" He continued to recite the sonnet as Cassius's sobs smoothed into deep breaths and he fell asleep. His hands were warm to the touch and when Corbin lifted an eyelid, Cassius's eyes were green again. Corbin sighed with relief, wiping the tears from Cassius's face and pressing a kiss to his forehead.
Corbin got up and tucked a blanket around Cassius. He drank a cup of tea, then he went around the house, repairing and returning things to their proper places.
After checking on Cassius, who was still sleeping, he firecalled Stevens who came through the floo with Harry.
"Merlin's Beard," Stevens said, after Corbin had told him what had happened, "You...you will..." He trailed off unable to think of what Corbin could do.
"I will. I will figure something out, I won't let this continue," Corbin said. "I know the program is difficult - God knows I do - but when I was with him...This is my fault, he got himself all spun up because I wasn't there...and then he kept it from me...Stevens, I did a stunning spell to stop the seizure. What if I have to take him to Saint Mungo's? He'll go spare."
"Maybe it will be better now because you know and you said you'd help him. He thinks you could slay a Manticore empty-handed."
Corbin smiled weakly, "Let's hope I can. Metaphorically speaking."
They sat silently for a long moment.
"Harry and I ate chicken vindaloo. And I made sure he drank all his milk," Stevens stood up.
"Thank you," Corbin stood as well. "Could you watch Harry again tomorrow afternoon?"
"Yes, of course," Stevens nodded. "What do you want me to tell Owen?"
"Christ, I don't know. Could you, could you not tell him just yet? He pokes and prods at Cassie when Cassie is struggling and it never makes it better."
"I'll tell him...that you are having me watch Harry so you and Cassie can have sex."
"Lots of sex to convince Cassie that he shouldn't leave me," Corbin added. "That's perfect, Owen will believe that."
They hugged tightly and then Stevens left after giving Harry a hug and kiss goodbye.
Corbin walked with Harry up the stairs to get him ready for bed. Harry looked into their room and saw Cassius sleeping in their bed.
"Mama, Daddy sleepin'?" Harry asked, looking confused. Cassius had never been asleep before Harry.
"Yes, Daddy was very tired." Corbin answered. He felt exhausted too. "How about a special sleepover?"
They'd started having a special night every week or so when Harry got to sleep in their bed with them. Harry loved it.
"Yay!" Harry skipped excitedly to the bathroom to take his bath.
After Harry had bathed and brushed his teeth, he picked out books to read and then clambered into their bed while Corbin got himself ready for bed.
Corbin climbed in the middle of the bed with Cassius on one side and Harry on the other side. Usually, Harry was in the middle, but Corbin wanted to be sure he could feel if Cassius's body temperature changed during the night.
Harry settled against Corbin's side and they read "Goodnight Moon" and "There's a Wocket in my Pocket" which were currently Harry's favorites.
Author's Note: Ta da! I'm a bit nervous to know what you all think. :-) Drop me a line. :-)
