fabianprewcttβ:
Of all the fucking people.
It seemed that the universe had a hell of a penchant for throwing rogue bludgers his way lately, but to put Ted in his path two days in a row (and was it still considered a suckerpunch the second time around? Surely he was supposed to have learnt something from yesterdayβs encounter.) seemed cruel beyond measure. Not now. Not fucking now.
His breath caught at the back of his throat, guilty smile frozen in place as he hovered behind the door to the shed like it might shield him from Tedβs powers of perception and endless moral backbone. Except even a smile could be seen through now, all his powers of persuasion lost in the breath it took for Ted to inform him of his guilt before heβd even started his excuses.
Excuses had always been Gideonβs department.
βIβm not doing anything,β he lied, sniffing dismissively and turning in the doorway to better hide the shovels behind his back before levering the door further open and accusing,Β βYouβre hiding from Molly.β
Because if in doubt, he could always depend on Tedβs innately Hufflepuffian need to never ever get himself into trouble without someone else to lead him into it. Molly had always made an excellent authority figure.Β βYou know sheβll smell it from a mile off. Nose like a bloodhound our Molls.β
The comment was accompanied by a fond smile, as if nothing made him prouder, before he swung the door to the shed open in earnest, poised ever so carefully in its shadow. Betsy, dependable as ever, loped inside to sniff at his boots and Fabian tipped his head in invitation, as if Arthurβs treasure trove of bewildering obsessions was an inviting prospect.Β βYou know, I think I saw your name on a few of theseΒ tools. Arthurβs always had sticky fingers.β
Entirely oblivious to the irony of the accusation, he hummed, rocking on his heels and nudged at Betsy with his knee in lieu of a free hand as she whined for attention.Β βAre you coming in or not? Iβve been looking for,β he hesitated for only a moment before offering,Β βGnome bait. Mollyβs been on at me about filling in the Gnome holes.β
Perfectly logical. He was almost proud of himself.
Ted was knocked for six, mouth frozen in silent confusion and offense before he pointed a finger in Fabianβs direction. He wasnβt the one sneaking about and looking conscience-stricken. Well, he was. Just not as much. βI quit. In ninety-eight. Donβt want to hear it from her, alright?β The sentence was finished with another drag, really highlighting Tedβs ironclad will when it came to kicking habits. He spared a worried glance to check out the house and not seeing a Molly in sight figured he was safe enough.Β βAnd if she asks, Iβll say I nicked it off you. You peer pressured me.β He wouldnβt. They both knew heβd be apologizing to his sister even if she didnβt have any intention of giving him a dressing-down for the terrible trait he had picked up again.
βYouβre up to something. What is it?β It was odd to be on the other side of his best friendβs (or was it former best friend now?) plans. He had expected now that he and Fabian knew the other was still kicking about they would go back to the way things had been and that Ted would be let in on the ridiculous plan of the month or week. Even if they had left things so poorly. Even if they had left things really bloody poorly. Must have been wishful thinking on his part that he could live in the past instead of facing his present.
Crossing the threshold of Arthurβs shed wasnβt significant. He had been in this particularΒ hidey-hole more times than he could count. The fact that the dog had no issue stepping inside, greeting the had-to-be-scheming ginger warmly, and that there couldnβt be any spells set for him to walk into should have pushed Ted to action but it didnβt. He stalled, shifting his weight and only just peering inside at the allure of lost tools and gadgets to the graveyard that was Arthurβs hobby shed.Β βLike what?β He had lent all matter of broken and fully-functional muggle things to Fabianβs brother-in-law over the years. The man had been instrumental in feeding Tedβs own curiosity over electronics and charms when he was younger. So why was he pausing to see what he hadnβt meant to give away forever?
Right. That face. The one that soon led to larkish capers that had landed one of them in a holding cell for the night more times than the other.Β βGnome bait. Youβre not going to chuck them?β Is that what the Weasley couple did now that there were no kids in the home to weed the garden? Surely they could put Fabian to work if they needed gnome removal services.Β βArthurβs gonna part with them. Never thought Iβd see the day. Suppose I almost didnβt.β Ted took a small step into the shed, leaving one foot still outside the doorway incase he did need to make a sudden escape.Β βYouβre not going to pet the dog? Looks like he wants a bit of your time.β











