Scorp & Art || Reunion
Art found it extremely difficult to stay upset with Astrid running around the way she was. He was always fond of children, instinctively coddling them, adoring them, playing with them. It was impossible for him not to smile when she charged his leg. He chuckled at her words and her innocent, playful behavior and ruffled her hair affectionately as Scorp apologized for his daughter.
"Of course you can come to make tea," he smiled, reaching down to take her hand when she released his leg. "She’s cute, I’ll give you that," he called back to Scorp as he led the little girl into the kitchen. At this point he assumed she was Scorp’s child, especially after the comment about spoiling her. Perhaps she was the child of a family member, but it seemed unlikely; the admiration between them seemed far more personal, something only blood could summon. Of course Art was curious as to who, how, where, when, why, but for now he enjoyed the child’s company and decided everything would make itself known in the right time.
There was a sense of comfort in having his apartment occupied so. He lived alone since his creatures preferred roaming about the castle grounds and the silence became almost too much for Art sometimes. To hear Astrid rambling, to have the knowledge that one of his most beloved people was sitting in his living room, it allowed him to let out a breath of relief.
Somewhat for the amusement of Astrid, Art used wandless magic and the waving of his fingers to summon two teacups and a glass from his cup boards, open up the fridge for milk and his drawers for tea. He assembled two cup of tea and a glass of milk for the child, taking pleasure in Astrid’s amused giggles and undeveloped English.
At the same time he listened to Scorp’s voice ring through his apartment, which brought forth a sense of deja vu. There had been many times in Scorpius’ teenage years that Art had stood in the kitchen making tea while the younger told him what was wrong.
"And what exactly does work entail?" he called back, not sure which career path Scorp had chosen for himself. He looked down and smiled as Astrid spoke words of admiration for her father. It was sweet, their relationship was sweet; she was sweet. And for a second Art felt a strong sense of regret, not being able to be a part of this child’s upbringing.
Art handed Astrid her glass of milk and as an afterthought, a small dish of cookies too. He then took the two cups of tea and headed back into the living room, calling Astrid to follow. He placed Scorp’s tea on the coffee table in front of him before seating himself on the sofa across from the younger man.
His eyes fell just the way Scorp’s did at the mention of Albus and even more so when he noticed Scorp’s fingers fidget. It’d been years, but that didn’t make the reality of what had happened with the middle Potter child easier to accept. “I understand,” he sighed, knowing full well how hard it had been to cope. Honestly, he couldn’t even bring himself to be angry at Scorp because if the man did what would help him be alright again then how could Art be angry?
Art noticed the way Scorp’s features lit up at the mention of Astrid. He let out a breath, “I’m glad you came, I…I’m glad you decided to share this, with me. I missed you, Scorp.” The sincerity was evident in his eyes, all the time he’d spent thinking about Scorp, wishing he’d come around, was evident in Art’s eyes. He chuckled when Scorp asked about him. “Hold on there, buddy, we’re not quite done with you yet. I’d like some details. I’d like to know what you’ve been up to on a second to second basis because you spent seven years of your life telling things to me that way and I don’t see why it should be any different now.”
Art looked over at Astrid fondly. More than anything he wanted to know about her so that he could be a part of her life from that point on. There was no way he was going to let Scorp disappear again, no way that he was going to lose his family again.
Magic induced clatter made the blonde somewhat nostalgic, usage of the same for purposes other than career-related reduced to low levels in their home. Unlike scars painted across the canvas of his chest, there were certain scars invisible to the eye, but far more painful which reminded him of how carelessly he wielded his talents for matters unworthy of the action - and how he'd failed to use them when they were actually required. It was an almost shameful admission to make, even though he'd ever utter it only internally to himself, but everything that Hogwarts taught him and gave him more often than not seemed like a curse and with curses he had no pleasant trips to this very day.
"Technically, I'm not allowed to speak of my job, so you can connect the dots and see for yourself what it entails." Ministry, mysteries, magic; the holy trinity of M's - the money too was good, perfectly timed as well, with his complete departure from family and the heritage. Of all goals he'd failed to accomplish, making a name and fortune of his own without relying on the fame of Malfoys was the one he succeeded at. Content which lacked out of the equation only added to the proof that money cannot buy one happiness. And it wasn't that Scorpius wasn't happy, because he was, but things were still missing - and then again, he was young.
Leaning over, Scorpius picked up the chamomile tea filled mug, lips forming a narrow 'o' as he blew the cool air over the hot surface to bring the beverage's temperature down. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss you as well. Astrid's been bugging me about visiting for way too long, I had to cave in." he admitted, managing to draw out a smile of pride upon the little blonde's face. He took a sip, only to deem the tea still too warm and lower it onto the table to rest there for a while. Leaning back into his seating seemed like an invitation for Astrid to make herself comfortable in his lap and the man instinctively spread his arms to welcome here there, a gesture apparent to have been repeated countless times. They were one another's anchors, tethers grounding them in this fucked up world; they were alone together, each other's everything.
Astrid rarely ever rested peacefully, but when she did in moments like these, he loved holding her tiny hands in his own, having the privilege of pressing a peck upon her head and just having her nearby, solid and present, his without any threat to slip beneath his fingers like countless loves of his did. And it still felt like he was the only one to blame for that.
"I'm not proud to admit that the first thing I did after leaving Hogwarts was moping in my parent's house for months." he chuckled, though the humor was misplaced, not quite honest, lacking fervor. "My father saw it fit to distance me from all the sorrow I've gone through and sent me off to my grandmother in France. I thought I'd go even crazier there, but luckily I met up with Victoire and she's been keeping me sane ever since. I work in London, but I don't live there. Got the two of us here a lakehouse near the city of Cannes - lots of light, lots of green, near Pyrenees, you know, if Astrid's French roots find Beauxbatons to be a better match. Obviously, my world revolves around her, by choice and I wouldn't have it any other way. I started off from scratch, so it's not much..."
"But it's enough for Art to come too if he wants." Astrid jumped right in all too desperately, as if the words weren't said outloud, if the invitation wasn't highly implied, Art would never come. And hearing that tone in his daughter's voice saddened him a little, because she's been wanting to meet him ever since Scorp first mentioned Art and he's been denying her that because of the bad memories that visiting this place could've triggered. Still, it was worth all of them. "Of course - if we can house five cats, I'm pretty sure Art could fit in as well. If I remember correctly, now that Dot has found its new residence under our bed, we happen to have a free cupbroad for you to sleep in. Or you can sleep in Astrid's bed and she can sleep in cupboard." Scorpius added, and the words etched a contemplating frown on the little blonde's face, making it obvious that she wasn't so sure of whether she'd like the proposition or not but was willing to give it a shot.
"You'll have to treat me real good, mister." Astrid nodded at Art seriously, making him know that he'll have to earn that bed and Scorpius couldn't but laugh yet again, only this time wholeheartedly and sincere. "Well, now that we have that settled, it's your turn, old man."
