Talia did not falter when Jasper asked something ridiculous of her and Talbott, she did not bat an eye at the rumours circling through the camp, did not care about simple matters sprung from the heads of simple minded people. She kept a levelled head, spending time with those she considered worthy when Talbott needed time alone. He stopped avoiding her, instead telling her when he required a moment to himself and she indulged him, although she did notice those times were starting to become further apart.
He would smile more in her presence, gaze softening even when their eyes locked from across the room. Talbott started teasing her, making puns and pushing her in different ways that enticed her, bringing out a new side of her, once she reserved for very few people.
As April knocked at the camp's doors, it brought with it a new trainer, someone who saw things differently than Jasper and his crew. This new persona walked in the middle of a duel, one Jasper was performing with Talia. She leaned against an old wooden post, eyeing the interaction carefully, noting in her head things for later. One of the things she did take note of was Jasper's tight jaw and Talia's smirk when accepting defeat. Clapping slowly all heads turned.
"Bravo Munday, you managed to defeat a recruit." Jasper's glare set on the approaching female offering Talia a hand, pulling her to her feet only to lean in and whisper "I know you can do better, don't worry I won't tell." Winking at Talia, she just removed her hand, returning to sit next to Talbott.
"What are you doing here Mirunna Finnemore?" Tonks snickered somewhere in a corner, telling her partner something about her name not sounding so bad all of the sudden.
Mirunna kept a trained eyes on Jasper letting some time pass before offering a response that came in the form of a letter from the Ministry "Not saying that I don't like what you have done to this spooky place, however starting from day, there is a new trainer, me." Talbott could literally see a vein ready to pop on Jasper's forehead as Mirunna waved a hand at the recruits watching the exchange unfold.
Poking his arm, Talbott glanced over at Talia "This is good" she whispered "if they are sending new trainers then maybe this isn't a complete waste of time." Nodding his head, those were exactly his thoughts.
"Now isn't this a warm welcome." Eyes covered in heavy makeup turned back to Jasper "I do hope not all of them are this dull as that would be dreadful." Clearing her throat, she smiled heading to the middle of the field "You have learned your entire lives to fight using wands and wits, yet there is a lot more to being an Auror than that. Resilience, strength, weapon wielding, all these carry an equal importance, the more you learn, the better your chances of survival. I will be teaching you those things." Turning once more to Jasper, a fine line creased her forehead "I am expecting a list of names for all the partners. Now, let's see what this spooky old place has to offer."
"Well this is going to be interesting, but I think Jasper's mood might be even worse with her around. " Talia looked over at Talbott smirking.
"Like I care what that runt has to say, but you're right. He is a lot more ruthless in duelling as well." Talia sighed shoving three fingers in her shawl "This is the third one, I swear."
"I believe he is mad you aren't showing him your true potential." Scoffing at him, she dismissed the notion entirely "Plus, I can buy you a new shawl anytime." She would quiet down every time he would say something sweet, eyes lingering on his face a moment longer as if trying to see if he was lying or not, in the end offering him a heart melting smile "Come, we still haven't figured out the tactics if we get attacked by four people at the same time."
Somehow they worked on their dynamic, understanding each other better, accepting the good and bad in one another, diving in books and papers, writing and practicing strategies fit for them.
So it went the following day when Mirunna called them out in the field for a training session of her own "Firstly I would like for you to call me by my first name, no miss or mam, just Mirunna. Second, today we will try to see if you have anything in you when it comes to defending oneself. So who here knows how to use their fists?" the two recruits from the Durmstrang institute rose their hands first. Tonks also rose a hand as she managed to get in a few scuffles. Slowly a few more also joined, Talia being the last "Good, you what's your name?"
"Karol." The strong accent reached Mirunna's ears who eyed him, nothing his strong built, he surely would have an advantage even if he didn't know much. Karol glanced over at Talia, making a face, her showing him her fist. She would punch him in the face once more if he kept it up.
"Looks like we have a small rivalry here. You, your name?" calling her over with her finger, Talia stepped forward, proving her name to the new trained "Perfect, Karol and Talia, you will go first. I need a demonstration so we can study and learn from it. And don't worry, I know healing magic as well." Stepping away, all eyes focused on the two recruits, Karol clearly wishing to win this one "Oh and please, go all out, Jasper is not here today, yeah."
Talia threw Mirunna a sideway glance before focusing on her opponent. She didn't ever take a stance during duelling, however this time she took half a step back with her left leg, balancing as if testing her movements, hands coiling to fists after cracking her fingers. It was clear by some unspoken arrangement that Karol would attack first and she had to hold her ground.
Mirunna clapped her hands together, Karol making a sprint surprising everyone since he moved rather fast for such a big man. Blocking his right hand, Talia's right uppercut made him take a step back as his teeth clattered together. Gaining his balance rather quickly, he went for a different punch, this time catching one opening in her stomach. Talia bent forward groaning at the sudden pain taking the air out of her lungs. Karol's free hand dug in her hair, forehead interacting with her nose.
From the sides, Talbott already took a step trying to break the lines, only to be stopped by the trainer "I'm guessing you're the partner. Wait, watch and learn." Redirecting a glare, Talia retaliated almost on reflex despite her eyes watering up from the sudden impact. Kicking him once between the legs ensured Karol let go of her hair, cursing in a foreign language.
But Talia still remained too close for comfort, Karol managing to grab her shirt "Aren't you a little fun wench?" tripping her, Talia landed on her back with a thud, him getting on top trying to immobilize her "How is this for" palm of her hand landed a hit to his ear throwing him off balance enough for her to turn the tables.
"You always did talk too much." One punch broke the skin on her knuckles and his lip as he pulled on her shirt managing to rip it at the neck. Talia's eyes widened, hands going up to her blouse, punch hitting her square in the jaw.
Raising her hand, she waved it in a surrender much to everyone's surprise.
"You did good, both of you, nice." Mirunna searched for Talia's eyes, yet she kept her head lowered as the trainer chanted away a healing spell "Do you want to go change?" she only nodded "Alright, go." That was the only queue she needed, running for her room.
"Permission to go check on her." Mirunna looked up at Talbott as if trying to understand what was asked of her "I'm her partner."
"Ah yes, certainly, go."
Running after her, he knocked at the door before entering the room, alerting her of his presence in case she wasn't decent. Entering, the curtain was drawn, Talia fussing as she searched for a change of clothes "Talia are you alright?"
"Leave me alone." His brows furrowed as that was the first time she had snapped at him "Just go away." Hearing fabric hit the floor, he waited for her to get dressed before attempting to invade her space.
"I'm not going anywhere Talia." The curtain slid, wild eyes meeting his. Blood still painted her face from the fight, nostrils flaring "What happened out there? You had the upper hand."
"Had yes." She was hiding, there was something she wasn't telling him, something that distracted her so much that she lost the fight "I don't want to talk right now." He knew better than to pry, letting her pass without much of a fuss, however he made a mental note to try again later that night.
Talia had a good few hours alone without him looming over her, Mirunna calling her over for a small chat at one point, one she did not look to appreciate in the slightest. All day, she went from a bad mood to downright rotten and he was certain she would jump at him once more if he tried talking, however he had other plans.
As they were both sitting in the room, Talbott got up from his desk, pulling the curtain away to see her reading a book. Taking the opportunity he sat at the foot of her bed, pushing towards her a present. Raising her brows, he urged for her to open it, noting how her eyes widened as she held out a polka dotted dress "I believe I got the size right judging by your stature."
Talia blinked a few times, cradling the dress to her chest "Thank you Talbott, this is lovely" glossy eyes rose to look at him, his chest tightening as tears swam in them "however I can't wear it."
"I don't understand." Setting the dress aside, she ran a hand over the smooth material, a shuddered breath leaving her lips "If it upsets you, I can take it back." She gently shook her head, nose sniffing as she brought her knees up to her chest, resting her forehead on them, hiding her face away from Talbott "Talia, I'm sorry, I don't know why you are upset, however the dress reminded me of our date and what you said about the dancer." Sighing he extended a hand out to touch her, clenching his fist as he pulled back.
"I can't wear it because" he came closer just so he could hear her better since all her voice lost its edge but she lifted her head "the dress would show some of my chest and I can't."
Talbott looked at the dress, picking it up to analyse it with a confused look "It doesn't reveal too much."
"No, it doesn't, but I have some scars." The dress dropped from his hands in an instant as he looked at her "I can barely wear normal shirts and even then I think they show or someone will notice. Today I lost due to that, I can't have someone see them."
"Well" his brows drew close together as he kept his tone steady "I can learn to brew a batch of" seeing her shake her head told him she tried it before "Who hurt you Talia?"
She wouldn't have normally replied to that, however seeing his smouldering eyes made her reconsider "I got them as a present on my fifth birthday from my parents." Flares went up in his mind, anger still, yet bubbling inside his chest. While he didn't have his parents anymore at least his years with them brought forth happy memories, yet the girl before his eyes got tortured as a child, it was visible, clear as day by her face alone.
"Show me where they hurt you." As sincere as that was, without him making any gesture to touch her, Talia backed away from him as if he was made of fire. Getting off the bed, he practically jumped, creating even more space "No wait, don't misinterpret please." Sitting across from her on his own bed, his head dipped "I apologise if it sounded odd."
"No, I'm sorry." Breathing in through her nose, she exhaled through parted lips, coming on the edge of the bed "Perhaps one day Talbott, although I would need to reveal a lot of skin."
Shaking the thought away from his mind "How big is it?" she pondered for a long time, yet he allowed it all, eyes widening when she finally moved pale fingers towards him, using his chest as an example. Trembling hand went below his left clavicular bone, slowly making its way down to his heart, further tracing between his ribs, stopping just above his stomach "Permission to touch?" once more she hesitated before nodding.
Talbott took her hand into his pulling her slowly, in her own time, to his bed directly in his embrace, holding her tight in his arms as she settled in his lap, letting his strong arms shield her from a moment from everything. When they parted she looked different, ready to finally talk to him more openly "There is more and it will also explain why I have been avoiding Tonks and her invitation to study the Patronus charm."
"I'll listen." She knew that, she knew he would.
"Karol knows and holds a grudge against me because I dated his brother for a few months." Talbott's arms folded across his chest, Talia pulling them apart, holding his hands in hers "Not because I liked him" giving his hands a gentle squeeze she continued "but because I needed him to teach me the Patronus charm. I know everything about it by heart, but I can't perform it. I can't conjure and focus on a happy memory, I have none to fuel me." there was more behind her confession, that became clear to him.
"So you broke up with him right?" a nod was the only confirmation that she provided "So Karol is upset because you deceived his brother." Another short nod "Tell me you are not using me for anything Talia." Her eyes darted to his face, breath lodged in her chest under his sharp glare "Say it, tell me and I will believe you."
"I'm not." Chewing on her lip she searched for the proper words "I told you things I never told anyone." how could she even get him to stop reading the situation in a wrong way? Panic set in her chest, rhythm picking up as her heart both sank and raced at the same time. Talbott kept the same stone cold facade, the one from before they even got close to each other, learned more as partners.
"I see." it felt as if he took the air out of her, more violently than the earlier punch to the gut "You did what you had to do while alone." Talia watched him, lost expression strapped to her face, so much so that Talbott threw his head back and laughed, wholeheartedly full out laughed while holding onto his stomach.
Hitting his leg she recovered "You smuck." to which he laughed some more. It was when Talia leaned in pressing a kiss to his cheek that he froze, looking at her with a lost expression, hand touching the spot she just kissed "You are lovely when you laugh." jumping out of his bed she opened her book once more "I need to finish this, the lovers are just about to have their first night together in a hotel."
Pulling the curtain to mainly hide himself he muttered under his breath "You are impossible." but she just giggled delighted she managed to get him all flustered.