Eight am comes entirely too early, and Malfoy isn't sure he really feels like getting out of bed. Especially since he has Elsbet beside him. Or she was...he forces his eyes open and sees the pretty girl sitting on the side of the bed, already dressed for the day. She's braided her hair--he wishes she had waited, he would have done it for her. He reaches for her and she turns quickly when she feels his hand, smiling at him softly. "Did I wake you?" She leans across the bed as she asks him, then kisses him playfully. "No," he says, then realizes she's sucking a cherry candy. "Where'd you get that?" He asks and she giggles. "Do you want a cherry," she shifts the sweet to the other side of her mouth, "candy?" He caresses her cheek and kisses her. "I'll have yours," he purrs, and she blushes hotly.
She gives him sweet little kisses, on his lips first, then his cheek, then his neck, then nibbles his earlobe, whispering, "aw, but Severus beat you to it..." He pulls her close and kisses her hungrily, then gives her a wicked grin when they part, telling her, "that's alright Ellie, we can pretend." He's eager, but doesn't want to pressure her. She gazes deeply into his grey eyes and kisses him again, then tells him they need to be going. He sighs, disappointed; he was hoping for a nice, hot meal. "Therion and Remus were here just a little bit before you woke up," she says and he watches her slide off the bed. "Tonks is getting us all breakfast, so we'd best be off."
He thinks it's very nice, but it's not exactly the meal he was hoping for. She comes around to his side of the bed as he rises into a sitting position, wincing. "Therion said you may be sore for a while; you had it pretty rough last night." He shrugs slightly and says, "but not so rough I can't--" she laughs and kisses him. "Lucius, I didn't know you were a Morning Man..." he flashes her a wining smile and tells her, "morning, noon and night, my Lady." He pulls her to him again, wanting even just a little play, but he knows he has to get up; they both have a busy day a head. As he stands she kisses him quickly and tells him she will meet him in the Temple's center.
But as she turns to go, he winces again and she laces her arm around his waist. "Are you alright, Lucius? I'm worried..." He tells her he's fine, but he doesn't refuse her help. She leads him to the bathroom so he can ready himself for the day, then hands him his walking stick when he comes out. Elsbet tucks her dirty clothes into the bag Therion brought her, and tucks her cubed house into the pocket of her pants. They leave the room together, arm in arm, and meet Remus in the Temple's center. The three of them chit chat (or rather, Remus and Elsbet chit chat, Malfoy seems too distracted) while they walk to the main entrance, where Therion greets them.
Elsbet notices Therion paying close attention to Malfoy as they walk to the little café Tonks picked. He winces a few more times before they sit down, and though she knows he doesn't want to let on, Malfoy's in a lot of pain. "Wotcher, Ellie!" Remus smiles as Elsbet and Tonks hug, and Elsbet giggles at Tonks' neon blue hair. "Thought I'd try something different today," Tonks says as Elsbet sits between her and Therion. Therion and Malfoy are whispering as their breakfast is brought out to them, and the waiter tells them that if anything is not to their liking it can be changed.
As everyone begins dishing up their meals, Elsbet asks Therion quietly, "will you keep an eye on Lucius today, please? I don't think he's feeling right, and I have to be at my dojo most of the day." Therion tells her not to worry, that Malfoy won't be alone. "I've already got my shop closed, I was planing on setting him up with some light reading," he says with a wink, and she remembers the exchange from last night. "Light reading..." she giggles and Malfoy looks over at her. He loves the sound of her laugh...she blushes under his gaze and dishes up her breakfast.
It's a pleasant meal; Remus and Therion talk about the new buliding being designed just north of the Garden District and they speculate what might go in there, and Elsbet tells them she had heard two weeks ago that it was going to be an art museum. "Art and History, I thought I heard," Remus says, and Therion nods in agreement. "It will be a welcome addition, I believe," he says, and Malfoy says he looks forward to seeing it. He nearly boasts that he can make a contribution to their procurement fund, then remembers that he can't, at least right now, and besides, boasting about such things is part of his old life.
But old habits die hard.
He thanks Tonks for her thoughtfulness of planning this breakfast, and discovers he has an overwealming urge to insult her choice of hair color, out of that old habit. They look at each other for a long moment, both with odd expressions on their faces as if they don't know what to say to each other. "It's going to take some getting used to," Tonks says, "us being on the same side," and Malfoy chuckles. "I'll adjust. Just don't call me 'Lucy' or anything--" Elsbet giggles and nudges his foot. "Lucy!" Remus and Therion glance at each other, trying not to laugh, and Malfoy tips his fork in her direction. "You can call me Lucy, but..." there is a round of friendly laughter as the waiter comes and asks them if everything is alright and if they'd like anything else. They tell him its all quite good and that they're done.
Remus says he, Tonks and Elsbet need to be going, "Master Han has finally gotten his wish," Tonks says. Remus tells Therion and Malfoy, "Master Han has been asking me for the last six months or so if I will teach Defence Against the Dark Arts there at the dojo, and I have finally told him yes. Tonks will be teaching defencive magic as well." Malfoy places his folded napkin on his plate and says as the three of them rise to leave, "I must confess that I do not quite understand, how this city has survived despite clearly flouting the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy."
It is an honest question, asked without malice, and Therion laughs as he folds up his napkin and rises. He tosses it on his plate and tells Malfoy, "I was going to talk to you about this very thing today...Sanctuary City is almost like a world unto itself, and for very good reason." He offers Malfoy a hand up, and as he rises Elsbet comes around to his side. She stands on her tiptoes to kiss him and tells him to have a good day. As the five friends part, Tonks says, "Ellie, I don't mean to be daft, if you don't want to say you don't have to, but..." Remus nudges her gently with his elbow and she shrugs, "you and Lucius...?"
Elsbet smiles widely and nods. "Yes," she says coyly, then tells her softly, "I love him..." It is simply stated, and Tonks shakes her head. "But Severus--" Remus tosses his hair back and sticks his hands in his jacket pockets. "Severus introduced them." Tonks looks at her husband and shakes her head again. "But I thought...wait...wait..." she glances around as if she doesn't want to be overheard, "Severus and Lucius--" Elsbet nods, "together...and you," Elsbet nods again and Tonks whispers, "together?" Remus nudges her again, "Dora, really," but Elsbet laughs and dances lightly out ahead of them.
"It's love, Tonks. Love is love. When you have it, you cherish it...it's not something you ration. And it doesn't matter here, things like gender...ok, look at you and Remus." Tonks glances from Elsbet, to her husband, then back to Elsbet. "On the other side of the Divide, he's treated badly because he's a werewolf. But here, in this place, not one single person would think badly of him for it, or think it bad for you two to be together. It just doesn't matter." As they near the dojo, Elsbet says, "Tonks, let me ask you this." They stop in front of a shop with bowls of clay beads in the window, and Elsbet is distracted for a moment. Handi's Crafts is one of her favorite shops...
She shakes her head and laughs at herself, then continues. "Ok, let's say you met someone, and you liked them immediately. Every time you see them, you like them even more. Everything about them makes you happy...makes them even more attractive to you. And let's say they feel exactly the same about you. You don't have a whole lot in comon, but that's ok, because that just means there's more you can teach each other, and the more you learn from them, the more you love them. They're the most incredible, most beautiful person in the world to you, and you know your life would be empty without them."
Remus and Tonks look at each other, and both have tears in their eyes. "I did meet someone like that," Tonks says, "and I married him." Elsbet nods, then touches Tonks' hand gently. Quietly, she asks her, "ok. Now, what if Remus had been a girl?" Elsbet nods to Remus, then to Tonks, then heads off to the dojo by herself.
~*~
Therion laughs heartily at Malfoy's question, but stops when he notices the other wizard's discomfort. "Lucius?" He's been growing more concerned since he first saw Malfoy before breakfast. His color isn't right, he keeps wincing, and his eyes lack their usual luster. He knows first hand how badly the Ordeal can weigh on a person, especially when one is a former Death Eater...but there's something more going on here, and he's afraid he knows what it is. "Lucius, how do you feel?" He puts his hand on Malfoy's back and he feels him having to work to breathe. They haven't walked that far, and Malfoy is for the most part healthy.
Malfoy says, "winded," and straightens as best he can. "And I feel weak," he says, and Therion puts his arm around him for support, and notices he's begun to sweat. "Come on, Lucius," he says gently, "we're almost there." Malfoy asks him as they start walking again where they're going, and Therion tells him, "to meet some friends of mine, they're friends of Severus also," and Malfoy nods. They walk just a little way further, just in sight of the gateway to the Garden of Dreams, when Malfoy's knees give. Therion holds him up and they walk a few more steps before Malfoy says he feels nauseous, then clenches his teeth in pain.
Things happen very quickly after that.
Malfoy is aware that he's drifting, or floating maybe, he thinks he's being carried. He can hear Therion, Therion sounds afraid...afraid for him, Therion cares about him...it's good to be cared about...cared about...where is Ellie? Oh, Severus...my son...he's aware that he's reaching for someone...he can't see, so he doesn't know what he's touching, but he doesn't care...he suddenly feels like crying, ah, he is crying, that's what that is on his face, tears..."please," he says weakly, "please don't...don't let me die," he pleads, "I've just begun to live..."
He's aware of a horrible pain in his chest and that he can't seem to breathe correctly, and he's suddenly aware that he seems to be naked, and laying on a bed of some sort. He feels hands all over him, cool, soothing hands, they caress him, soft voices tell him to be at ease, that he's safe, that he's with friends, that he's loved...he hears a raven, the raven cries, he hears Therion speak soothingly to the raven...it's Cambion, he knows, he wants to reach out to Cambion, tell Severus I love him... but he can not move, and the raven's cry is pitiful.
He feels someone, a woman definately, lay down on him, and there is the sensation of being completely enveloped by those around him, and that someone is breathing for him, and then...he is penetrated, but it's not the kind of penetration he's familiar with. It feels as though they've entered through the very pores of his skin, and he feels strangely very light. He hears a voice, not in his ears, but throughout his whole body, and this breathy female voice tells him to relax, and to trust them, that he is safe in their hands.
She gives him sweet little kisses, on his lips first, then his cheek, then his neck, then nibbles his earlobe, whispering, "aw, but Severus beat you to it..." He pulls her close and kisses her hungrily, then gives her a wicked grin when they part, telling her, "that's alright Ellie, we can pretend." He's eager, but doesn't want to pressure her. She gazes deeply into his grey eyes and kisses him again, then tells him they need to be going. He sighs, disappointed; he was hoping for a nice, hot meal. "Therion and Remus were here just a little bit before you woke up," she says and he watches her slide off the bed. "Tonks is getting us all breakfast, so we'd best be off."
He thinks it's very nice, but it's not exactly the meal he was hoping for. She comes around to his side of the bed as he rises into a sitting position, wincing. "Therion said you may be sore for a while; you had it pretty rough last night." He shrugs slightly and says, "but not so rough I can't--" she laughs and kisses him. "Lucius, I didn't know you were a Morning Man..." he flashes her a wining smile and tells her, "morning, noon and night, my Lady." He pulls her to him again, wanting even just a little play, but he knows he has to get up; they both have a busy day a head. As he stands she kisses him quickly and tells him she will meet him in the Temple's center.
But as she turns to go, he winces again and she laces her arm around his waist. "Are you alright, Lucius? I'm worried..." He tells her he's fine, but he doesn't refuse her help. She leads him to the bathroom so he can ready himself for the day, then hands him his walking stick when he comes out. Elsbet tucks her dirty clothes into the bag Therion brought her, and tucks her cubed house into the pocket of her pants. They leave the room together, arm in arm, and meet Remus in the Temple's center. The three of them chit chat (or rather, Remus and Elsbet chit chat, Malfoy seems too distracted) while they walk to the main entrance, where Therion greets them.
Elsbet notices Therion paying close attention to Malfoy as they walk to the little café Tonks picked. He winces a few more times before they sit down, and though she knows he doesn't want to let on, Malfoy's in a lot of pain. "Wotcher, Ellie!" Remus smiles as Elsbet and Tonks hug, and Elsbet giggles at Tonks' neon blue hair. "Thought I'd try something different today," Tonks says as Elsbet sits between her and Therion. Therion and Malfoy are whispering as their breakfast is brought out to them, and the waiter tells them that if anything is not to their liking it can be changed.
As everyone begins dishing up their meals, Elsbet asks Therion quietly, "will you keep an eye on Lucius today, please? I don't think he's feeling right, and I have to be at my dojo most of the day." Therion tells her not to worry, that Malfoy won't be alone. "I've already got my shop closed, I was planing on setting him up with some light reading," he says with a wink, and she remembers the exchange from last night. "Light reading..." she giggles and Malfoy looks over at her. He loves the sound of her laugh...she blushes under his gaze and dishes up her breakfast.
It's a pleasant meal; Remus and Therion talk about the new buliding being designed just north of the Garden District and they speculate what might go in there, and Elsbet tells them she had heard two weeks ago that it was going to be an art museum. "Art and History, I thought I heard," Remus says, and Therion nods in agreement. "It will be a welcome addition, I believe," he says, and Malfoy says he looks forward to seeing it. He nearly boasts that he can make a contribution to their procurement fund, then remembers that he can't, at least right now, and besides, boasting about such things is part of his old life.
But old habits die hard.
He thanks Tonks for her thoughtfulness of planning this breakfast, and discovers he has an overwealming urge to insult her choice of hair color, out of that old habit. They look at each other for a long moment, both with odd expressions on their faces as if they don't know what to say to each other. "It's going to take some getting used to," Tonks says, "us being on the same side," and Malfoy chuckles. "I'll adjust. Just don't call me 'Lucy' or anything--" Elsbet giggles and nudges his foot. "Lucy!" Remus and Therion glance at each other, trying not to laugh, and Malfoy tips his fork in her direction. "You can call me Lucy, but..." there is a round of friendly laughter as the waiter comes and asks them if everything is alright and if they'd like anything else. They tell him its all quite good and that they're done.
Remus says he, Tonks and Elsbet need to be going, "Master Han has finally gotten his wish," Tonks says. Remus tells Therion and Malfoy, "Master Han has been asking me for the last six months or so if I will teach Defence Against the Dark Arts there at the dojo, and I have finally told him yes. Tonks will be teaching defencive magic as well." Malfoy places his folded napkin on his plate and says as the three of them rise to leave, "I must confess that I do not quite understand, how this city has survived despite clearly flouting the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy."
It is an honest question, asked without malice, and Therion laughs as he folds up his napkin and rises. He tosses it on his plate and tells Malfoy, "I was going to talk to you about this very thing today...Sanctuary City is almost like a world unto itself, and for very good reason." He offers Malfoy a hand up, and as he rises Elsbet comes around to his side. She stands on her tiptoes to kiss him and tells him to have a good day. As the five friends part, Tonks says, "Ellie, I don't mean to be daft, if you don't want to say you don't have to, but..." Remus nudges her gently with his elbow and she shrugs, "you and Lucius...?"
Elsbet smiles widely and nods. "Yes," she says coyly, then tells her softly, "I love him..." It is simply stated, and Tonks shakes her head. "But Severus--" Remus tosses his hair back and sticks his hands in his jacket pockets. "Severus introduced them." Tonks looks at her husband and shakes her head again. "But I thought...wait...wait..." she glances around as if she doesn't want to be overheard, "Severus and Lucius--" Elsbet nods, "together...and you," Elsbet nods again and Tonks whispers, "together?" Remus nudges her again, "Dora, really," but Elsbet laughs and dances lightly out ahead of them.
"It's love, Tonks. Love is love. When you have it, you cherish it...it's not something you ration. And it doesn't matter here, things like gender...ok, look at you and Remus." Tonks glances from Elsbet, to her husband, then back to Elsbet. "On the other side of the Divide, he's treated badly because he's a werewolf. But here, in this place, not one single person would think badly of him for it, or think it bad for you two to be together. It just doesn't matter." As they near the dojo, Elsbet says, "Tonks, let me ask you this." They stop in front of a shop with bowls of clay beads in the window, and Elsbet is distracted for a moment. Handi's Crafts is one of her favorite shops...
She shakes her head and laughs at herself, then continues. "Ok, let's say you met someone, and you liked them immediately. Every time you see them, you like them even more. Everything about them makes you happy...makes them even more attractive to you. And let's say they feel exactly the same about you. You don't have a whole lot in comon, but that's ok, because that just means there's more you can teach each other, and the more you learn from them, the more you love them. They're the most incredible, most beautiful person in the world to you, and you know your life would be empty without them."
Remus and Tonks look at each other, and both have tears in their eyes. "I did meet someone like that," Tonks says, "and I married him." Elsbet nods, then touches Tonks' hand gently. Quietly, she asks her, "ok. Now, what if Remus had been a girl?" Elsbet nods to Remus, then to Tonks, then heads off to the dojo by herself.
~*~
Therion laughs heartily at Malfoy's question, but stops when he notices the other wizard's discomfort. "Lucius?" He's been growing more concerned since he first saw Malfoy before breakfast. His color isn't right, he keeps wincing, and his eyes lack their usual luster. He knows first hand how badly the Ordeal can weigh on a person, especially when one is a former Death Eater...but there's something more going on here, and he's afraid he knows what it is. "Lucius, how do you feel?" He puts his hand on Malfoy's back and he feels him having to work to breathe. They haven't walked that far, and Malfoy is for the most part healthy.
Malfoy says, "winded," and straightens as best he can. "And I feel weak," he says, and Therion puts his arm around him for support, and notices he's begun to sweat. "Come on, Lucius," he says gently, "we're almost there." Malfoy asks him as they start walking again where they're going, and Therion tells him, "to meet some friends of mine, they're friends of Severus also," and Malfoy nods. They walk just a little way further, just in sight of the gateway to the Garden of Dreams, when Malfoy's knees give. Therion holds him up and they walk a few more steps before Malfoy says he feels nauseous, then clenches his teeth in pain.
Things happen very quickly after that.
Malfoy is aware that he's drifting, or floating maybe, he thinks he's being carried. He can hear Therion, Therion sounds afraid...afraid for him, Therion cares about him...it's good to be cared about...cared about...where is Ellie? Oh, Severus...my son...he's aware that he's reaching for someone...he can't see, so he doesn't know what he's touching, but he doesn't care...he suddenly feels like crying, ah, he is crying, that's what that is on his face, tears..."please," he says weakly, "please don't...don't let me die," he pleads, "I've just begun to live..."
He's aware of a horrible pain in his chest and that he can't seem to breathe correctly, and he's suddenly aware that he seems to be naked, and laying on a bed of some sort. He feels hands all over him, cool, soothing hands, they caress him, soft voices tell him to be at ease, that he's safe, that he's with friends, that he's loved...he hears a raven, the raven cries, he hears Therion speak soothingly to the raven...it's Cambion, he knows, he wants to reach out to Cambion, tell Severus I love him... but he can not move, and the raven's cry is pitiful.
He feels someone, a woman definately, lay down on him, and there is the sensation of being completely enveloped by those around him, and that someone is breathing for him, and then...he is penetrated, but it's not the kind of penetration he's familiar with. It feels as though they've entered through the very pores of his skin, and he feels strangely very light. He hears a voice, not in his ears, but throughout his whole body, and this breathy female voice tells him to relax, and to trust them, that he is safe in their hands.