For a couple of weeks Talbott has sat piecing things together, talking to a multitude of people in order to help with the Black investigations. While he was not one of the Aurors assigned in returning him to Azkaban, he was still involved, however, not as invested as before.
His attention was set on something else, matters of the heart overruling anything else, especially after he had a cryptic talk with Dumbledore since he was tasked to inform him that if in a months' time Sirius Black would not be apprehended, Dementors would be dispatched in order to guard the school premises.
It felt a tad extreme in his opinion, having to waste so many resources on one man, however the thought soon was cast aside since he had witnessed first hand what a single man is capable of and to what lengths one would and could go in order to reach the goal they have set out.
The fact that Talia reached out to Dumbledore came as no surprise, though it did make him wonder just how much his former head-master knew about the escaped convict. More so, how much he knew about what Talia was actually feeling. She clearly pulled some ropes in order to speak with him and all that was not done while being at the Dragon Sanctuary.
Dumbledore further set the idea in his mind that she is contemplating returning to England "While she is uncertain of what the future holds, someone such as Talia will always make the right decisions when people she holds dear are in danger." And that was what Talbott feared the most.
If the very news of Sirius Black escaping managed to rattle her, then when more death eaters would emerge from every corner of the world, she would surely make a rash decision and return to England in order to fight. And that was something he could not live with, ration and needing help be damned. Inside his own head it mattered not what she wanted, all that mattered was having her come out unharmed. Even if she ended up hating him, even if she ended up with someone else, she mattered, she needed to be safe.
However, he did find it hard to let go.
When he walked back into that bar, memories flooded him all at once, how nervous he was that day, having rambled on and on what he was not good with dates, that they were not his thing. But she still managed to draw him in, take his hand and settle his anxious heart.
When he heard her voice over the phone, his palms became sweaty, knees weak and he just had to sit down or else he felt he could not handle the whirlwind of emotions hammering against his chest. It had been more than half a year since he had heard her sweet voice. Her tone soft yet agitated at the same time, worried about him, always about him.
And he hated himself, for being weak and unable to deny her, not strong enough to tell her it was over. Not having the power to do what needed to be done.
As he finished work on Friday, he could no longer silence the loud thoughts, everything inside of him screaming at full volume, different type of thoughts tearing him to shreds. His body worked on muscle memory alone as he ran all the way back home. He barely registered the action performed, he could hardly piece together the events leading up to him ending back at the Ministry of Magic, bag in hand, him inside the portkey office.
"I need to travel to the Dragon Sanctuary in Romania." He uttered through hasty breaths, his lungs feeling as if they were on fire as he extended to the worker his ID and Auror badge.
Not a question was addressed, the lad there just showing him to the portkey ready to send him to Romania after he registered him as going through and Talbott quickly signing the document next to his name.
Upon arrival he was surprised to realize he actually arrived at the nearest village near the sanctuary. Talia has related small stories about it in her letters, things she heard from others going there, however she had not had the time to tell him about her adventures as the letters stopped coming in. Even after their conversation, she still let two weeks pass without a word, Talbott countering with the same response.
Taking his jacket off, he managed to stuff it in his bag, the burning sun making him squint. Romania definitely had different summers than England. Rolling up his sleeves, Talbott grabbed his bag, feet leading him to the heart of the village.
Circling with his eyes, he found the rustic setting to be quite calming, especially given his agitate state. No one payed him any real mind, the villagers being used to getting all sort of visitors. Barely having registered the warm welcome as he arrived, he somehow managed to remember he needed to follow the road up the mountains in order to reach the Sanctuary.
He would, he had to, there was no going back.
Closing his eyes, he inhaled the fresh air, something in the distance reminding him of a dish Talia recreated one day for him. As the heath caressed his sun kissed skin, he exhaled softly, trying to calm his nerves and also recover from the dizzy experience portkey travel provided. It was not his favorite means of transport, however it was the fastest given how he only had the weekend off.
The sound of gravel made him rapidly open his eyes as a violent horn reached his ears, Talbott jumping at the assault of sounds. A loud slam made him turn on his heals, heart taking a tumble as he witnessed fiery eyes die down as turquoise colors greeted him, a wide stare leaving him like a deer in the headlights.
Talia slowly approached him, leaving the car in the middle of the road, where the marks of a far too forced break remained. She blinked slowly, not really believing the sight before her eyes, all traces of anger leaving her once she realized who was the person standing in the middle of the road.
Talbott gripped the handle of his bag as tight as he could in an attempt of not trembling before her despite his knees feeling as if they would give out at any given moment. Instead he decided to focus on her, noting how she has gotten a slight tan, the soft freckles on her cheeks now more pronounced, however they made the color of her eyes stand out even more.
He saw how her hair was barely past her shoulders, him frowning slightly asking himself what possessed her to cut those luscious long locks, yet it suited her face, framing it better, instead of hiding her features. The clothes she sported were lighter than her usual attire, somewhere along the way Talia not even bothering with hiding her scars, her open shirt attesting to that.
Her eyes were asking him so many questions yet none of them spoke.
Slowly, Talia extended a hand, taking hold of his bag, Talbott flinching as if that item was the only thing keeping him grounded. Slowly, he let it go, Talia taking it to her car, placing it in the back seat. Getting back in the car, she motioned for him to join, opening the passenger car door, Talbott cooperating without any protest.
Once the door closed and he was inside the car, he felt as if he could not breathe, hands fumbling in trying to decipher how to roll down the window. Pale fingers appeared in his peripheral vision, Talia leaning over him, taking the handle and rolling the window down before looking at him, taking note of how he just froze in the position he was in.
His throat dried up instantly, Talbott feeling as if he was being surrounded by fire, despite Talia not using her powers. Slowly, she reached for the seatbelt, pulling it over his chest, fastening it in place, finally creating distance, as much as the space inside the car allowed. Placing her hands on the steering wheel, he noticed how her knuckles turned white with how hard she was gripping it, a low sigh leaving her lips as she turned the car in reverse, backing down the road in order to turn and drive back to the Sanctuary.
He did not spend time admiring the scenery of the untouched mountains they were driving through. All he could look at was her and how the sun light danced in her fiery hair, how her brows knitted together as she concentrated on the road ahead and avoiding the pot holes she knew apparently by heart.
She however never once glanced back at him, yet he knew that once they would be alone she would surely grill him, ask questions, grind him down to the bone with everything he had done. It was not fair, he saw it then, how he basically forced her to live a life she did not want. All her life people had an opinion about how Talia should live and where to go, yet no one actually payed attention to her desires and wishes.
He too had failed.
Under Talia's well preserved mask, thoughts were running wild, however what she hated the most was the deafening silence between them. She was thankful for the distraction driving was giving her, it meant she was able to get over the initial shock of suddenly seeing him in Romania and gather all her senses in order to find a way to best approach him. But Talbott was far too rigid and closed, he was barely breathing that close to her, talking was clearly out of the equation.
However she was just a stubborn and would not utter a word his way unless he opened up the conversation.
Instead she extended a hand to turn on some music, Talbott jumping in his seat, Talia trying to suppress the giggle bubbling in her stomach. Pointing to the glove compartment, he hesitantly opened it, Talia leaning in her seat in order to grab the pack of cigarettes and lighter, catching a glimpse of a glare directed her way.
Nonchalantly as ever, she ignored him entirely, lighting one up, letting the smoke fill up the car as the wind carried it in every nook and cranny. She tried to let it fuel her, ears only listening to the music blasting over the old speakers, body relaxing a fraction, letting go of the tension in her shoulders.
She glanced his way, eyes locking for a second, before he averted his gaze, Talia recognizing the behavior. She wanted to open her mouth, push him a tad, however instead she held the cigarette for him to take. To her surprise he extended his hand, plucking it between slender fingers, careful not to even graze her skin. He hesitated a fraction before placing it between his full lips, taking a small drag before passing it back to her. Talia tried to not make a fuss over it, grabbing the cigarette and smoking calmly from him, yet she could not shake the memories of old teen stories, of young girls and lads swooning over the idea of an indirect kiss.
Once they reached the Sanctuary, a couple of men greeted her with raised brows and she knew it was due to her rapid return and with a stranger nonetheless. However they did not comment since he was clearly with her. Exiting his tent, Felix froze in place, the usual greeting stuck in his throat as he witness Talbott's tall frame getting out of the car. Immediately he put two and two together, reading into their body language, eyes locking from a distance.
Talbott immediately glared, an almost unconscious act, Felix's brows drawing together as he scoffed before deciding to make his way over to the pair. As he looked over at Talia, he could not ignore the clear color of her eyes, yet he could sense the tension she was trying so hard to hide "Next question?" he asked her, Talia giving him a short nod, glancing over at Talbott to only give me a "what do you think you're doing" look, brows cocking, eyes squinting slightly. Yet the signs were all there, his tense jaw, alert piercing threatening gaze, mouth pushed into a thin line. If Felix would address even a word, she was certain he would retaliate in full force.
"I got this covered, but I need someone else to go get the supplies from today." She redirected her attention to Felix, him focusing back on her.
"I can do it, but you owe me. Drinks alright?" she nodded, more to just get everything over with, passing him some money that was needed to buy everything.
"Want the car keys as well?" she smirked, Felix scoffing as he turned to leave, however the corners of his mouth still tugged into a small smile.
"As if I would humor you like that. Rather certain I would not survive that abomination." She giggled, thankful for how he did actually choose to go with it and give her a reprieve from the turmoil of emotions, Felix waving without turning to look back at her, at him.
However when she turned to Talbott, he was practically glaring daggers into Felix's back. Clearing her throat, he glanced her away only to see she was not impressed with his display, and for fair reasons. He had no right, especially after ghosting her for so many months. Especially without even knowing what has actually happening, or did not happen between her and Felix.
Once inside her tent, Talia went directly to pour a drink for them, Talbott taking everything in, eyes travelling to her desk. Closing in he noticed the pictures Tonks sent her, the one of them front row and center. He felt the lump inside his throat growing, heart breaking at the seams as his mind went ahead without his consent, to much simpler times, times when they were together.
A glass being presented to him, made him turn around, Talia's eyes flickering to the desk before she provided him her undivided attention. As the glasses clanked together, he wondered what they were actually drinking to, yet still took a small sip, placing the glass on the desk, wanting to ignore it and not play her little games of loosening his tongue with alcohol.
However he had hoped that sip could have melted the tension in his muscles and give him the necessary courage to properly look at her.
Talia on the other hand swirled the drink in the glass, eyes never leaving his form as she grew more impatient by the minute. Downing the alcohol in one gulp, she placed the glass near his, backing Talbott onto the desk, yet still did not touch him despite being so close to him.
Her hot breath fanned his face, eyes never wavering as he stared back into her large orbs, gaze lowering to her lips for a subtle moment, before forcing his mind to focus back at much more pressing matters. Talbott opened his mouth, however just a shuddered breath left his lips, him knowing for certain his voice would crumble to ashes on his tongue if he dared speak.
Against her wishes, Talia feared the worse, if he was there for her, to see her, he would have touched her, yet he was adamant to keep his distance as much as possible. Long lashes fluttered rapidly as she tried not to spiral, yet her eyes stung in an all too familiar sensation, lips eventually parting in order to speak "Why are you truly here if not for me?" she barely uttered.
He hated it, how her eyes filled with tears, how she closed that pretty mouth of her to grit her teeth in an attempt of pushing back emotions. His own eyes widened in shock, fingers lifting to erase the tears that dared to fall, Talia leaning into his touch for a brief moment before pushing herself away, forcing herself to breath in, viciously wiping at her face.
Pushing himself off the desk, he cleared his throat, as if to make sure his voice did indeed work "I came here to end things between us." He added a nod as if that alone was convincing.
Talia blinked a couple of times as she sniffed her nose "Riveting display, please go on." She could read the shock on his face, his actions making her chuckled before anger boiled over the top "End it. Do it!" closing back the space between them, she poked his chest "But you'd better be doing this because you don't feel the same for me, not because of the dangerous situations we keep finding ourselves in."
Gently grabbing her wrist, he made her remove her hand, however did not let her go "Why do you insist on being so difficult? I want you to understand."
Scoffing, she just unceremoniously rolled her eyes at his words, freeing her hand from his touch "But do you really need me to?" her pupils dilated as she closed in. Soft finger tips danced on his forearms, that single touch being enough to make him shiver, Talbott shaking his head lightly "Alright" she softly spoke, hands travelling up his arms, before coming up to cup his face "we can just say it wasn't the right time for us?"
"Yes" wrapping her in his embrace, he notices how her waist had gotten thinner since she had been away "and maybe somewhere in the future, if we…" he could not finish the sentence, the idea chocking him fully. He could not subject her to waiting for the right time, to not trying to be happy, even if it was not with him.
"If, yes." She finished it for him "A lot of ifs Talbott." Hearing his name spoken out loud from her lips made him sigh, pulling her closer against his chest, holding her tight.
"Forgive me Talia for I am a selfish man." She hushed him, hands caressing his back, running her fingers up and down his spine. She felt like home, she still molded in his hands perfectly, she same citrus perfume invading his senses, calming him. For once in the longest time, there was silence inside his mind, the type of silence he needed in order to continue.
"Maybe one day, when the stars align and you are ready to be mine once more, maybe then we can truly talk about everything. Until then my dearest" she softly kissed his cheek, Talbott closing his eyes tight as she started creating distance between them "Take care. Love Talia."