@drarrymicrofic | 750ish words | prompt: bind
Draco runs past Harry at sixy-thirty in the evening.
He hasn't seen Potter in a few years, but he doesn't appear to be all that different. If the Savior's finally more man than boy, he's only just.
Draco goes back to the office to finish paperwork. By the time he's done, the night is dark and summery, so he decides to walk home through the park. Draco sees Potter again from a ways off. There's pollen in his hair. He's been running the whole time.
Draco makes six thirty a habit, he runs for thirty minutes every day, and never finds out how long Potter runs for. No matter how he drags his feet at the Ministry, Potter's still running when he leaves for the night.
Once, Draco tries nodding. Potter ignores this.
August this year is a heat wave.
Draco stops by the fountain beside the Peter Pan statue to refill his water bottle and Potter jogs by. Droplets of sweat flick off his curls and onto the back of Draco's hand. Draco watches him go, shorts swishing, metronome feet striking the earth.
Potter wobbles for a step when he passes beneath the shadow of a leafy canopy. Draco’s running before he knows it.
Draco grabs his arm and Potter jerks around. “Potter.”
“What the f—Malfoy.” He blinks sweat off his eyelashes. “Er.”
Draco holds his water bottle out between them. “Do you want any water?”
Harry shakes his head. “S’alright.”
Potter starts to get a little mad. His eyes are glassy. He grits his teeth. “Make me.”
Draco rolls his eyes. “Make you?”
Potter’s soaked in sweat. His sunburnt cheeks are a deep, raw shade of pink Draco’s never seen before. He’s trying to look mean, but just looks tired.
Draco’s better angels jump ship. Potter has ever been their scourge.
Draco grabs Potter by the back of the head and steps into his space. Draco’s taller and he uses this, jerking Potter’s head back. “Fine, you fuck,” he hisses. “Open up.”
Potter gags when the stream of water hits the back of his throat. He doesn’t know what to do with his hands. Potter wants to push Draco away, but doesn’t want to touch him. His fingers are resultantly weak against Draco’s chest.
“Drink,” Draco instructs. “You’re going to pass out. Or do you still have no idea what’s good for you?” Harry makes a garbled sound. Draco pulls him off the path by the roots of his hair. “Don’t talk, moron.”
Rivulets of water run down the sides of Potter’s mouth. His eyebrows are angry. His eyes are unfocused. Magic gathers in the overheated air. Potter’s. Draco recognizes the overwhelm.
“Be good, Potter,” Draco whispers.
Wind sends petals skyward as it moves through flowering trees. The shade quivers. Potter takes a loud, messy gulp of water. Little chips of light dance on the ground.
“That’s it,” Draco soothes, “Just like that.”
Potter glares at Draco from the bad, awkward angle of Draco’s making. He manages several thwarted swallows, tongue wet and red as his lips, voice box prominent along its curve, moving painfully up then down, down then up.
When the water’s gone, Draco steps back. Potter staggers and Draco reaches out but Potter flings his arm away and almost around himself in a strange, desperate arc.
His touch had gone soft at the end, there was no mistaking it.
Draco doesn't feel smug or superior—he feels exhausted, naked, on verge of collapse. Nevertheless, his mouth curls at the corners.
A tiny sound escapes Potter's lips. It was originally a large sound, but had lessened on the journey up from Potter’s heart.
The sun's rays beat down. The wind dies. Water mingles with sweat dripping off Potter’s chin and Draco’s dangling fingers and the water bottle's transparent plastic. Harry tries to hide his docility but, to Draco, it’s as golden as the band Potter wears on his finger.
They watch each other as joggers pass. Potter still wears beat-up trainers. Potter still lets his soles fall apart.
It starts under a tree in the park. A knot tied between them. A light chip on Potter's jaw.