A/N: This is just a quick little drabble I was side swiped with last night. As always, thank you to the ever patient Pips and my wonderful readers and reviewers.
"You're beautiful," Remus breathed in adoration, awe and love as his eyes took in every inch of her.
Tonks looked away shyly. It was the first time Remus had seen her completely unmorphed, imperfections and all.
"And you have tattoos," he pointed out in surprise.
"Yeah. I usually keep them hidden. This one's Ash," she rubbed a small six inch dragon, whose tail was wrapped almost possessively around her upper arm. He blinked curiously up at Remus. "He's the only one with a name."
All her tattoos were of fierce creatures: a wolf on her ankle, Ash on her upper arm, a lioness on her lower back and a Siberian tiger on her shoulder blade except for one – a little butterfly above her heart.
"They protect me," Tonks explained breaking the silence of Remus's interested and curious stare.
He glanced up at her with a quirked eyebrow. "But you're an Auror."
"Who's fighting a war."
"And the butterfly?"
"She's the most important," Tonks murmured caressing the delicate art on her skin. "She protects my heart. If it's in danger she flies away with it so it won't get lost."
Remus felt his heart clench painfully. "Why is she still here?" he asked caressing her skin, keeping the hurt out of his voice.
"Because I lost my heart before she had a chance to fly away," she whispered looking up at him, her soul as naked as her body.
Remus swallowed sharply against the tug in his soul. "And if you find a guardian, will Ash and the others leave you?"
"Have I found a guardian?"
He reached up and cupped her cheek, caressing her lips with his thumb. "I will protect you."
"Then they will protect us."
