“crazy, right?” years of mastering the perfect smile – the facade finally paid off, was the heart capable of wincing? because her casual dismissal might have fucked him a little. it only seemed like karmic justice – what he dished out, it was what he got and as much as he’d want to say something all that came out was, “no thank you – i don’t need to relive the days where puberty wasn’t so kind –” he joked. he cherished those days – the days where it was just him and her all the time, labels were the farthest thing on his mind – how unattainable they were was not something he pondered and looking at her, just craving to be close didn’t hurt. his gaze softening at the detachment in her tone, “hey – i know–” he muttered, he didn’t need to thank her for her to feel the gratitude, one look at him and she would know that the support that he got from her was unparalleled –that she knew the hell that he faced at home and having her even willing to step between him and his brother, to protect him – he will never know how to thank her for that.
despite the rabbit hole he seemed to be spiralling down into, he couldn’t help but laugh quietly at her tone, “you know, most women request for a tamer version –” he murmured, it was a true testament about how she adored him. this version – the real version of him that didn’t filter himself for anyone, “kitten, i was kidding – you think i can do that to myself? i dread the day that i bore myself to death with my own antics –” he couldn’t hide the way his gaze narrowed, as much as he was trying to play it cool, “really? what happened? what did they do?” this was what jealousy felt like – he wasn’t an idiot, he knew that she dated just like he did, but he always kept a distance when she did, still available for every summoning, but for his own sanity – he never lingered too close. he would rather have amycus deal with the idiot than have the ugly green monster in him come out for the world to see, “define took care of it –”
for a moment she imagined it, felt her stomach flip in the most unusual way. she tended to avoid any strange or unexpected emotions, it was just better for her. but her and rabastan on a date? they’d certainly have fun but it couldn’t ever go anywhere, he simply didn’t think of her in that way, how could he? he was practically her volunteer brother, there was no changing how someone looked at you anyway. “puberty was always kind to you, have you looked in a mirror lately? don’t answer that.” she grinned. she felt almost possessive of those memories, when everything was just good and simple, as it always felt, when she was with him. rabastan just had this vibe, they’d always had a genuine connection she couldn’t explain and would jealously guard. she heard his tone shift and ducked her head, long eyelashes brushing pink cheeks as she stared at her shoes for a second. the sincerity in his voice always moved her and she turned her gaze back on him to nod in silence. no one made her desire to use the forbidden curses more than rodolphus lestrange. if she ever had an opportunity to bring him harm she’d take it and run.
she grinned, placing her hand on his wrist for a moment, giving it a pat. “most women are terribly boring.” she retorted. it was difficult to reign in just how much she was devoted to him. but his authenticity drew her in like bees to honey. she’d watched him grow and change and adapt and he was here standing tall. she admired and respected him greatly, trying to mirror his confidence always. if he ever toned himself down for her sake she’d never forgive herself, she valued the person he was, the real one, more than he could ever know. especially in their world, where so much of what was said and presented was fake, where so many wore masks and told lies and hid their true selves and feelings and thoughts. knowing he’d never do that to her was a comfort she could take to the grave. “I’ll be sure to let you know if you’ve gotten boring, it’s what friends are for.” she smiled at him but couldn’t imagine him being boring. she had to laugh when he bombarded her with questions, it was sort of cute that he got protective like that. “a boy over the summer, he wanted to move faster than i did.” she shrugged, it seemed commonplace to her and certainly wasn’t the first or last time it had happened. “when he got aggressive i used a curse to break all the bones in his hand.” she said with a careless nonchalance.
