The boards groaned beneath their feet as the spinning stopped and the world around them came into focus. Her feet hadn't completely touched the ground before they were moving again. Minerva led him through the dark halls like a new born lamb, the shaking of his own body traveling into her own. She tried to flex her hand, but the sheer strength of his grip had caused her entire arm to go numb.
With a wave of her wand light flooded the small bathroom as they entered. With another steam began to fill the air as the she turned on the shower. Careful never to lose contact, Minerva removed his hand and set about removing his soiled robes. It would have been faster simply to banish them, but it wasn't what they both needed.
He never said a word as the layers fell around him, only his slight shiver as the air hit his skin acknowledged the act. His hands had landed on her shoulders as she undressed him, and his fingers curled, biting into the skin as her robes disappeared as well.
She pulled him with her under the spray, letting the heat envelop them. Something sparked in his eyes as the soap began its travels across his chest, and she was surprised at the flood of relief it caused. "Almost done."
She watched in despair as the dirt and filth that had coated him, smothered him, began to melt away. The first layer gave way to the second, and then the third, and it took all her willpower not to recoil at the tar-like water rolling off his body. The very smell of him would always be a haunting reminder.
Skin finally began to come into view, and she went about the task of identifying all the injuries now visible. A few scratches and bruises, but physically he was lucky. But that's not always enough.
Her mind had been so occupied with him that she never noticed as his own hand landed on her stomach, the soap gliding across her own skin. She bit down on her lip at the rush his touch never failed to create as her own efforts stopped. She looked up and was immediately arrested at the odd expression on his face. The wild look was gone from his eyes, but it had been replaced with something she had never seen before.
Time seemed to slow down and the sound of rushing water faded around them. All she heard was the clatter of the soap to the bottom and her own pounding heartbeat as the flash returned to his eyes. "Minerva." His voice was hoarse and thick, desperate. Without another word Minerva felt the biting cold of the shower tiles warring with the heat from his body pressing against her own. He was everywhere as she felt the moan rip from her throat and her back arch from the wall. Despite it all, his hands never shook as he gripped her hips, and soon she was the one trembling.
She fought desperately against the tension welled up inside of her, struggling just for the next breath. Her thighs clamped around his hips as their tongues fought. She fell, faster, farther, harder than ever before, and it enthralled her.
She became vaguely aware of the cold water battering her back and the heaving warmth beneath her; somehow they had ended up on the floor. His grip on her hips hadn't lessened, even as his lungs cried out for oxygen. Somehow she managed to reach the tap and shut of the water. She smoothed the hair out of his eyes, letting her lips follow as his own heart slowed beneath her fingertips. It wasn't until she felt him shiver that she realized just how cold it had become.
"Come on," she said softly as she unsteadily got to her feet. There was none of the usual acknowledgment that followed such an encounter. There were no soft words or soothing touches. His eyes glazed again as she dried them both and led him back into the bedroom.
Within seconds he was safely tucked beneath the sheets, being pulled into her embrace. He gripped her like a teddy bear and the exhaustion of the day's events finally overtook him. His heavy breathing evened out as she ran her fingers through his hair. It took considerably longer for her to follow.
