As they found a small café, a tad more secluded than the rest, Talbott had not taken his eyes off Talia for a moment. His hand was still warm from hers as they walked for the first time hand in hand down the streets, listening to her rant about the latest Muggle book she finished reading. Her smile was sweet and inviting, lips curving at the corners as she spoke of a romance taking place in Portugal. Still he could not help think by how she spoke of it and from the details related that she might have been there in person.
As two coffee cups were placed on their table he stole the sugar off her small saucer, Talia pursing her lips before smiling looking away pretending she did not see that. After a few moments she also handed him she small biscuit, which he took thanking her.
The curiosity bubbled in his mind, in the end giving in to the desire of knowing more "Have you ever been to Portugal?"
Resting her chin on top of her hand it appeared as if her eyes danced with shinning lights as she admitted to having visited the country "Been to Lisbon and other towns there. It's an entirely different world Talbott." He for one has never left England, however he was not opposed to the idea of travelling. Especially with how she spoke of it so fondly.
About how she used to live in a small apartment with wooden floor boards that creaked under every step taken, but it was ten minutes away from the city centre. How the kitchen and living room both had a balcony however her bedroom had no windows leading outside. How she never used the couch, instead stealing all the decorative pillows so she could sit on the floor, listening to muggle music on an old radio, all the windows opened in order to let in the breeze. The wind always started blowing in a chilly manner around nine in the evening and stopped the very next morning around the same hour, or so she related the memory of those days.
"My only regret is not having anyone to share all those moments with." Talbott could also understand that sentiment, there were many moments that he chose to be alone, be it for one reason or another.
He knew well enough that with her transferring from one school to another, her vision on the world and what it encompassed and was composed of varied vastly from his. Maybe one day they could visit those countries together.
Reaching out for her hand, he caressed her knuckles, before reaching for her long nails, playing with them in order to have a distraction "Perhaps it's not too late to enjoy them with someone." That sheepish shy smile betrayed that boyish charm he still held, charm Talia loved to the moon and back. How his eyes softened when they averted from hers whenever he was embarrassed, how hot his cheeks felt when she raised a pale hand to caress them.
"I like to believe it's never too late." Letting out a small sigh, her teeth buried themselves in her lower lip, picking at a piece of lose skin, Talbott telling her off quickly.
"What have I been telling you?" his thumb traced her lower lip, eyes rolling when she playfully hit his arm "I'll give you a biscuit for your thoughts." He waved it her face causing her to laugh which melted his heart entirely. With him being either too blunt or sarcastic, such moments were rare as he was not the type to whip up a joke out of thin air.
Snatching the biscuit from his hand, he snapped out of his daze, eyes locking with hers "I do believe the correct term is penny for your thoughts, but I will accept your tribute." Setting it aside she opted for another sip of her coffee before it got too cold, Talbott looking away letting her arrange her thoughts. Yet her gaze still lingered on him, how he fused over the hair covering the back of his neck, twirling it around his fingers "It's gotten longer."
His attention turned back to her, chin dipping as he frowned slightly "Yes and I haven't had a moment to cut it. Perhaps tomorrow." He could very well take advantage of Moody travelling and giving them a few days to themselves.
Reaching out to play with his hair, he felt a shiver run down his spine, back straightening out of reflex "I can cut it for you." she offered in the most caring way.
Squinting his eyes, he removed her hand, yet still held it on top of the table "Well aren't you resourceful." Yet he still stared her down, the previous request going unanswered since the subject was changed entirely. Feeling the intensity of his gaze, Talia knew well enough she would have to satisfy his burning curiosity at one point as Talbott was not one to forget easily.
"But of course I am, you know that. Plus I'm sure Bill has a pair of scissors lying around." Line that made Talbott scoff as he rose a pair of questioning brows.
Leaning in he smirked her way "I don't know if you noticed but the man doesn't cut his hair."
The retort coming quick enough from her part "Probably in protest of us being in his apartment despite it being his idea." Both spared a moment before laughing out loud. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze, finally ready to quench his curios spirit "I can't help not being worried, for you not myself, to Hell and back for my soul, but you Talbott."
"Don't say that." He interrupted the fervent speech leaving her lips.
"Let me say it." pulling her chair closer to his she spoke again "You are the only good thing I have, my better half. Even if it sounds romantic, or cliché, it's how I feel about you. If he's coming back, another war will break out and I…" his hand travelled to the back of her head, gently pulling in her close, foreheads touching "I would steal you away now. I would run away with you this very moment having just the clothes on my back and nothing more."
"Talia, please…" he caressed her hair, her hands pressing onto his chest.
"No I know, I know. We're here to fight, to be on the right side when it all breaks out. I just wanted you to know." It was not what he wanted her to understand, most definitely not "But I need you to promise me that if anything happens to me…"
Talbott shook his head, smouldering gaze igniting like wild fire spreading through a forest scorched by the blazing sun for far too long. He swallowed, taming his voice to not be too harsh, yet strong enough to deliver his feelings fully "What I feel for you frightens me, how strong it is, what I would do for you in order to ensure you're safe. Nothing will happen to you, not as long as I am breathing."
Her lips crashed onto his in a powerful kiss that stole his breath away. What other words could she offer, what sort of confession could be as strong as his burning confession "Let's get out of here. I'm tired of sharing you with so many strangers." Of course they stared, such a young pair indulging in passionate affairs best reserved for behind closed doors.
Thankfully they weren't around wizards or else they would have surely been told off. Some days Talia wished they were up to speed with modern days, yet there they were swapping mechanical pens for quills, telephones for letters delivered by owls. Despite their magic, sometimes they were so behind.
Once back at Bill's apartment Talia had an announcement to make as Talbott wet his hair in the sink ready to let her have her way with it. She presented herself in the doorway, a cocky smirk hiding behind an innocent smile when he turned to her, water dripping down his face "By the way, tonight we are going out. Bill found this new wizard bar that actually has karaoke and good music for dancing late into the night."
Scoffing he immediately crossed his hands over his chest "Yes, because this is what I like to do on a Saturday night."
She knew very well it was not his type of night out, however her mind was set "You can't fly away from this one, I already said yes. Apparently some of your former colleagues will be there as well." Motioning him to follow her to the room Bill offered her, a chair and a towel already awaited him "Plus I would really like to meet some of your friends."
"I'm sure you do." He sat down taking a deep breath in "Please at least leave me with some hair by the end of this." His mind raced trying to figure out who would actually be joining this small gathering. Who was still in England, who was even working in London? He has not really kept in touch with anyone, especially since the atrocious camp.
Leaning in, a ghost of a whisper made Talbott melt as Talia verbalised "Take off your shirt, I don't want to get any hair on it." however her hands were already travelling down his chest, waiting for him to agree. Swallowing loudly, he just nodded his head, lifting his arms, allowing her to undress him.
More questions hammered at his mind as she draped the towel over his shoulder, digits working on combing his hair, parting it in sections, nails gently grazing his scalp almost breaking through the anxious feeling growing inside him.
Does she actually find him attractive? She had called him beautiful before despite the fact Talbott was far from thinking anything similar when it came to his own appearance. Fairy good looking perhaps, on a good day, but beautiful? He would have scoffed right then and there if not for Talia snapping away at his hair.
Does she even want him? He mentally cursed, brows drawing together, concluding it was all due to the paragraph she made him look at the muggle bookstore. How could one be so lewd as to write such scandalous lines? Then again his thoughts immediately changed the scene depicted before his eyes to him and her.
"Where are you?" she asked softly, as if managing to see the wheels inside his head working around the clock, him turning a pair of wide eyes as if she caught him right in the act and was suddenly able to read his mind. The only thought he launched inside his mind was a plea, hoping to everything he knew she was not a Legilimens "You went quiet all of a sudden."
"No, it's nothing, just enjoying it." which was not entirely a lie, he did enjoy having her play around in his hair, it relaxed him. Turning him back around, she kept silent, working slowly as to ensure she did not make a mistake.
Yet he did catch the way her eyes travelled across his torso, taking him in, brief as it was. He had seen that look before when he pulled his shirt on when they were staying at the Leaky Cauldron. Perhaps another night away from prying eyes might be just the thing they needed, a night just for themselves.
"Do we have to dress a certain way?" she lowered herself, looking over his shoulder, placing a gently kiss on his cheek.
"You can dress in anything you like, I'm sure you will look lovely."
His hand pressed against her face, hungry eyes stealing her breath away "Do I look like that now?" the question left him surprised, he should really learn to control himself better when in front of her and not let out random thoughts making his mind go crazy run free.
Of course he noticed the way she bit her lip, different, not in a nervous gesture, but inviting, drawing him in "I have a different word in mind now."
"Which is?" he inquired softly, hot breath fanning her lips.
The sound of the front door made Talia jump, Talbott allowing a smirk to form on his lips, despite cursing under his breath "You two here?" Bill came in the door way, arms heavy with two bags "Am I interrupting something?"
The glare Talbott gave him did not go unnoticed, however Talia worked her magic once more "Please tell me you have something in there for a pre party."
Bill casually laughed placing in her hands one of the bags which she took as they chatted inside the small kitchen, talking about the hour they would go out and how he came to know the bar especially since it was in the middle of a muggle neighbourhood.
Letting them have their moment, Talbott slipped out of Talia's room, heading to the bathroom for a shower, the hair at the nape of his neck tickling him, making his itchy. Examining the work Talia managed, he actually thought it to be rather decent from what he could see in the mirror.
She had stopped cutting a while ago, instead just playing with his hair, letting her fingers roam freely, him indulging and leaning into every touch. Glaring at himself in the mirror he uttered slowly "You'd better not botch this."
Once out of the shower and into a fresh set of clothes, he found the party troop in the kitchen, beers in hand, surprised however the fire whiskey bottle between them was not even opened. However they still chuckled away "I had no idea I even owned a pair of scissors. Mum must have brought them."
Talbott gave Talia an all-knowing look when a beer was passed to him "Well I have a good memory, I tend to remember certain items that would ensure…" she stopped herself both of them catching on.
"That you can get out of a sticky situation?" of course he asked, Talbott stepping in.
"Bill." A small warning only alerted by the tone of his voice. Placing a hand on his chest Talia flashed a bright smile.
"It's alright, yes, we were all thinking it when that bird flew out of my mouth. You're not wrong." Talbott settled down quickly, if she was willing to admit that it meant she was beginning to see Bill as a friend or at least close to an acquaintance which eased him. It wasn't like he was one with many friends, but as far as he picked up, she had none or was hiding them very well, somewhere scattered around the world.
"So party tonight?" Bill directed his eyes to Talbott, beer lifting in his hand.
Rolling his eyes, Talbott frowned "Do I even have a choice?"
"Not with us you don't." both Talia and Bill toasting their bottles against his. All Talbott could do was shake his head, eyes traveling to her and her smile.