Title: Vulnerable
Author: Jmaria
Theme:
Passion
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: J.K. is the
Boss. She owns 'em
Pairing: Millicent Bulstrode/Percy
Weasley
Words: 499
Summary: You scare me, and I'm
not sure I can handle that.
Author's Notes: Seven years
post-HBP. Oddly enough, this piece, my Rayne one, and my Jaylee one
all had the same song as inspiration - Rascal Flatts' What Hurts
the Most.
Vulnerable
He scared her, and she wasn't the type to spook easily. Two days of avoiding him hadn't helped the panicky feeling she had whenever he pushed open the heavy doors of the Three Broomsticks. Today wasn't any different. Her apron was half-off the second she heard the familiar creak in the door. His hair was matted down with the rain that had been pouring all morning. Damn if he didn't look good.
"Cookie, I'm going up for the trays," Millicent smacked the apron on the back counter, her head bent low.
"Again? You just went up for them not a half an-" Cook looked over Millicent's shoulder and frowned. "Oh."
"Millicent -"
"Excuse me," Millicent pushed past him, taking the steps up to the private rooms. She didn't expect him to follow her.
"You can't keep avoiding me. We're going to have -"
"I swear if you use the word discuss," she spat, turning to face him, "I will hex you."
"It was out of line for me to yell at you," Percy's jaw clenched as he caught her wrist in his hand. "And I shouldn't have kissed -" Millicent slapped him, her eyes watering.
"I want you gone," she hissed, pushing him away.
"It was wrong of me to kiss you, but I'm not sorry I did," Percy snapped, catching her by the shoulder. "And I'm going to kiss you again, so if it means you're going to slap me again, I don't care because it's been hell the last two days trying to go without you."
His lips were cold, tasting of Firewhiskey and the rain. His hand was hot on her cheek, his thumb gently caressing the corner of her mouth as he angled his for a deeper kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck as her body bent to accommodate his in the narrow hallway. His fingertips tapped on the sliver of bare flesh just below her jumper's hem, the cold bringing her to her senses.
"No," she straightened, her eyes focusing on the door over his shoulder. "I can't do this with you, Percy. I can't be your crutch."
"What?"
"I'm not the transition to making you a real boy, Percy," Millicent said evenly, ignoring her feelings and refusing to look him in the eye. "You're the kind that can't survive outside of Hogwarts. You're gonna have to find another crutch."
"You think I'm using you?" He took a step back, his lips thinning. "That I'm unable to cope with the world outside of the Ministry and Hogwarts?"
"I know you were sacked," Millicent said coolly, her eyes locked firmly on that door.
"So I'm that kind?"
"Yes."
"You figured out which one you are?" Percy spat.
"Not yours," she snapped, looking into his eyes. "If you'll excuse me, I've work to do."
She turned away from him as he stormed down the hall. She waited for the slam of the pub door before she let the tears come. It was better this way.
