Story Title/Link: The First Move
School and Theme: Hogwarts, write about trusting someone completely
Mandatory Prompt: [Character] Male characters only
Additional Prompt: [Setting] A bridge
Year: 3
Word count: 2, 244
Additional Information: Takes place post-war era
Summary: Confused about his feelings for his best mate, Seamus agrees to go on a thrilling Muggle adventure despite some hesitation. Will he take the plunge?
Rushing water splashes against a cluster of rocks, drowning out the pounding in Seamus's ears.
No. No. No.
All of the air exits his lungs as he steps closer to the ledge. Car after car zips by on the roadway behind him, and he reckons those Muggle passengers have the right idea. The purpose of this bridge is to provide passage over the water, not into it.
Instead, he spent the morning filling out a liability waiver, emptying his pockets of any loose galleons, and stepping into a safety harness that tugs in all the wrong places.
All because of Dean Thomas.
Dean, his brave and open-minded best mate, can convince Seamus to partake in the most mental activities without question. His eagerness to say 'yes' has nothing to do with Dean's striking brown eyes, the tall, slender column of his neck, or the fact that his skin always seems so soft to touch—
No, absolutely bloody not.
Sure, they've completed class projects at the same double desk, attended the Quidditch World Cup, and even fought side by side during the Battle of Hogwarts. Dean has been with him through almost everything, and there's no scenario in which Seamus would bungee jump with anyone else.
"Cheers, mate!" Dean appears beside him, and Seamus yelps as the platform shakes from the increased weight. "I'm not going to push us over the edge!"
The bridge is long, narrow, and creaks along with the slightest movement, not as sturdy as Seamus had hoped given how it's the only structure holding him 100 meters above the water. Its only redeeming quality is being anchored to the ground—at least, Seamus hopes it is. He knows it's illogical, but how is this platform staying upright without magic? Surely, all this metal isn't enough to suspend everything over the shallow river without the help of a sticking charm?
This is potentially the worst plan he's ever agreed to, and there's already a long list.
Although known for his reckless streak—and an affinity for pyrotechnics—he makes a choice that fills him with nothing but regret.
He looks down.
Seamus's legs wobble and he grips the railing behind him even tighter until his knuckles turn white. A million thoughts race through his overactive mind as he struggles to swallow down a large gulp of saliva pooling in his mouth.
It's decided. He won't ever jump off this platform even if a wizard holds a wand to his head.
"Don't worry," Dean shouts near his ear. "It's practically safe!"
"Practically safe?" Seamus's palms begin to sweat, and he hooks an elbow around the railing to stop himself from slipping. "How can it be practically safe? It either is or it's not."
And people do this for sport?
A crewman interrupts his protests by yanking on Seamus's harness without warning to make a few small adjustments.
"You mean it wasn't a proper fit before?" Seamus squeaks. He spits out wisps of the man's shaggy black hair that fall by Seamus's mouth while he works, making his thoughts drift to Harry Potter—wait, it's not him, is it? Potter would certainly push him off the edge just to be a prat.
But as the crewman gives him a short nod before moving on to Dean, Seamus's gaze travels to the thin, charcoal-colored cord attached to his feet.
His life depends on a strap with the consistency of a rubber band.
Seamus's stomach sinks as his eyes make contact with the choppy waves rolling through the water below. It's the clearest aqua he's ever seen, showcasing the pebbled rocks resting beneath the transparent liquid surface. Blimey, is there even enough water to dive into if their escapade goes south? Although Seamus has gone through various mishaps over the years, he doesn't fancy bungee jumping being another one.
He imagines the small stretch of river hissing at him with the venomous strength of Nagini. A shiver slithers its way through his body as a blast of cold air hits his already burning face.
"Alright, Seamus?"
"I need a minute." Seamus climbs over the railing, heaving out a large sigh as his feet plant on the solid sidewalk. He closes his eyes and tries to remind himself to inhale and exhale through his nose.
A hand drops onto his shoulder and Dean's deep voice tickles his ear. "Where's your Gryffindor bravery?"
"I left it at the castle," Seamus mumbles under his breath, still refusing to open his eyes. "All I can think about is us ricocheting off that water like a couple of bewitched bludgers."
"You are rather clumsy," Dean teases.
Seamus's head snaps to the side, and he fixes Dean with the same intimidating stare he practices in the mirror, right down to the scrunched eyebrows and pursed lips. "You cheeky git!"
Raucous laughter fills the air, and the sound eases a small amount of the tension in Seamus's shoulders. He likes Dean's laugh, even when he's using the pleasant conversation to quell Seamus's nerves.
"Just pretend you're soaring on your broom…er, downwards."
Seamus scoffs. That's easy for Dean to say, speaking to the skills he developed as Chaser for the Gryffindor team—not that Seamus is bitter at all.
"Why couldn't you have taken me to one of those Muggle football games you love so much?"
Dean tuts. "I go to those all the time. This is loads better."
Seamus bites his lip, glancing behind him at the crewman observing the pair with raised eyebrows and crossed arms. The man checks the watch on his wrist. "We do have another couple coming after you two."
"Oh, no, we're not a—" Seamus fumbles over his words while the heat creeps up the back of his neck. He avoids Dean's gaze as he attempts to convince himself to get back on the platform.
The bridge is massive. Seamus's mouth goes dry as he retraces his movement to the ledge, not once letting go of the steel railing remaining as his only sense of stability. He'd rather not splatter against the ground like a Blast-Ended Skrewt.
The worker bends down and wraps a thicker cord around both sets of ankles lined next to each other on the platform. "Remember, you will be jumping in tandem. We've measured the amount of cord that will be let out during your jump based on your combined weight we calculated earlier today."
Seamus's head pivots in Dean's direction. "You didn't tell me that!"
"This was explained to us during the training, Shay. Were you even listening?" Dean asks with an exaggerated eye roll.
"Turn towards each other," the crewman instructs.
The speed of Seamus's heart picks up, his mind already shifting to the thought of being wrapped around his mate, pressed chest to chest, hands trailing over every ridge of Dean's taut muscles—
But what if the cord snaps? The pit in his stomach grows larger as he considers Dean's life being at risk, too. Here's to hoping the cord works its magic to protect them from harm.
"Keep your wand handy." Dean pats the inside zipper pocket of his jacket, breaking Seamus out of his daydream. "I'll levitate us back up if needed."
"We can't do that!" Seamus hisses, darting his eyes around to make sure the crewman isn't listening. "We're in the presence of—"
"Muggles. I know," Dean replies under his breath. "It was a joke."
Seamus wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead, blinking up at the beaming ray of sun above their heads. Why is it so blasted hot outside today?
"I can't wait to draw us making the freefall." A wide grin splits onto Dean's face. "The look on your face alone…"
"Oh, bugger off."
"You know I'm good with a quill."
Seamus almost falls over, a warmth spreading through his core. "Is that an innuendo?"
"If you want it to be." Dean finishes his quip with a wink, sending a bout of Flobberworms through Seamus's belly.
Well, what the bloody hell does that mean?
He doesn't have much time to dissect those puzzling words any further. It's clear Seamus has two choices: he could not jump and potentially miss out on a great adventure with the bravest bloke he knows, or he could go for it and take the leap. Dean says he's wanting to tick this experience off his bucket list, but this adventure definitely wasn't on Seamus's. Is Dean's desire enough to fuel his own?
It's too late now, Seamus figures while standing up straighter. He's committed to this mission. Although he doesn't trust himself to make the jump, he believes in Dean.
There's no other choice to make.
"Are you ready?" Dean asks, nodding his head towards the crewman standing with his hands on his hips. "I reckon he'll kick us out if we don't go soon."
The notion makes Seamus chuckle, considering the internal battle he just went through in his head. "Do I really have a choice?"
"You do have a choice." Dean reaches out and gives his hand a tight, comforting squeeze. "You always have a choice."
"Not when it comes to you."
Dean's bronze eyes grow cloudy, and he tilts his head, never once letting his heated gaze stray. He hitches in a strangled breath as Seamus shifts against him, allowing their fingertips to brush together at their sides. Sparks shoot up Seamus's arm as if someone's cast Verdimillious.
It's official. Seamus is ready to throw himself off this bridge, and he'll do it with Dean head-on.
The crewman lifts up a closed fist, giving the pair a signal to go.
"Forget the fear," Dean's hot breath whispers near his ear. "Just jump."
Seamus recites the instructions drilled into his mind. Bend your knees. Stretch your arms out.
Without taking another second to think about his decision, Seamus allows gravity to take command and dives headfirst, plummeting off the landmark with Dean into a freefall. His mind goes blank, unable to focus on anything beyond the wind rushing through his ears. A turbulent commotion stirs through his belly, and Seamus clenches his eyes shut to brace himself for the inevitable impact.
His entire body springs up into the air through a series of bounces when the cord reaches its maximum stretch. The tug back isn't nearly as painful as Seamus had anticipated. Did they complete the jump in under five seconds?
Dean lets out a loud "whoop!" that echoes through the open air. "It's just like flying!"
"Yeah, to our death!" Seamus yells, still intent on keeping his eyes closed as they swing back and forth like a pendulum.
"We didn't cock this up, yeah?" Dean chuckles.
Seamus allows his eyelids to flutter open, regaining control of his surroundings. Crisp salt air fills his nostrils, bringing awareness to his head dangling mere centimeters above the water level. The entire world rotates on its axis as they continue to spin, and too much blood is rushing to his head to think properly.
"I think I was screaming all the way down! It's a bit blurry, I'll say."
"I know." Dean's voice is close, so close, and Seamus can taste the coffee on his breath from the caffeine break they had shortly before they made the jump.
A rush of adrenaline seeps through Seamus's veins, and propels him to commit to an act he's never had the courage to do before. He really should have bought a box of Toothflossing Stringmints on his last trip to Hogsmeade.
Ah, well.
Garnering every ounce of willpower, Seamus cranes his neck forward and crushes his mouth against Dean's. To his pleasure, Dean responds in an instant, his large, calloused hands threading through Seamus's hair and massaging his scalp. He can taste the sweat on Dean's upper lip as he pulls it between his teeth, eliciting a loud moan from both of them.
A sensation washes over him, one Seamus can only describe as massive euphoria. Every single cell in his brain is firing, making him giggle like a lunatic as he pulls back a few centimeters. He just kissed Dean…Dean! Correction, he just snogged Dean. Upside down.
Judging by the toothy grin on Dean's face, he quite enjoyed the moment too. Seamus doesn't ever want to let go, even if someone utters Relashio.
All too soon a bright yellow rubber raft drifts towards them through the water, and a man instructs the pair to grab the pole lifted in their direction so the crew can untie their legs. Once back on the solid Earth, Seamus's hand finds Dean's straight away.
"That was a nasty shock!" Seamus seizes his last bit of mad energy, bouncing up and down on his toes. Although his legs are so numb he can barely stand straight on his feet, it's like he's conquered a Hungarian Horntail. It's comical how the thought of leaping to an unknown fate was far more terrifying than actually taking the plunge.
"It was brilliant!" Dean gasps all in one breath. "You are brilliant." He reaches out his free hand and ruffles Seamus's untidy sandy-colored hair.
He never thought he'd be a land diver, nor did he believe he'd end the moment snogging Dean, but here he is, proving his courage.
Now he can remind Dean for the rest of their lives that he made the first move.
Seamus squints his eyes up towards the grand, arching bridge while puffing out his chest with newfound confidence.
"Can we try it from the top of the Astronomy Tower next?"