"I love you! Even if you can't love yourself!"
Tonks is breathing hard, glaring at Remus with her eyes burning — Remus knows she's a very, er, passionate woman, but he hates that sometimes. He hates that she's stubborn.
He hates that she chose to be with him when she could have someone younger, someone her age.
"Tonks," he says quietly, "you must understand the dangers —"
"Oh, you are not going to be all noble on me," she snaps. "You are not breaking up with me for my safety! I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself!"
"I know," he whispers. "Just let me explain."
"...Fine."
He takes a deep breath. "You don't understand the risk of being my wife," he says, meeting her eyes squarely. Tonks opens her mouth to argue, but he holds up a hand. "You would be married to a...to a beast who is shunned from society, who could rip you to pieces. When I transform, I'm not in control of myself. I could hurt you, maybe even kill you, and I'd have no memory of it. I could bite you and you would turn into one of them. And what if we had a child? They would be born with my curse."
"Then let me tell you something, Remus." Tonks jabs a finger into his chest. "I knew what I signed up for when I chose to be with you. I chose to be you. I wanted to be with you, despite the risks. I chose you because I love you and nothing else. I'm willing to live with the risk, but only if you are ready to accept that."
"You…" Emotion overwhelms him. He thinks of his past, of the three boys with the same fire in their eyes and the same vows spilling from their lips. Two of them are dead, one turned traitor, and Remus is the last survivor — he must have the fire too.
He smiles, cupping his fiancee's cheek with a hand. Her hair flashes first brown, then white, before it returns to bubblegum pink.
"I'm ready." He buries his head into Tonks's shoulder and she wraps around her arms around him. "I just...thank you, Tonks."
"It's what I'm here for," she murmurs.
379 words
Auction - "I love you!" Even if you can't love yourself!" (22-1)
In Memoriam - Alastor Moody
Pick a Wick - White Blossoms
Founder Says - "I just...thank you, [name]." / "It's what I'm here for."
1000 - 57. (word) Passion
Writing Club:
Book Club - Raskolnikov / (emotion) conflicted, (trait) paranoia, (genre) angst
Lizzy's Loft - 25. (genre) Hurt/Comfort
The Ultimate Martial Artist - 10. (era) trio
Scamander's Case - 9. (emotion) fear
Lyric Alley - 2. Take your fears and let them go
