a/n: it's short. But I rather like it.
Pairing: RoseTeddy (new to me)
Word count: 879
Dedicated to: Tardisandafirebolt because she likes this pairing and I like her.
So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
-The Chain, Ingrid Michelson
our jagged edges don't line up
She hates him, hates him, absolutely abhors the boy but he's here, even when she told him not to be, and he's singing. And she can't help it because his voice is perfection and he's crooning their song and she misses him a lot more than she'd care to admit. A lot more. Because, even though she told everyone that she was much, much happier without him- the truth remained that she wasn't, and never could be. And he knew it. If he thought she could survive without him, he wouldn't be doing this. He isn't cruel or selfish, if she could breathe without him, he'd leave her be. But she couldn't, and he missed her too.
His voice floats -aided by magic, of course- up to her bedroom window. The words, worn into her memory with a different, though no less sweet, voice, are familiar. She can't help but hum along, swaying slightly to the music.
"Rosie," he asks when the song is over, his speaking voice as rich as his singing voice, "come down here. Talk to me,"
She finds herself complying, hurrying down the stairs that creak in protest, without even a second thought. She hates herself for this, for obeying his gentle commands even when they're not getting along.
He waits patiently for her on the grassy hill, knowing the moment her face disappears from the window that she'll be joining him shortly. He smiles to himself, half in pride and half in anticipation.
"Forgive me," he asks smoothly, persuasively.
"I can't," she replies, stubborn as ever. He knew before coming here that she would hold firm at first, but he knows her well, and he knows that he can –as bad as it sounds- break her. And she'll forgive him, because she has to.
"Try," he responds. She closes her eyes and breathes in deeply. The scent of roses washes over her and she smiles with unconscious contentment. He brought roses. He knew, of course, that she only pretends to hate roses because of her name, and that she actually adores the beautiful flower.
"I can't," she repeats, opening her eyes slowly to take in his lanky form.
"But I love you," he reasons, his voice still gentle. She winces now, the words she knows she has to say tasting bitter in her mouth.
"That's not enough anymore," he steps back in shock, eyes widening with her steady tone. This wasn't supposed to happen. She was supposed to take him back, she always takes him back.
They're the on-again, off-again couple, perfect for each other but each never really enough to sustain the other. He's silent, unsure of what to say next now that she's denied him unexpectedly.
"I'm sorry," he offers, but the words sound shallow to his ears. Tears are welling up in her eyes but she blinks them back, determined not to cry. She has to do this, has to end it once and for all. She can't stand him walking in and out of her life. He choose to leave last time, even as she demanded that he stay or never be allowed back. He still left. And it hurt so badly that she swore to herself never to let it happen again, so here she was, ensuring it never happened again. And it hurt.
"No," she's firm, her voice steady.
"I'll never leave again," he vows, earnest. She knows that now he'd never leave again, but he's Teddy and she's Rose, and they're both so passionate that it's bound to happen that they end up screaming at each other and he's bound to storm out of their apartment, swearing never to return. So now he may never leave, but later he will, because that's just what Teddy Lupin does.
"I love you," she whispers, her voice soft and tender, caressing the words, "but that's not enough. It's not enough anymore," her quiet voice echoes her previous statements in words, but the tone is devoid of passion, of fire. It's flat and honest.
"What would be enough?" he asks, his normally calm voice wild with desperation.
"Nothing," she tells him, stepping closer, "I can't ask you to change for me, and you can't ask me to change either. We are who we are, and who we are doesn't fit together. Love just isn't enough sometimes."
She presses a chaste kiss to his rough cheek, turns her heel, and leaves.
He always thought that they'd end in fire, blazing their way to failure, before renewing yet again. He always thought they'd always be together, except when they weren't- and that would just be because of a violent explosion. He never imagined a real, true ending, especially one so calm and devoid of screaming as this. He watches her go, knowing he could call after, or grab her arm and yank her back. But he does neither because he also knows that it'd make no difference what-so-ever, and that she'd just leave again later.
She doesn't glance back over her shoulder. An icy chill crawls over her skin, cooling her down to her fragile bones. She shivers. Without the passion, the yelling and screaming, the air is cold. Tears finally fall, and she hums their song, her soft voice sounding off-key now.
a/n: don't forget to review! PLEASE!