Talia opened her mouth waiting for Talbott to feed her something off his plate, him pulling the fork away at the last moment trying not to snicker as she looked like a fish on dry land. Playfully punching the air, she managed to hit his forearm "I swear when this blindfold comes off I am going to teach you a lesson." She shook her fist at him, however she was grinning from ear to ear.
"Really now?" amusement radiated in his speech, eyes deep as the sunset never leaving her form. Resting his chin on top of his hand, he went quiet as he continued to watch her trying to make out what was happening, why he wasn't saying anything. Extending her hand, he took hold of it "I'm here."
"You alright Talbott?" his thumb traced her skin, a ghost of a smile shaping his lips.
"Talbott Winger!" they both jumped at the mention of his name, hand leaving hers as Mirunna's high heels clicked on the wooden dining room floor "Come with me, come, Tonks and Amy will make sure she doesn't trip against anything. Come." Gesturing with her hand, she witnessed a reticent man whisper something to Talia, her nodding before he finally made his way in front of the instructor "Good, not follow me. Come now, your little firecracker is not that vulnerable."
As they set foot in one of the rooms reserved for studying, Mirunna prompted herself on top of the desk, dread locks wiping behind her. Talbott sat in the middle of the room, arms crossed over his chest waiting for her speech or whatever it was she wanted to say "You really don't like a lot of people do you mister Winger?" his brows rose slightly, careful not to give in to any games she might be playing "Not that it's a bad thing, no, quite the opposite especially in an Auror world, staying vigilant is a key factor."
"I know." His voice sounded low and dry, nothing like what Mirunna's melodical cheerful tone sounded like.
"Yes, well, I see this conversation is not of the conventional kind, not at all." Offering a smile she leaned in a bit "I heard you are having issues with summoning a full-fledged Patronus. Do you require any help?" she urged students to teach other students, build relationships and strength in numbers, however the majority weren't truly keen on sharing about what made them special.
"Talia is helping me." The way he answered, blocking a way for more made it hard for Mirunna to keep up a conversation with him.
"Interesting. She participates yet never works on performing the spell. Why is that?" silence was the only thing resonating between them, Talbott keeping to himself on his partner's secret.
Her head dipped slightly as if she was searching for some deeper meaning "Look" her eyes rose, muscles in her arms flexing as she jumped off the desk "I am here to help you, despite what Jasper wants for this camp. We have different methods and my goal is to get you all in a place that could provide you the much desired role, do you get that?"
Talbott just nodded once, eyes falling on the countless tattoos on her arms, intricate patterns and colours staring back at him "How is your relationship with Talia Hayes?" a sharp stare gave her pause, smile curving her thin lips "I see, very protective."
"I don't see your point." He tensed before her eyes, weighting in his head the reasons behind her questions and the meeting.
Raising her brows, Mirunna changed her tactics on the spot "Has Jasper done anything to you? To her? There must be a reason why you are so defensive when it comes to us trainers." Talbott's stoic expression remained unchanged, no answers leaving his mouth despite images playing on repeat inside his mind "I see, alright, alright it's fine. You don't have to say anything however do know if he is being impossible, cruel, I will find out. I don't care for him if he's not willing to do the right thing. Dismissed."
Turning, Talbott took a few steps, hesitating before reaching for the door handle "Just make sure he doesn't touch her, that's all I am asking." He did not look over his shoulder, eyes focused on the door instead, waiting for the trainer to speak.
"You have my word." He did not believe her promise per say, but he needed at least one person from the staff on his side "Now please bring miss Hayes here."
Doing as instructed, she was brought in a few minutes after the request was made. As Talbott left the room, Mirunna chanted a few words, blindfold coming off. Squinting her eyes, Talia groaned at the bright light coming through the tall windows.
"Miss Hayes, welcome." As the image became clearer, Talia offered her a small smile, thankful she was free of the dreadful task "How are things?"
She cocked a thin brow, lips pursing slightly "Really? Good." She grinned "Never better." Supressing the urge to roll her eyes, Mirunna knew well why she left this certain pair for last.
"Offf you kids are so…" tilting her head to the side, Talia waited patiently "bland you know? You are all so young and so lacking." Pointing a finger at her she approached "Take you for example, there is power in you, talent yet you supress it. Your partner is versatile yet doesn't want to stand out. Be young, be kids, be wild." Lifting her hands, she dropped them seeing Talia with that bored expression "Why don't you ever beat Jasper in duels? I know you can." Heavy dreadlocks spilled over her shoulder, wide eyes taking her student in.
"What I can and can't do is none of his business and does not define me as a person." The words spilled though gritted teeth as she lifted her chin "Jasper is nothing but a man, a puny thing." Mirunna stood there speechless for a few moments before slapping her legs, laughter leaving her.
"Right? That is so right. Come, I need to get something from town, join me."
Looking as Mirunna passed her, Talia turned "Excuse me? Where are we going?"
"We need to get you some of these." Pointing to her leather straps corset she winked "Something to cover your upper body so you won't quit the next time your clothes get torn." That glare she received told her there was a lot Talia wasn't letting on, something hidden deep inside, further beneath turtle neck sweaters and dark coloured shawls.
She did follow Mirunna, letting her pick what she thought would be a good fit for her. She had questions by the dozen relating to the new trainer, yet for the majority she kept to herself, all except one. Amongst all the tattoos marrying her skin, scars were also present "Why didn't you heal them? Cover them up?" it was all met with a smile as she answered.
"Why would I?" touching a large scar on her arm, Mirunna's smile grew wider "They all have a story, they all are a statement of what I survived." She searched Talia's bright eyes, yet it was her upper lip that twitched, trying to bite back a snarl "You don't agree I see."
"Irrelevant." There it was, that fire in her orbs whenever she did not agree to something, did not like one thing or another "What I think is of no benefit for you."
"Blimey Hayes, what got your knickers in a bunch?" Talia just blinked in shock at the words received "You are actually worse than Winger. Look I'm not here to hurt any of you, I am here to help." She held up to Talia a tangle mess of leather straps, discarding them with a scoff "I know Jasper did something, he has this ability to snuff happiness right out of people. But not you."
Pushing her hands away, Talia went to look at some leather bracelets "He has nothing to snuff out that's why." Running thin fingers over the material, she smiled choosing one.
"Don't lie." That cold stare kept an eye on Mirunna even in her peripheral view "If he were to punish your partner wouldn't that take away your happiness? Here, it goes over clothes and covers your neck and chest."
Prying the item presented form her hands Talia glared "What do you want? Is this you warning me, because if it is and you took me away from Talbott." Realisation made her blood run cold, Mirunna's hands taking her by the shoulders.
"Hey, hey, look at me. Look at me." She shook her when Talia focused at the door "Nothing is at work here, do you need me to take a Veritaserum in order to believe me?" a hasty nod was provided as Talia chewed on her bottom lip "Oh my." Sighing she let her go "I'll get to the bottom of whatever is happening, of what is forcing you to stay quiet." Heading to the counter to pay, Talia also slid a leather bracelet in the bunch.
"Are we returning to camp?" she wasn't looking at Mirunna as she presented her the items, eyes locked with the exit. She needed to return, she needed to know he was alright.
"Yes, we are." Looking at how Talia picked up the pace once outside, she also had to adjust her speed "He wasn't always like this, Jasper I mean. Something happened, I don't know what but he changed. Do you know I used to have a crush on him back when we were at school?"
Talia looked at her with wide eyes, yet did not slow down in her task to reaching the camp as soon as possible "I am sure I want to know more, but not now. Not until I know he is safe."
Snickering, she patted her back yet she could feel the tension in her muscles "You really care about him, that's good. If you want you can go ahead."
She barely managed to get the sentence out that Talia sprinted from her side with so much as a goodbye, not stopping until she reached the camp. Bursting in their shared room she found it empty, panic building up in her chest.
He had to be around, she wanted to believe in a sense Mirunna wasn't like Jasper, however fear still gripped her chest. Shaking her head, she straightened her thoughts, running to the small library.
Her hands pushed the door with so much force that it hit the wall, a bit falling on the floor "Talbott are you in here?" jumping over books, her steps resonated as she went to the far end table where they usual sat.
He barely had time to get up and around the table when she laid her eyes on him, chest expanding as she froze for a second, just looking at him "Are you alright Talia?" crashing into him, her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Oh thank Heavens you're safe." Getting over the initial shock, he felt her tremble against his body as he put his arms around her, trying to make heads and tails as to why she was so distraught.
"Is this how you want to teach me a lesson?" but she refused to let him go, his amusement turning to ashes in his mouth "Talia, what happened?"
"Nothing, just misinterpreted something that's all." Unravelling her arms, a small sigh left her lips. Tilting her chin up he looked at her, reading into every emotion swirling inside those deep sea coloured eyes. Tip of his thumb grazed her lower lip, brows knitting together at the sight of fresh torn skin.
"What did I tell you Talia?" gently wrapping her fingers around his wrist she kissed the tip of his fingers.
"I'm sorry, I'll try to control myself…sometimes." It was him who bit on the inside on his lip, forcing certain thoughts to the back of his mind. She wanted something, the moment he could not man up to perform and it because obvious it would be harder moving forward while looking into those eyes.
"Don't be coy with me now, you're not getting out of this one, tell me what happened." Lowering his hands down her arms he stopped taking a gentle hold of her hands "Something scared you."
Pulling away Talia rubbed her forehead gaze falling to the floor "You'll find it funny but I've never been this scared." She laughed remembering the misunderstanding that occurred "I never cared for anyone, everyone I met or had close to me were these to serve a purpose." Covering her face, a groan left her lips "I don't know what to do with these feelings." Dropping her hands she lifted her eyes to look at him "What am I going to do with you Talbott?"
Glancing to the side, he exhaled slowly trying to temper the heat rising in his body "You are far better at this than me."
"Better?" those wide eyes took him in, voice losing its edge to a dose of panic "I can fake better, it's what kept me alive Talbott." His eyes suddenly shot to her "It's what I could do when I didn't care about anyone but myself." Pushing him in a book shelf the tirade of feelings continued to overflow "Then Mirunna asks me if someone were to hurt you if I'd be sad? Damn right I'd be. I'd rip them apart with my bare hands."
"Shut up." His eyes rose to the ceiling, hands shaking by his sides as they formed into tight fists "Do you think I know how to deal with you?" sharp eyes took her in, anger bubbling in his chest "You came and made my world tumble. I was fine on my own but now? Now I am intoxicating by the simple sight of you and it's driving me crazy." Pounding a fist against his chest "Do you think I understand this? Damn it Talia just who the Hell are you?"
"Your partner." Walking close to him she placed her hands on the sides of his face "With all that it implies. With all that you want."
Looking to the side he mumbled softly "I really don't like you right now."
She smiled all knowingly "I know." Kissing his cheek, she let him go, retrieving from the floor the bag she came in with. Taking out the leather bracelet she placed it on his wrist "A present."
Lifting his wrist he analysed the item received "Does it also have any magic on it so you can keep track of me?" shaking the bracelet in front of her face they both smirked at each other.
"Damn, maybe next time Talbott."
Footsteps drew their attention to the door, both wondering who decided to make their way to the library since it usually was empty. That was one of the reasons they would hide out in it, their chosen table being right under a window, thus ensuring enough natural light as to not damage their eyes.
By the high heels clicking on the floor, it was clear Mirunna was the one making her way to their location "Better?" Talia just nodded at that question "Good, now follow me, Jasper wants to see both of you before he leaves camp."
Following without any fuss, the three of them stepped into Jasper's office. His beady eyes squinted at the sight of Mirunna, a forced smile contorting his face into something sinister "Thank you, you may now go." Gesturing with his hand to the door, she just strut to his desk, sitting on it.
"Why? Am I not allowed to be here?" his dark gaze travelled to the pair in the middle of his office then back to Mirunna.
"Not at all." Getting up, he gestured towards Mirunna "When you first came here I believe it to be a mistake, however there are some benefits. Let this be a start, a new era." Handing over a letter to Talbott, his eyes scanned the writing "Hogwarts requested for your assistance with an issue."
"Issue?" Mirunna enquired, stepping next to Talbott to read the letter as well.
"Boggarts I believe, I lost some of the correspondence, but yes and I believe this is a marvellous idea. Missions could be part of the curriculum, send them out there to tend to certain tasks." Lifting her eyes Mirunna scanned his face.
"Look at you stepping into the light, being innovative." The glare wasn't missed, however it was ignored as she clapped her hands together in delight "We can work together on some tasks."
"Charming, but no." lifting a bony hand to point at the pair "I trust you will give a full report upon your return. Now go, you leave with the first morning train."
Talbott and Talia both shared a look, nodding their heads. Just what was so important that the professors couldn't handle?