Saturday morning.
Empty apartment.
Except for the twosome.
Something feels amiss.
At least it does to Fred. George is humming tunelessly as he blunders around in the kitchen.
And then he realizes it.
It's that memory-dream. It's the dreamless sleep potion that he has to take on a regular basis.
"Hey."
George turns around at the quiet call, and smiles automatically at him. "Coffee?"
Fred nods, sliding into one of the four chairs around the small, square table. His fingers find a forgotten doily that was lying around on the table to mess idly with it.
A steaming cup placed atop it stops its movement.
How long until this lasts, George?
How long until the last time you sit before me across this table
With sleepy eyes and tousled hair, talking in quiet tones?
"-that we might have to close down all the shops in Diagon Alley before long." George says.
"What?" Fred looks up at him.
George shakes his head gloomily. He doesn't mind that Fred is spacing out too often. He's milder than usual these days. More tolerant, more caring.
How long until-
"Dad spoke to me, while you were in the bathroom. Apparated in uninvited, as usual," George rolls his eyes at their dad's endearing, irritating habit of popping in without warning to check on the boys. "Anyway, he was telling me that it might not be long before we'll be closing down all the shops here."
Yet another ice cold, imminent reality added to the pile of the rest that are waiting to be accepted.
Fred wants to gaze at his twin, find comfort in the familiar sight and delude himself and just wish all the intimidating reality away. He only ends up saying, "No other option, right? To keep the business going?"
George smiles wryly. "I don't think so." He spreads marmalade on a toast, and places it on Fred's plate. Their eyes meet, and George smiles softly at him. Fred looks down, his heart tugged.
"Great." Fred murmurs, squashing the intense emotions, swallowing down the lump before it gets problematic. "So the moment when all go unemployed because the bald git's turned all powerful is finally here."
George sighs. Fred jerks when he feels his twin's feet touching his gently. He looks up at him to see that he has that same tender smile on his face. It's on purpose.
An affectionate gesture.
That tender smile turns into an amused one.
Oblivious.
"What?"
Fred shakes his head, averting eyes, chewing on the toast.
"Hey.." He feels his toes skim up and down his feet. "It's okay. It's just a few months before we kick his arse. Besides, you were all 'it's like a wart' about the whole thing. What's wrong now?"
His tone is light.
Fred looks up at him, and can't help but return the smile. "Yeah. It's just- it's nothin'. Being silly."
"No," George coaxes, "Tell me."
It's okay if you don't play the older brother all the time.
Fred nods. George understands that he will speak, so he waits until they finish their breakfast.
And that toe brushes innocuously, once, twice, in the silence between them, until George deems Fred's calmed enough.
Fred gets up, and carries his and George's empty plates to the sink. George follows, casting the charms to wash them. Fred turns, and leans back against the counter when he finds George right before him, patiently waiting for him to speak.
Of course George knows that something's heavy on his mind. He just got the perfect excuse now that he faltered to drill him about it.
Fred doesn't know how to begin. Eventually, he settles on, "It's just that I.."
I don't like admitting my weaknesses.
George's expression turns gentler, if that's even possible, when he realizes that Fred would need his understanding for this.
"I can't sleep."
George sighs. Though not in exasperation. It's a soft sigh of compassion, and Fred releases a shaky one of his own when George leans in and takes his hands in his. His first instinct is to jerk it back, flustered, but he tries to keep calm and let it happen.
Nothing happens.
It's only George showing the best of his mild nature.
But every moment of it is precious to Fred.
"You can share the bed with me, if that'd help."
Hope this answered bubblecloudz's twins-in-the-flat-chilling request, though it's not quite 'chilling', nor much 'action'-ish. I have certain ideas for the story in my head, and am moving the story accordingly. Please share your views and ideas nevertheless, everyone. It'll help me steer the story somewhat to your liking, while keeping it consistent with my own ideas.