(I have been saving this for a rainy day & today it is POURING)
Justin + Mae #4 - forehead kiss
Justin was tired, the type of ache that sunk deep within his muscles and into his bones, where his joints were creaking with every step, skin pulled too tight over the remnants of his body. Normally Ranger Missions were fun, enjoyable rushes of adrenaline with his friends.
Normal Missions didn’t result in a dead Ranger but today it did, and instead of staying back with the squad, drinking in their memory he wanted just one thing - no. Justin needed one thing. To be home. So with a round of hugs and a gentle touch along the forehead of the fallen Justin took a series of portkeys home, their allies among the governments greasing the wheels of jurisdiction to drop him off in Diagon Alley.
Exiting the Leaky Caldron the sun beat down on him, a stark contrast to the humid jungle he’d just left, instead of the howling monkeys and the squawks of birds he was faced with children and laughing adults. The press of their arms against him, their bodies brushing against his - wrongwrongwrong. It pounded into his head with every instant of skin on his, too many human voices ringing in his ears, the shrill sound of industrialization clanging around him.
He surged through the crowd, keeping his elbows in and teeth ground down. He couldn’t very well push children and women from his path, so like the bull Justin plowed through, shoulders in a tight thick line, veins on his neck standing as every cobblestone threatened to trip him.
He passed the emporium, one of the many attendants waving at him for the doorway, beckoning him. They knew he left the country often, were used to him stomping in with his rucksack and trinkets, most of them excited to have been brought a gift or even a story from his adventures beyond this freezing rock Justin created a life upon. But the Slytherin’s eyes smoothed over their form, not noticing how nervous they looked, nor the way they flinched from his dark eyes.
The entry to Knockturn Alley was the same it’d always been, two Aurors posted up for an extended ‘lunch’, not even pretending they were guarding the entry. Roland Sidewinder was grinning at him, an insipid constipated look.
“Animal Boy,” Dios he needed to break this boys teeth one of these days, “password?”
Roland laughed, swinging his wand a bit, a short thing likely similar to his cock if Justin took a chance at guessing, “Well that’s not very nice, besides I don’t fuck men--”
“Not that we’d give you the time of day,” Justin hissed, shouldering forward until their chests were a hairsbreadth away, “why don’t you back up then or I’ll take you down a fucking peg or two.” His veins were popping up along his forearms, knuckles whitening under the pressure of his strength,
“Threatening an Auror, an officer of the law - tsk tsk tsk Grant, I thought you were smarter than that. But hey, I’ll let it slide if you land me a date with your pretty bestie,” Roland leaned into him, the fabrics of their shirts touching, his breath minty fresh and burning Justin’s eyes, “but maybe it’ll end up being more than a date. I’ve heard Knockturn Alley girls are easy, I bet most of your shitty friends have had her but damn if she wouldn’ be a good fuck--”
Roland’s voice cut off with a strange and Justin slammed him into the wall, his black peacoat, dropping his rucksack to the ground.
“If you think I would let your tiny prink within spitting range of my girl then you’ve another thing coming you cretin,” Justin, tugged him closer, their chests colliding while the Auror Captain took on a sheen of panic. His hands scrambling for Justin’s wrist, though they were the same height Justin loomed.
“This is assault fucker--”
“Roland if one more word comes out of your mouth I’m going to spread your teeth all over this goddamn--”
Both men turned, their cheeks smashing together and they hopped away from each other as if it burned. Maeko was standing there, hair a glorious mess of curls with a grocery bag hanging from the tips of her fingers. Roland straightened out his jacket, messing with his already artfully charmed hair - the prick. While Justin’s chest was heaving, blood boiling over, the flush on his cheeks reaching down his neck and arms covering him in splotching anger.
“I thought you weren’t going to be home for a few days?” her eyes slid over Roland, studying Justin’s tense figure, his breathing coming out in sharp pants.
“I needed to come home.” he strode forward, knocking into Roland with his shoulder, Maeko stood like the mirage of an oasis and Justin wrapped her up tight. He needed to make sure she was real.
Pulling her face into his chest, cradling the back of her neck with his hands just a few hours ago slicked with blood and morning Amazon dew. Burying his nose into Maeko’s curls he took a long deep breath, inhaling her comforting scent. He could hear Roland huffing then wandering away, until it was just them, alone at the entry to Knockturn Alley, it’s perpetual shadows casting a blanket of protection around their tangled forms.
“You okay?” her nails scratched along the thin cotton of his polo, circling beneath his shoulder blade, skimming the length of his ribs.
“I’m home.” he managed to get out, feeling suddenly childish for how his throat crackled with unshed tears.
Maeko pulled back, fingers reaching up to muss his sweaty curls, “Did you get sick or something?” Justin shook his head, tilting it forward to receive more of her ministrations, refocusing on the pale planes of her cheeks and the arch of her brow, sucking in her willow limbs and hips. Dragging his hands from the curve of her neck and jaw they settled around her hips, tucking his thumbs into the curve of her belly.
Maeko smiled up at him, then leaned forward and pressed a butterfly soft kiss to his forehead, her lips lingering, her hot breath scented with coffee and croissants. Pulling away she tugged on his waistband, “Lets get you home yeah?”
Justin nodded, collecting his fallen rucksack, allowing her to lead them further into Knockturn Alley. But with Maeko’s brusque accent, their hands linked, and the warm patch on his forehead from her lips he knew he was home right now. He didn’t need to go anywhere else, as long as Mae was there he could find comfort anywhere.