As the sun set upon the Auror camp, Talbott sat on his bed having been ready for an hour, stealing glances in the mirror to ensure his hair was slicked back properly, tie not crocked, shirt without wrinkles. Pulling on the sleeves of his shirt, he straightened his vest, sneaking another peek at himself.
Talia was also busy behind the curtain in their room, probably making faces since he kept reminding her he does not do dates "Yes, yes you keep telling me." however his lips curved in a smile since she wasn't backing down in her attempt to take him out on a date. Fussing with something a soft groan was heard, Talbott turning to look suspiciously at the curtain "Can you please do me?"
Heat rushed to his face in an instant as he struggled to form a sentence "Excuse me?" the curtain was pulled back, Talia holding onto her dress, looking positively fed up. Turning her bare back to him, it was clear she meant the zipper, however that situation was not a particularly good one either as he went to offer his aid.
Grabbing the small zipper between his fingers it was clear he couldn't just pull it up without breaking it. Holding the thin fabric, he touched her, immediately pulling back, apologizing profusely for his rough hands "No, you're fine." Looking over her shoulder, Talia squinted her eyes "If this is making you uncomfortable, I can chose another dress."
"No, it looks good on you." in his book, he did well in that sense, the compliment earning him a smile. Brushing her hair over her shoulder, he was determined not to pull back this time, after all such moments were not a privilege for him. With how he carried himself, how he interacted with others the chances of an intimate affair were down to zero, if not below that "I will try not to bore you too much tonight." Glancing over her shoulder, his hands dropped to her waist for a moment, before telling her he was done.
With a fully zipped dress, Talia turned around to look at him "Do you always put yourself down like this?" it was an honest question laced with the best intentions however he kept silent as he looked down at her "You look lovely by the way." Pulling down at his vest, he just nodded accepting the compliment, ignoring her previous question entirely.
Grabbing their jackets, they both stepped outside of the camp right in the middle of the busy streets of London. Without a reservation if would be impossible to even find a table, however Talia looked to know exactly where they were going and it was not Diagon Alley. By the looks of it, it was another muggle bar, full to the brim both on the outside terrace since the weather had been kind lately, but also inside with people standing, talking to each other.
He froze for a second taking it all in, giving Talia a dirty look "Trust me." slipping her hand into his, she pulled him inside through the crowd, bar tender giving her a small nod as she went through a door that had a "personnel only" sign on it.
Two more doors and they stepped outside in a small back garden, carefully hidden away behind a tall fence. In the very middle, a table for two was set up, all the noise and chatter not even reaching them. Talia watched Talbott's face as he took it all in, relaxing at the thought they would be all alone.
Leading him to the table, they both took a seat, Talia's hand reaching for the wine bottle "Alright so I know you mentioned that you don't drink however you might actually like this one if I explain it." His brows drew together as she offered an all knowing smile. Taking the bottle opener she screwed it in, a small pop breaking the silence. Pouring the red wine in a decanter she set it aside to let it rest.
"Alright, you have peaked my interest." Her eyes widened slightly as a smiled graced his lips, she couldn't recall him smiling before "Show me the world through your eyes Talia." Heat coloured her cheeks slightly as she glanced away, lips pursing slightly before speaking.
"Fair warning, you might be spooked or roll your eyes at me, or jump the fence." Shrugging her shoulders Talia's gaze settled on him, eyes alive with something he couldn't quite place. Leaning back, Talbott placed both his hands in his pockets, legs slightly spread as he smirked.
"Try me." however the challenge had already been accepted.
Running a finger across her lower lip, the words flowed effortlessly "I find that when you taste wine, especially a good one, there are certain aspects you need to consider." Twirling a strand of hair between pale fingers she locked him down with a sweet gaze "I picked this wine with you in mind." Talbott cleared his throat slightly a short nod urging her to continue "I have seen you in the small green house, hands deep in the soil as you tended to plants so I knew the wine needed to be noble, from lands that have been worked on hard over the years."
As she leaned in, forearms resting on the table, her little speech continued "I knew the taste had to be strong and rather harsh on the first try, yet still hold a drop of sweetness that hits you just as you are ready to set aside the glass and never drink this wine again." There was no denying that she had a way with words, how she spun stories out of something as simple as wine, how all seemed effortlessly, or perhaps he thought that just because it was her speaking, her talking about him like he was something more "So you give the wine another try, this time inhaling its aroma and to your surprise you find it goes back to that soft earthly scent."
His gaze lingered on her as she got up pouring him a glass, then one for her "Somewhere above all that there is a floral scent, but no matter how hard you try it's always just at the tip of your tongue, then the name of it flees your mind entirely, however it's lovely all the same." Picking up their glasses a soft clank rang as their touched, toasting "In short Talbott, this wine grows on you, intoxicates your senses the moment it touches your lips."
She watched him look away shifting in his chair, yet smiled when smelling the wine, his usual sharp eyes softening. She bit her lower lip as he took a sip, holding her breath, waiting "It's more citrus than floral, but I like it all the same." Her lips slowly parted, soft exhale leaving her chest before she also took a sip from her glass "Talia can I be franc with you?"
"Always." A shred of hesitation clouded his mind as he couldn't quite find the proper words, but when he lifted his gaze to meet her worry riddle expression he knew he had to continue what he started.
"You could have asked anyone out today, why spend it with me?" swirling the wine inside his glass just to not fidget with his hands he waited on her answer, feeling the intensity of her gaze.
"Because anyone won't do, anyone is easy and majority undeserving in my opinion." Lifting the glass, the rim touched her lips "I sow secrets onto my skin Talbott, suffocate under their scrutiny and burn anyone's words to ashes inside their mouths." lips parted slightly as he fed on the words she provided "I am so tired of running without a purpose and even if my reasons have nothing to do with you, something brought us together as partners."
Placing the glass on the table she got up asking if it's alright to bring the food "You still haven't answered my question."
Her eyes met the ground for a few moments "You also evade mine." Squinting his eyes, a hand rose to his chin, soft sigh leaving his chest "And you're trying to evade me."
"Emphasis on trying." He realized the line was spoken out loud in the most inopportune moment. She was searching for an explanation, something more to tip the scale to the right side of the truth "Blimey, you're doing a number on my head." Rolling his eyes he started counting something on his fingers, Talia now looking more confused than ever "Do you want me to answer all the questions I evaded?"
"No." raising a hand to her chest, she placed an open palm over her beating heart "Just answer this, are you actually going to give me a proper chance?"
Sharp eyes lingered on her form "A chance regarding what exactly Talia?" it was a question on his behalf, however she did not offer a reply, leaving the decision up to him despite the struggle forming inside his mind with each passing moment.
Pressing her lips together, she forced a smile "Don't worry about it, I'll go get the food." Getting up, he blocked her path, hands slightly raised. There wasn't anything ominous about his gesture, so Talia remained still, looking up at him.
"If you continue to be who you are now then it will be inevitable I think." She squinted her eyes, distrust emanating off her, despite the playful glint shining through. Looking to the side he took in account that perhaps sitting like that in front of her wasn't the best idea he had that night "You might suffer near me, you've seen how" he cut himself off when she took his hands in hers.
"Look at me." meeting her deep eyes he truly wasn't sure what to do with himself "You aren't just anyone, I may not yet have a definition for you aside than partner but I like what I am seeing so far." The same heat from before rushed back inside his body, installing itself in his chest "Stop putting yourself down, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you."
"Talia I" taking his hands away he crossed them over his chest, gesture they made her take a step back as well apology leaving her mouth "Bloody Hell." Looking up at the clear sky, he frowned since the stars did not shine as bright as they did on the Hogwarts grounds "Can we postpone the food for a while?"
"Of course, there are some plateaus, so nothing will go cold." Gesturing back to the table they both sat back down, Talia waiting on him to say something.
"Look, this may not be the best moment to say it, but I will regardless because you need to understand some things." Her chest suddenly felt heavy however she sat there quietly, eyes lingering on his expression as he took another sip from the wine "There is a reason for me keeping a low profile." Shaking his head he berated himself for that start "During the Wizarding War my parents went against some Death Eaters who eventually attacked us." Even if it wasn't that cold outside, she felt all warmth leaving her skin "Both my parents didn't make it, only I."
Suddenly it made sense why he asked if her parents were Death Eaters. The nightmares, his attitude all were explained with his confession. She couldn't find the words necessary, apologies wouldn't mean anything to the man before her eyes. Slowly she got up from her chair and that was the first time he witnessed her being unsure of what to do. Crouching near his chair she placed a hand over his, eyes looking up at him "Thank you for trusting me with this, I now understand more." lowering her forehead to his arm took him by surprise.
Such a submissive pose did not fit her and who was he to have her bow her head in silence? "Look at me." she shook her head against his arm refusing like a stubborn child "Talia." his hand rested on her head, long fingers caressing her soft hair. He needed to see her eyes, understand the emotions swarming in them. Gently lifting her head by the chin, anger was the last thing he envisioned "I don't understand you, why are you mad?"
"Because life is cruel and it usually hurts the good ones." with that he could agree, not in the sense that he was one of the good ones, but the innocent suffer more in times of war. Getting up, she ran open palms smoothing out her dress "As I said before I won't let you down Talbott Winger. Your secrets are safe with me."
This time he let her go back inside to bring the food, discussions turning to painful silence in the early night. When they stepped out into the street, Talia pulled him down some secluded alleys, hushing his lips before turning a corner" Listen." music played, laughter tumbling on the streets through an open window.
Urging him to follow, they peaked through the window of a small dance studio. A few couples danced, closely following the instructions of a middle aged woman who always kept a smile on her face, white teeth perfectly showing between bold red lips. Her graceful moves were mesmerising, dress flowing after her thin frame "One day I would love to be like her, so carefree and happy in a polka dotted dress." taking his eyes off the dancers, Talbott tilted his head to the side churning her words "But that's not why I brought you here." stepping away from the window, a smile spread across Talia's lips "I should have danced with you that night when I ran through the court yard."
"We didn't know each other." crossing strong arms over his chest, the harshness of his tone left him for the night. He wanted to throw her way more, how he wouldn't have accepted given how he is always weary of strangers "And dancing isn't my thing."
Stepping close to him, that smile never faded "Yet you were all dressed up." yes he was, Penny made him at least come, Andre wouldn't shut up about the outfits so in the end he reluctantly agreed.
"Dance with me Talbott, no one is watching but us." as he placed his hands on her waist, her arms going around his neck, thoughts roamed free, how much different would some events had been if he had a woman like her by his side? He surely would have handled certain matters in a different manner, knew how to act and react, not look away when bright eyes stared into his. If Talia would have studied just at Hogwarts would she have chosen him or would he still be that invisible quiet boy?
Wishful thinking he concluded, there would have been no possibility for her to look his way. Perhaps with Andre since he was popular and had many friends. Or maybe Bill or any other of the Weasly brothers, perhaps not Percy though. Diego would have been a proper fit too.
Trying to shake away the thoughts he brought her closer, both slowly moving from one leg to the other in the rhythm dictated by the sweet melody. Talia was not a normal case, her being with him on one of the most popular days of the year. She didn't hang out with many at the camp and when she did it was because she needed something.
Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her much to Talia's surprise. Talia was not with any other but him. Someone chose him, made him their first choice "Thank you." holding him, she waited on him to let go when he saw fit, smiling to herself. The night had been a success.
It brought something out of him, made him smile as he let her go in a pirouette. That night she knew Talbott Winger would be different moving forward and hoped that he would never shine away from their partnership.