Dominique/Roxanne

Prompt: Broken Wings

Broken Wings

June 9, 2016

Roxanne had never seen her cry before. Of all her cousins, she looked up to Dominique the most. The Hufflepuff was tough, a hard worker and never gave up on anything and to young, nine-year-old Roxanne, she was the strongest person in the world. Secretly, she thought that Dom belonged in Gryffindor with her sister, but Hufflepuff strangely suited her.

So, it came as quite a shock when she found her older cousin sobbing quietly underneath a tree. It was Roxanne's birthday, and most of the family were celebrating. Yet Roxanne, noticing the absence of her favourite cousin, had gone looking for her while the rest of them were oblivious. Not many people noticed Dom, which made Roxanne sad. She thought Dom was the best.

Dom looked up as Roxanne approached and brushed her tears from her eyes, giving her cousin a weak smile.

"Hey, little bird. Happy birthday."

Roxanne frowned and sat down beside her. "Why are you crying, Dom?" she demanded. "It's my birthday. I forbid you to cry on my birthday."

Dominique laughed and ruffled her cousin's short, black curls. "Sorry, little bird," she smirked. "I'll try to contain it, just for you."

As much as Roxanne appreciated that, she still felt concerned for her. Dominique never cried. Something must have been seriously wrong.

"You didn't answer my question," she retorted, petulantly. "Why are you crying."

Dom looked away briefly, her blue eyes staring blankly out into the distance. A lock of her copper hair escaped her green headband and planted itself between her lips. She picked it out irritably and heaved a sigh, before reaching behind her back and pulling out a small, square box.

"I almost forgot to give you this," she said fondly, a small smile creeping onto her face.

Roxanne took it in surprise. "But, I've already gotten my present from your family," she replied.

"I know," Dom nodded. "But this is from me."

With nimble fingers, Roxanne pried loose the ribbon that was wrapped around the box and slowly opened the lid. Her dark eyes widened and she gasped at was she saw. Sitting on a plush velvet cushion, was a tiny glass figurine. She picked it up and beamed. It was a little swallow, its tail poised in the air and its wings tucked against the side. She caressed its tiny head softly before turning to Dom and beaming brightly from ear to ear.

"It's so pretty, Dom."

Dominique grinned. "I know," she smirked. "I picked it out myself and everything."

Roxanne launched herself at her cousin and hugged her tightly. Dom laughed and hugged her back, her hands stroking the soft, black ringlets. When they pulled back, however, her face was solemn and she stroked her cousin's cheek gently.

"Don't let them put you in a cage, little bird," she said sadly. "They'll try all their life, but you just spread your wings and fly away, you understand?"

Roxanne nodded in confusion, not quite understanding what Dom was saying. What she didn't realise, was that Dom's wings had been broken long ago, and she was unable to fly away from her troubles. Soon, Roxanne would come to realise just how far her favourite cousin had fallen.

A/N: Another little sad one. Dominique's prompts tend to center around her depression, because that is an essential part of her life. In my head, Dominique and Roxanne's relationship is very strong. They have a lot of similarities - both of them feel as though they are under all this pressure to be someone that they're not. Even though their age difference is large, they have this amazing, almost sisterly bond.

Dom calls Roxanne 'little bird', because her personality and the way she flitters about reminds her of a bird.

Ages: Dominique (15), Roxanne (9)

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