one-shot (sneak-peek of my upcoming ff with my two oc - Auriga Malfoy (Draco's younger sister) and Christopher Eden
Don't forget to read another sneak-peek into their story its right here
word count: 1k
hope you enjoy!
Auriga couldn’t get in her bedroom. She just could get in.
She couldn’t believe it.
What if something happened to him?
What if while she went to retrieve more salve, he got worse? But then why would the door be locked?
“Ikki!”
A loud pop! and the elf appeared.
“Mistress called Ikki?”
“Yes, Ikki, I called. Why can’t I get in?”
The elf murmured the reply into the pillowcase she wore, but Auriga could not hear the muffled noise.
“What?”
“Master commanded Ikki to lock the bedroom”
She was stunned. Why would he do it? He knew she’d be back in a moment.
“Well, then, unlock it.”
“Ikki cannot, Master forbade it.”
“What do you mean Master forbade it? Let me in!” Auriga made to move to the door, but the elf began shaking with tears.
“Ikki cannot.” The elf desperately tried to pull her ears over her face to cover her fear. Disobeying both Masters was sure to gain her the worst punishment there ever was.
“Ikki, I am your Mistress. You wouldn’t want to disobey your mistress, would you, now?”
Ikki whined a little.
“Ikki, your Mistress commands you to open the bedroom. If you do not, I will have to give you clothes”
The elf left out a horrified shriek, but made no move to help her Mistress. Frustrated with the locked door and the unhelping elf that did not listen to her righteous owner, Auriga started slowly pulling off the sleeve of her jacket.
“Ikki”
“Ikki is a good elf. Ikki cannot disobey her Master. If Ikki disobeys Master, he will free her”
“If Ikki disobeys her Mistress, Mistress will free Ikki right now.”
The elf left out another horrific shriek, and with a crack! the elf disappeared while another sound indicated that the door was unlocked. Auriga, carrying the salve, hurried into the room and found her husband on the bed as she left him. Approaching him, however, she noticed he wasn’t simply sitting in bed, but was tugging mercilessly at his bandages on his right hand.
“What are you doing?!”
Christopher didn’t seem to even notice her at first for he only turned his head upon hearing her scream
“Stupid elf. I will free her. You hear me, Ikki? I will give you all my clothes!” He shouted at the ceiling, trying to intimidate the poor house elf.
“Do not blame the elf! And are you in your right mind? Why did you command her to lock the door? You knew I was going to come!” She couldn’t stop screaming in a feat of anger, trying to let out her frustration. Auriga stepped closer to the bed.
“I can manage just fine on my own.” He turned his back to her, trying to take off the bandage. Fruitlessly.
“You’re going to hurt yourself! Let me-” She set the salve on the edge of the bed and moved to grab hold of his left arm that was already ripping the skin of his right hand apart.
“No!”
“Why are you being so stubborn? I am trying to help you, idiot!”
“Go away!” He growled, even though he was already painting.
“I’m not leaving you in this state! Stop it! Stop it, you’re hurting yourself!” She leaned on him to try to prevent his hand from tearing his own skin further apart. Merlin. What was wrong with him?
“I don’t want you to see me in such state!” He now had difficulty breathing from the pressure her body exerted on his chest, so he squeezed the words through his clenched teeth.
But Auriga stopped moving. Cogs slowly started moving in her brain, emotions making way to the rational part of her mind. Now it all made sense. It was not just another temper tantrum.
All words left her. Auriga slowly stood up and let him breathe with his full chest. They were both silent.
When he finally seemed to collect himself and no longer intent on hurting his arm, she took the salve and carefully approached her husband as if he were a wounded creature. Though then he was one.
She sat on the edge of the bed and silently asked him permission to grab hold of his wounded limb. When he made no move to stop her, she quickly set to work, as if scared he might make go leave and lock the bedroom again.
Meticulously applying the salve, knowing the movements by heart and fully immersed in her work, she didn’t see Christopher’s stare, but rather felt it. She felt the intensity of it, though it was clear it was not filled with resentment or hatred.
Once finished, she returned his hand to his chest, where it was when she had left the room, and finally looked at her husband’s face. His gaze never left hers.
“I don’t see you as weak.” Her voice was hoarse from the screaming, but her eyes never left the charcoal that seemed to read her as if he saw her for the first time. His face didn’t change, however.
“But I am.”
She had nothing to say to this, knowing full well her words made no difference to him now. The stubborn bastard wouldn’t change his mind if the Dark Lord himself commanded him to do it. Seeing her pause, he whispered softly:
“Please, leave.”
A tear fell on her cheek.
Christopher closed his eyes and leaned back on the wood. When he was sure his wife had left their shared bedroom, he felt the bed shift, forcing him to look around.
That’s when he saw Auriga climb under the covers and to his side.
“What are you-”
She did not answer. She laid her head on his shoulder and hugged his waist instead. Only when her hand found his and she interlaced her fingers with his, did she say:
“You are the strongest person I know. You didn’t leave me at my lowest. I know I will never leave you. Do not ever ask me to do that.”
A warmth filled his chest.
They were both asleep.
