"If I have to throw another knife or hit someone with a wooden stick I will be sick." Talia laughed at Tonks's protest as she rubbed a cream on her palms to get rid of the blisters. At least one good thing came with Mirunna, their medical supplies increased and there was actual staff from time to time. Amy just kept her head on the table, mumbling something about muscles hurting, ones she did not even knew she had "No? See?" looking over at Talia, she squinted her eyes "How are you not sore? You and Winger." laughter bubbled from her throat as she pointed a finger not finishing her initial statement "Are you in some special kind of training with him?"
"We are also soar from all the running but perhaps we are in better shape." Talia retaliated "What are you on about Tonks?" she groaned when a pointy elbow hit her ribs.
"You know, a special ride on top of Winger?" she laughed more as Talia slapped her forehead, shaking her head "Come on you can't tell me you haven't thought of him that way, he may be rough around the edges but I see how he looks at you. Winger has got it bad."
"Right." The sarcasm dripped out of her mouth like venom "Look Tonks, I see what you're trying to do but Talbott doesn't see me like that."
"See you like what?" the three girls almost jumped out of their skins turning to see Talbott behind them. Looking down at Talia, he raised his brows, wiping away some sweat from his forehead, chest still expanding rapidly from the training performed prior. Scooching on the bench he placed the wooden stick next to him as he tried to catch Talia's eyes "See me like what?"
"Hey Winger?" looking over at Tonks, she flashed him that mischievous grin "You have had Talia as a partner for" using her fingers to count she concluded they had been partners for five month, now that May was drawing to a close "You remember her first duel and that I said"
"What is your point?" he couldn't have her mention the word "smitten" especially not with Talia right there "I told you before you misread the situation."
Prompting herself on her elbows, she peered closer over the table wiggling her brows "Did I?" ignoring the staring contest happening, Talia took possession over the cream on the table, taking Talbott's hand into hers, examining his palm for any cuts or blisters.
"I told you to wrap your hands." Looking at him she shoved her index finger in her face "And don't you roll your eyes at me, just look at the state of your palm." He couldn't help the smile creeping on his lips eyes quickly travelling to Tonks who just winked at him, urging Amy to try and sit up so they could go sit in bed and pray their muscles wouldn't hurt so much in the near future.
Once they were out of sight, Talbott surveyed the room for any suspicious eyes on them, deciding it was empty enough to focus back on Talia attending to his hand "Are you going to tell me what you and Tonks were discussing about me?"
Lifting her eyes, her lips pursed, brows drawing closer "She asked me if our physical performance has anything to do with me taking a special ride on top of you." seeing his eyes widen, she bit back a smile "I told her you don't see me like that."
"I don't." pulling his hand away, he averted his gaze "It's demeaning towards you." as he rubbed his hands together, Talia bit her lip waiting for him to get over his shyness and speak up, however he didn't.
"Look, in all honestly she is pushing it because Tonks believes there is some attraction between us, but as you mentioned earlier that's not how you see it." She watched his tall form lift from the bench, cold eyes burning through her.
"I said I don't see you as a glorified pleasure object so don't put in my mouth words I didn't say. I'm going to go take a shower." Leaving Talia with a stunned expression on her face, he stepped outside of the dining area, stopping only when he reached their room.
Groaning, he tried to still his beating heart, berating himself for throwing such words in her face. He needed a talk with Tonks, make her stop poking her nose in their business. Now he was left with a line that sounded as if he felt nothing when that wasn't true.
Just how much was happening inside of his heart was yet to be determined. The state of his feelings were still fragile, ideas moving back and forth when she didn't push him at all. He would still take a few steps back to analyze words and gestures because that was him and she would entice him then leave him wanting more for days on end.
While he was satisfied with their current relationship status and would not change it for the world, there were questions he asked himself, the "what if" kind. The type of questions that stole hours of sleep and found themselves written in his poems.
Not even the shower calmed his nerves as he tried to find the right words to apologize, the best choice that would ensure a smooth continuation but leave room for more, show her he wasn't truly shut down from the possibility of them being something else. But what if she didn't give two flips about all that and he was just overthinking everything?
"This is ridiculous." Entering the room, Talia waited for him, arms crossed over her chest as she sat on his desk.
"Talking to yourself again?" jumping he almost went through the door seeing her, all while she remained impassive at his startled stare "Mirunna wants us all to assemble in half an hour." Pushing herself off the desk her eyes lingered on everything but him "I can't exit the room with you in the way."
She wasn't angry per say, not at him entirely, however the situation didn't sit well either "We need to talk." Taking a few steps towards her, his hand reached out however he didn't touch her "What I said might have sounded off, like I don't care."
"You need to dry your hair so you won't catch a cold. We'll talk tonight." Looking up at the ceiling, he finally let her go wishing that just for once he held the same confidence with her that he could display in general.
Once he made his way to the training field, Talia and Tonks apparently had a lot to say to each other ignoring everything around, Amy trying to calm them both down "I'll fight you Hayes." Sticking out her tongue was apparently called for as Talia shook her fist.
"I just asked you to mind your business, not mine, I swear if you ruined this." Stomping her foot, Amy sighed, eyes lighting up when she saw Talbott sitting on the other side, watching them.
"Ruin? I might have helped since you can't get a damn word out of his mouth." Talia did not appreciate that comment, her upper lip twitching as a scrawl formed.
Mirunna took the center, eyes taking everyone in, a few claps earning her the desired attention, especially from the fired up group of girls.
"Partners assemble in a line, standing face to face." A fight was the last thing he wanted with Talia what day. It wouldn't end up well, no matter the weapon of choice "In the past weeks I have managed to form an opinion on each and everyone one of you and I have reached a conclusion, most of you don't know how to work with your partner or with others." That one was directed at Talia and Tonks. Talbott kept his eyes on the trainer, Talia at the ground scoffing at the last statement "There is a rigidity that shouldn't be there, you need to trust the person assigned to you and I am sure Jasper mentioned it. You need to rely on your partner, truly do that."
Passing every pair, she provided something to only one of them "Those of you who received the blindfold will need to place it on your partner." Talia's eyes shot up to look at Talbott "Those of you who won't have their vision impaired take care of your partner, guide them, tell them where to walk, where to step, show them why trust is important." The task had to be performed until the end of the week.
With two more days to go, Talia turned around, letting Talbott place the blindfold over her eyes "This is stupid." Her tone was low yet still audible at least for him.
"Maybe, but I need you to trust me, these days at least." Turning her gently around, she extended her hands out, reaching his chest "I'm here Talia, I'm not going anywhere." His fingers gently wrapped around her arms, letting her use him as the main focus.
"No, no, hands off everyone." Talia tensed once she heard Mirunna's voice "Come, you here and you there. No, there." Just like that, she made everyone without a blindfold switch their positions on the field "Now, no one talk. Blindfolded partners, go find your other half. There will be no taking off the blindfolds either, unless you want to be electrocuted that is." Mirunna giggled behind her hand as if she was happy with herself and her charmed blindfolds.
Taking a deep breath in, Talia extended her hands out trying to recall the terrain, paying attention to any sound heard. Talbott sat at a fair distance watching her take a few steps. Mirunna prompted one of the recruits to go to Tonks and one to Talia, repeating the action for others involved. As soon as Talia touched the other recruits hands, she recoiled after a few seconds "No." to which Talbott smirked since she knew his hands.
The girl that was placed next to her didn't even get to touch Talia, the strong perfume giving her away. Cheering Tonks found Amy on the third try, Talbott still not making his way to Talia. Karol took it upon himself, heading to her from behind, hand brushing her hair, making her jump, suddenly turning trying to determine who was close to her. Lifting her nose, there wasn't a strong perfume giving him away, not even when he extended a hand to touch her arm.
Taking a step forward the tightness in Talbott's jaw was visible, fists coiling at his sides as Talia extended her hands to Karol's chest. Shaking her head, she pulled away once more, this time Talbott stepping in close, levelling Karol with a glare before turning his attention to Talia. Did she really know him that well?
As she stepped closer trying to find something stable in front of her, he caught her wrist, startling her upon contact. Breathing slowly through parted lips, she made an attempt to gently push her hand forward being met with resistance. Not daring to lift her free hand, she waited for a few moments before daring, stepping closer.
His grip only tightened a fraction telling her to basically not move anymore "Well this isn't going to work." If she was actually facing Talbott she had to play it differently. Then again if she didn't that was yet another dilemma "Can I touch your face?"
Slowly he moved her hand closer, finger tips barely brushing his cheek, however she wasn't pleased with the limitation she had to face, but he was, intense stare taking note of every breath leaving her, every lip purse that told him how annoyed she was getting. Brushing her fingers down his neck, she tilted her head to the side, it was uncharted territory after all. He felt her hesitation as she pulled back slightly, him stealing glances at others. Since his frame was shielding her and no one could really see them unless they came to his side, he tried something else, curiosity burning in his chest.
Leading her finger tips to his lips, he smirked as confusion wrinkled her forehead "Just by the height alone, I could take a wild guess, few people are this tall here." Biting at a loose piece of skin from her mouth, her fingers traced his lower lip, hushed whispers reaching his ears "And ever fewer have such full lips Talbott." Not a word left him as he let her go, letting her hands move to his chest, strong agitated heartbeat betraying current feelings, yet she said nothing.
Mirunna came close to them, brows raised "Talia? Have you found your partner, I didn't hear anything from you." Turning her head slightly to the sound of her voice, a smirk played on her lips.
"I prefer to keep it private, but of course I found him." Once more his heart leaped inside his rib cage, this time removing her hands as to not give himself away more. Offering Talbott a smile, Mirunna presented her next task, putting the partners through balance exercises, trust falls and various escape scenarios.
Seeing this new trainer, with her way of looking at things brought a new air to the camp. Jasper had been absent for a while, more than likely trying to get Mirunna out of what he believed to be his camp, however that was even better in Talbott's book. The less he saw of Jasper and he saw of them, the better.
After a quite amusing dinner containing spoon feeding and a lot of food reaching the floor, they all settled in their rooms, Talbott and Talia sitting on his bed as they went through lessons learned "Why do I get to be blindfolded?"
"Because you fuss too much." Shaking his head, he searched in a drawer for something "Like now, stop biting your lip. Here." Placing in her hands a small container, she felt the object "I made you a balm, it tastes good too." Extending her hand to him she asked for help opening it "Let me."
Scooting closer to her, he opened it, taking a tad on his fingers, hesitation hitting him when he went to apply it to her lips "What? I can't see Talbott so you need to tell me what you're doing."
"I'm" cursing in his head, he swallowed before trying to speak once more "I'm going to touch you." She nodded as he edged closer, fingers tracing her lips. She flinched slightly, relaxing a moment later under his careful touch, breath still not following its normal pattern "You should really stop this habit, you keep hurting your lips and it's such a shame."
She softly spoke against his fingers "Why is it a shame?" tip of her tongue touching his skin. She could feel how close he was to her, hot breath reaching her face. Lowering his hand thoughts spun wild stories about how easy it would be to steal just one kiss. One touch, as he pressed his fingers against his own mouth, just one would tell him everything he was afraid to ask.
"Talia I" words stopped in his throat, eyes lingering on her lips as he leaned in a fraction. She waited, let him have the stage and decide what's going to happen, brows knitting when he pulled back. Covering his face, he felt like he was burning up without being sick "I can't."
She knew of his intentions, it dawned on him by how her lips parted, waiting for him "Did I do or say something?"
"No." if was the only short answer that would come out smoothly without betraying anything, yet he knew if there was no explanation provided, things might go south fast. Taking her hand, she flinched something about that action betraying her not being that open to a touch. Or maybe the blindfold was truly an obstacle she hated. Putting her open palm to his chest he let his wild heart beats speak words that wouldn't form for him.
It surprised her, what a nervous wreck he was and she wished she could see his face then, carve it in her memory and hold onto it in the future, the image of this withdrawn man "Then about today."
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" removing her hand she laughed at his outburst, he wouldn't share more, not unless she pushed him a bit "I'm not good with expressing certain things, but let's just say I now truly believe in magic."
"What? Is that some sort of code or riddle?" hearing him laughing startled her and she clearly wasn't in on the joke. She would have rolled her eyes at him if she could, slap his leg if she knew exactly where it was "I'm about to risk electrocution just so I can smack you." but hearing him laugh like that warmed her heart, it meant he was more comfortable around her, opened and she would protect that side of him.
But she would test him, see what he would do in certain situations. Moving her hands to the blindfold, he caught her mid action "Don't, you can be seriously considering it." but she was, at least a glance, that was all she needed. A sigh left his lips as if he had too much of that day to endure "Don't do it, please." that soft plea churned inside her chest, quenching the fire burning inside as she allowed him to lower her hands "Let's leave tonight as it is, there are still days to come when you can see me, when you can tease."
"Sometimes there are opportunities that nevet repeat."
"Then I need you to trust me when I say this one and more will." her own heart beat could surely rival his at that moment.