A Smile in the Dark.
Chapter Four.
The next morning, a rudely screeching alarm clock was the herald to the awakening of one bubblegum-haired Metamorphmagus, this morning not as pink as usual for some odd reason. Perplexed, and still rather sleepy, Tonks lifted a strand of her long brown hair, wondering where the hell it had come from. What had she been dreaming to make her resume her natural colour? This pondering was disturbed once more by the alarm clock, and with a glare that was slightly less potent than usual due to the sleepiness, she gave it a smack with her hand that effectively silenced it. Swinging her legs out of bed, she slipped a warm robe on over the top of her pyjamas and stumped down to the kitchen, managing for once to avoid tripping over anything, herself included. Through the open doorway she went, straight over to the table where there was an absolute plethora of mugs of all shapes, sizes and colours with a hot pot of coffee resting serenely nearby whilst sending deliciously scented curls of steam into the air.
A moment later, she had sat down and downed half a mug without much incident other than scorching the tips of her fingers on the smallest bit of coffee she had spilt. It was only once the caffeine had begun to filter into her system that she noticed she was being regarded from a distance. Without turning her head or acknowledging the presence of the werewolf, her eyes flicked to the side to verify that it was indeed Remus. And it was, looking less tired and with damp hair, which he obviously hadn't bothered to dry yet from his morning shower. He was leaning in the doorway, watching her quietly and no doubt wondering when she was going to notice that he was there.
"Take a picture, lasts longer," she chimed with a wicked grin, still not looking at him. You'll have to do better than that if you want to sneak up on me. I might be bad at stealth myself, but it doesn't mean I'm bad at catching other people at it.
Her words startled Remus, made him slightly abashed about watching her. "Good morning to you too, Tonks," he returned with a smile of his own. "Are you working today?" This question asked, he made his way into the kitchen and sat opposite her comfortably, looking around for the paper and realising suddenly that it was too early for it to have been delivered yet. Nice, Remus. You know that she works pretty much every day. She pulls double shifts for Merlin's sake!
At his question, Tonks finally looked at him full on, wrapped snugly in her robe and suddenly realising that she was in her pyjamas in front of a man she most definitely had feelings for. Damn. Giving him a smile, she replied "not for another couple of hours. It's only just past six and I don't have to be in till ten." Leaving the words in the air, a sudden idea hit her, one that she didn't dare act out. Should I ask him to come get lunch with me today, when we both have a break? Acting casual, Tonks questioned "and you? What are you planning to do with your day, Remus?"
I love the fact that she addresses me by something that isn't my surname. She actually treats me like a person, and not a werewolf or a soldier of some kind. Smiling both inwardly and outwardly, Remus replied "oh, I have nothing planned. I've been granted a brief reprieve even though I have consistently protested that I am fit for work." A slight frown replaced the smile at this, Remus unmistakably irked that he was forbidden from working.
"Fit for work, pfft. Would resting seriously kill you, just for one day?" Tonks raised an eyebrow at him then and winked to soften it. "Besides, there'd be no intelligent company left if you worked yourself to death. Also, you'd be denied the pleasure of our early morning banter, and therefore deprived of me!" To punctuate the fact that she was joking, Tonks fluttered her eyelashes in a way that wasn't out of place on Fleur Delacour, except the blonde pulled it off with more aplomb due to her Veela blood. On Tonks, it looked ridiculous and she knew it.
Her expression had the desired effect, Remus laughing and responding "what? Deprived of Tonks? Such a travesty, I must rest if only to avoid that!" The laughter faded to leave him with a soft ache in his stomach and a slight fluttery feeling that he didn't recognise. Or at least, pretended he didn't recognise. She makes you nervous. She's intelligent, funny and she makes you nervous. Remus blocked out such thoughts and decided to busy himself in retrieving a cup of coffee for himself, suddenly noticing what was different about Tonks this morning. "I haven't seen you brunette before Tonks," he commented abstractly, privately thinking that it suited her very well. The hazel eyes, too. They're…thoughtful.
Remus's words reminded Tonks with a shock that her hair was still natural, as were her eyes, or so she presumed. A quick flick changed her eyes to blue and a slight screw up of her face made it black with a blue tint. "It's just as well you haven't. It's dreadful; I don't let anyone see me like that. I'm a bit…well. I don't like myself naturally." Her words belied the sudden panic that had arisen in her, and she occupied herself with staring into the base of her coffee cup, now empty, Tonks regretting that she had drained it as quickly as she had.
That was her natural form? But…why doesn't she like it? Remus scrutinised her closely, deciding to be slightly brazen and talk to her about it. "If that was you naturally, then I am most certainly not seeing anything worthy of not being liked, Tonks." His voice was gentle and had an unmistakable ring of truth to it that was sufficient for her to raise her head and look at him.
He doesn't judge me. Good thing number…lost count, about Remus Lupin. "Well, what do you see then? Remus, do explain because I'm mystified if it's something good." Her voice carried a definite tinge of bitterness to it at this, one that could not be passed off as another emotion. Damn.
"I see a pretty face that goes with a sharp mind." Are you complimenting her Remus? I rather think you are; she thoroughly deserves it. A slight flush came to Remus's face at his words and his thoughts combined and he quickly looked away after a moment, missing the fact that Tonks's eyes had lit up and that she looked touched.
"No one…has ever said that to me before." Tonks's voice was even, but there was evident emotion waiting to bubble up that she kept squashed.
This caused him to look at her again. "I sincerely hope you're joking, Tonks."
"Why would I joke? I told you, I don't let people see my real form."
"They don't know what they're missing." Oh dear Merlin, did I really say that out loud?
Tonks opened her mouth to reply before the sound of a wooden leg dragging on the floor, followed by the sound of a disgruntled mutter from one Kingsley Shacklebolt, most likely an irritated comment about the racket Mad-Eye was making. He was not known for being a morning person. Tonks gave a grin to Remus, still somewhat fluttered, and mouthed at him 'here comes the doom and gloom to start the day', causing him to start snickering into his coffee, which he had just refilled.
Trying to reconcile herself to what had just happened between herself and Remus; Tonks focused upon the two men and opened her mouth to greet them. "Aha! Tonks, just the person I need to see!" exclaimed Kingsley with a grin. Tonks regarded him warily at this, disconcerted by his sudden change of demeanour, and shot back "I'm not covering your shift today, I'm not doing any of your reports and I'm not going on double duty tonight. So quit while you're ahead." The light tease behind her voice suggested that she knew better than that, but of course she couldn't read minds and immediately guess what her superior wanted. "Just kidding, morning, what are you after me for?"
"None of the aforementioned; I need you out on the job this afternoon, scouring London." Seeing the slightly crestfallen look on Lupin's face, Kingsley winked subtly at him and questioned "would you like company? I daresay Remus wouldn't mind taking a walk out with you."
"You're quite rude presuming Remus doesn't have something to do already. After all, it is his day off, in case you haven't forgotten. I would at least have the courtesy to ask first, as much as I certainly wouldn't mind having him with me." Tonks's words were spoken haughtily to Kingsley but a glance to Remus revealed that she wouldn't mind him being there. Quite the opposite, actually.
Well, this saves me having to ask her if she'd like to go to lunch with me, admittedly. Remus gave a smile and saluted Tonks. "If you don't mind me coming along, I'm quite happy to come out with you. I'm not the sit around type at any rate, not unless I have someone to sit around with."
His words were accompanied by a soft flash of pleading blue eyes, one that made Tonks melt inside. Oh Merlin, here I go again! It is such a good job that he doesn't know what I'm thinking right now. A grin was given to Remus as she got to her feet "this afternoon? What do you want me to do this morning?" Seconds later, she wished that she hadn't asked when Kingsley dumped a large folder in front of her.
"You can work from here; you don't have to be in the office to do paperwork. Just read these over and check for clues and evidence that seem out of kilter or suspicious. We're looking at reviving some of these cases in order to question the acquitted. You'll find that most of them are Death Eaters, former or otherwise." With this and a nod, Kingsley swept out of the room, heading to the office of the Muggle Prime Minister, where he was currently based as both an assistant and bodyguard. He was still obligated to do some regular Auror work of course, circumstances being as they currently were, but this was his main assignment.
Tonks groaned heavily at the sight of the paperwork and sank back into her chair, hitting her head off the table with a thunk that echoed throughout the kitchen. "I hate that man." Her voice had a tone of ironic humour to it, suggesting that she didn't mean what she said. Moody was sat nearby, observing both her and Remus in silence. Noticing this, Tonks questioned "what interests you, Mad-Eye?"
Moody raised a sardonic eyebrow at the young Metamorphmagus and then glanced at Lupin, who had yet to take his eyes off her. "It's not so much what interests me as what interests two people I know rather well. Have a good day, both of you, and remember…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Tonks cut him off with a perfectly imitated "…CONSTANT VIGILENCE!" which sent Remus into quiet snickers again. "I believe that she has you beat for doing that now, Alastor. You couldn't have said it better yourself."
Moody rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, but it was good-natured and he showed no sign of real ill humour, which was saying something considering how early it was in the morning. "I probably couldn't have, as much as I detest admitting it. I'm glad to see that the idle one is out of bed early for a change however, it saved Kingsley from attempting to wake you and getting assaulted with your shoe collection." At Remus's baffled look resulting from his words, he shook his head and mouthed "don't ask," at him, ignoring the undeniably filthy look Tonks had shot in his direction.
Moments later, he had swept out of the kitchen, leaving a chuckling werewolf and a slightly embarrassed looking Metamorphmagus in his wake.
Remus tilted his head and looked at her quizzically. "Shoe collection?"
Tonks immediately got to her feet. "Please, not this early in the morning. I'll explain a bit later, for now I'm going to curl in bed and examine paperwork. Would you like to come and sit in? I'm avoiding food for another hour or so till Molly is awake."
The invitation made Remus smile. "I'd like that very much. Company is nice…yours in particular."
The compliment made Tonks flush slightly, and leaving the room with him following she wondered if this was such a good idea.
After all…I don't think I can trust myself not to open my mouth and blurt what I'm currently feeling.
Note: I will update my stories asbest I can. Please be patient with regards to Remus & Juliet in particular since my muse appears to have deserted me for the moment where Remus/Hermione is concerned. If I can't crank any more for it within a week or two I'm putting it on hiatus until I get some new material and new inspiration to write it.