Yo. Apparently I took a huge break? Like... bye bye, Lucy...
But I'm sorta back now. Don't know for how long or whatever, but I'm back.
This is for the Revived Pairing the Character Competition—Pairing: Kingsley/Bellatrix
Warnings: Allusions to arranged marriages and canon trauma? I don't even know if this fic needs warnings...
Word Count: 507 (fight me)
Things We Wish Were Different
Kingsley took a deep breath, trying to sharpen his mind and harden his heart.
He didn't want to do this today, but he knew he had to—for the safety of the wizarding world and to bring Alice and Frank justice. This is what things had turned into, and he had no choice but to follow through.
With a deep breath, he pocketed what was in his hands.
…
"Trixie," Kingsley whispered, hands slipping under her shirt and settling on her waist. Her skin was warm to the touch; she responded by kissing him deeper.
He loved her despite his reservations. He loved her with everything he had in him.
"Trixie." This time he pulled away from her, though he kept his hands on her waist. Bellatrix was looking at him with such intensity that he nearly dove for her mouth again, but he held himself back. The Hogwarts Express would be departing soon, and they needed to be on it.
"Please come with me?" He already knew what her answer would be, but he asked the question anyway. He needed her. "Please. I can keep you safe from them… from him. You know what will happen if you go back."
She stayed silent, but the intensity of her stare remained.
He tried again. "Please? We can start a life together."
Reluctantly, she grabbed his hands, taking them off of her waist and holding them as she took a step back.
"The wedding is already set, and my initiation…" she paused before letting go of Kingsley's hands and rolled up her left sleeve, revealing her mark. "It has all already happened."
Kingsley inhaled sharply, his eyes locked on the dark, moving ink on her pale skin. "When." His voice was sharper than he meant it to be.
"Easter Holidays," she replied, her own tone taking on an icy edge—she did this when she closed herself off.
"How did I not know?"
She was silent for a moment before she reached up on her toes to press a careful kiss to his lips. He instinctively returned it. "You've been blinded by love, my King," she whispered. As she did so, Kingsley felt her slip something into one of his hands, but he didn't question it. When she did something that mattered to her, he knew that she did it silently.
After giving him one last, lingering look, she swept out of the room, leaving Kingsley alone with just a memory of their last kiss on his lips and a pendant of the Black family crest in his hand. The Bellatrix he knew wouldn't be returning; she left herself with her pendant. On that day, Bellatrix Lestrange was born: insane and desperately wishing she had taken her chance.
…
"Shacklebolt, the wards have gone off. We have less than ten minutes to strike. Are you ready?"
Kingsley glanced up as the lead Auror on the Lestrange case spoke to him. He took a deep breath, double checking that her pendant was still in his pocket, before he answered.
"Yes sir."