a sigh of relief brushed past her lips as she sank into his embrace, his warm touch fighting back the cold darkness that overpowered her slim frame ever since she’d been ambushed. her tears no longer spilled from fear but rather the comfort that he provided and the joy his embrace injected into her fragile heart. ❛ sirius. ❜ his name fell from her lips like a prayer as the girl took a minute to revel in the peace that surrounded her now that she knew she was truly safe. no one would dare come for her when he was only a few inches away and if they did, marlene would hardly feel as defenceless with the bold gryffindor fighting by her side. as his hands travelled along her soft skin, the girl allowed herself the pleasure she’d never awarded herself of pulling him closer, rejecting the space he’d placed between them. ❛ days? i’ve been out for days? ❜
to her, it seemed like only hours had past since the attack though the pain did alter her sense of time greatly. his urgency to get her to lie down only made her panic rise again, her head shaking quickly and her hands flying up to reach his, gripping his palm as if her life depended on it. lying down would only remind her of the scars etched along the once smooth skin of her back, of how they got there. each time she moved she could imagine how the curse traveled down her spine sending shocks of blinding pain to spread across the ample plains of flesh until bright red marks burst out, bulging to form spider like figurines along the length of her backside. she couldn’t say it but her eyes bore into his gaze, begging him to understand so she wouldn’t have to mumble the consequences of what had happened to her. ❛ j-just stay with me right now? please? i don’t want to sleep not now.❜
she was crying, the damp hitting his shoulder yet wrenching his stomach with a violent jerk, it was only soothed by her rush to draw close. there was a sense of urgency to her hug, hinting of a need he didn’t have much occasion to feel outside of the circle he’d built for himself. after al,l there had always been those who’d wanted him for something. a son. a black. an heir. but few that needed him. and his own relief leaving him in a soft exhale of breath, an oppressive ache rushed to fill the vacancy. it was a familiar ache. a call for action, as only activity could bring enough distraction from the sting of it. his fluttering hands betrayed him, anger warm and natural in all the places concern had not already settled in. a lump rising in his throat at the question, sirius didn’t offer an answer immediately, burying his nose into the side of her neck and his grip tightening, as if her embrace had been the permission he’d needed.
there was the concern, the anger, of course. but it was a terrible thing to admit to, his lack of surprise at their current state of affairs. he was perhaps one of the only people wholly aware of the depths the other side would sink to. he’d felt it himself, the violence of their righteousness. it had lived in him too. but here he’d been. aware but complacent. ( to marlene’s great detriment ) and he felt in his heart that he should’ve known. realized sooner that this would happen. and how most troubling of all, he should’ve done better. && meeting her eye, forced to meet the pleading layered beneath the surface, sirius’ rankles rose, gaze hardening with a rising fury, boiling beneath the skin until he was warm to the touch. fueled by it, really. ❛ mm. mars. shit-- marlene. i’m so sorry. i’m so sorry . ❜ and there was a break, heavy as though he’d done the deed himself, eyes glassing over and unfocused. then she spoke, and he was here again. the weakness behind the request sending his thoughts rattling against his temples until his vision was blurring, frayed at the edges. he silently shifted to settle beside her, noting the fire of resolve that built in him with each light touch. ❛ i can do that. ❜ whispered words void of their usual levity as he leaned against the headboard and reached to cradle her frame against his chest. dark hair spilling beneath his chin and silently willing the contact to bolster her as it did him, the back of his hand alighting on her cheek again ❛ i’m so sorry-- you don’t know how much. but you’re okay. you’re okay and i’ll be here, alright ? i won’t let--- i won’t let anything like that happen again. ❜ and he sounded so sure, muttering promises into the dark and shaking hands brushing at her hair.
