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thorne93 · 4 years

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The Softest Fire (Part 1)

Prompt: Rosaline Vaughan had it all: fame, money, power, glory, a high status job. Until, one day, she woke up, and realized something was missing from her life.

Word Count: 3379

Warnings: mentions of being an orphan

Notes: First Fantastic Beast fic! I could NOT have done this at all without @arrow-guy. They have created a counterpart to this fic, writing it from Nora Vaughan’s perspective (Rosaline’s cousin/adopted sister). Fic aesthetic done by @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A long line of wizards and witches had lived before me. Long, long before me. Our family wasn’t famous, and wasn't extremely well to do. As far as fortune or fame went, we were just like any other family. The Vaughans. I was born, in 1897, as Rosaline Vaughan. Soft blonde curls, creamy skin, and ocean blue eyes were my distinctive features.

The only difference for me was, my parents weren’t alive. When I was three, my father’s life was cut short when a horrible accident occurred. He was an auror for the Ministry of Magic, chasing down a criminal. In his pursuit, he was about to apparate… And he did, only he did so incorrectly. Something distracted him, and it ripped his chest wide open. Splinching, I believe is what they call it. He couldn't be saved…

It was only a year later that my mother had a tragic mishap with her potions. She dabbled, even thought of starting a shop for elixirs and tonics… But she’d misread a label… and the whole lab was destroyed.

Their deaths is how I wound up in my Uncle and Aunt’s home, living and being raised with my cousin Nora. They raised me as their own and Nora and I were practically inseparable, sisters, if you will. Lovely, lovely people. My Uncle and my father were brothers, those two got along marvelously, and so did Nora and I, for being two entirely different people.

Nora is seven years older than me. I was beginning to learn how to properly write, read, and do arithmetic when she received her first letter to Hogwarts. I was raised on magic, bred on magic. Nothing about magic was a secret in my Aunt and Uncle’s home. Nora is the adventurous one, the bold one, the dedicated, patient, and the curious one. She was creative, and sometimes pushed the envelope.

On the other hand, I was… quiet, reserved, non-risky one. I never defied, never disobeyed, always kept my nose down.

I often studied the books Nora bought in Diagon Alley weeks before her stay at Hogwarts. By the time I attended… well I was years ahead of anyone in my class.

Most people, including my professors, thought I would or should be in the Ravenclaw house at Hogwarts, given my thirst for knowledge and my nose always in a book. However, Hufflepuff was given to me. I didn’t complain. I had no preference on the matter. Nora had spoken of each house to me when I was younger. She had explained that Ravenclaw was for the well read, the book worms. Gryffindor was for the courageous, the brave. Hufflepuff was for the kind, the steadfast. Slytherin was for the cunning, the quick witted. Each house had something to offer the world, and so long as I got a letter, I was happy to be in any house.

Hufflepuff seemed to suit me well though, in my time there.

In my seventh year, my last year, I was selected Head Girl. An honor and a privilege. I hadn’t really expected it, to be honest. I was too focused on schoolwork, making top marks, working closely with all the professors before and after class. Everywhere I went, people wanted to be my friend. I supposed I was nice enough, perhaps that was the reason. Boys asked me to the Winter Ball every year, and I accepted, solely so I didn’t hear any grief from my aunt and cousin.

Men were hardly ever on my mind. All I had ever wanted, or dreamed of, was mastering magic. Dating and socializing rather got in the way of that at times. I had friends, sure, I attended parties, dances, the like. But I never sought out more friendship than needed. The funny thing was, people seemed to gravitate towards me and my effort to interact was often very little, but somehow, I always ended up the center of every social circle.

Maybe it was my never ending compassion, or desire for real justice that people loved about me. Because towards the end of my sixth year at Hogwarts, a peculiar event took place.

Leta Lestrange had an incident with a Jarvey. For some reason her friend, Newton Scamander, one of my own Hufflepuffs, took the fall for her. He stated it was his. The thing was, you knew it was hers. She’d had the Jarvey a lot, she was also a Lestrange, who were known to be a … finicky bunch. Why Newton took the blame, I wasn’t sure I would ever know. Be that as it may, he faced expulsion. It was towards the end of the year however, and they let him finish his exams and would review his case before the next year. When the seventh year came, I was elected Head Girl. Along with this came many duties, one of which was helping to carry out the sentence given to Newton Scamander.

He was allowed to return for his final year at Hogwarts under one condition: he was not be left alone on the grounds without a professor, other faculty, myself, or the head boy. This became tedious as nearly every professor was always tied up in their work, leaving it to me to follow Newt.

The problem wasn’t carrying out my duties. The problem was I knew who the real culprit was and I had to see Newt be monitored like a feral creature held captive. In this time, I grew fond of Newt. He was a quiet, well to do, intelligent young man who I admired. It was in this time that I began to dislike Leta Lestrange more than I ever had before.

She had a horrible reputation. Bad student, disobeyed orders, it was a wonder they ever invited her back to the school. Not to mention letting an innocent boy pay for her crimes.

But I suppose all things worked out in the end. We all graduated, and went out into the world. Newt got to keep his wand and he graduated the same as the rest of us. In fact, he worked for some time at the Ministry.

By the time I graduated Hogwarts, life couldn’t get much better. Except that I went straight into working for the Ministry with letters of recommendations from every professor I’d had.

From what I’d heard Newt worked for the Ministry for four years. He was in a confidential program for a short while, before being moved to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Then, because of his unsurprising amount of knowledge in regards to magical critters, he was moved again to the Beast Division.

The two of us hardly ever saw each other except a pass in the hall here or there, at least when it came to work at the Ministry. I began in the office of Improper Use of Magic. I found the work easy. Sentencing was swift, just, and easy. My employers saw how bored I was getting and seemed to want to make me happy so they offered to move me into the Hit Wizards division. Quite a bit more faced paced, exciting, and finally, a challenge. Or… it would’ve felt that way if I weren’t as talented and skilled as I am.

During my schooling at Hogwarts, the only professor who seemed to be able to rival my skill set was Professor Dumbledore. Even at the Ministry, no one could raise their wand to me. It was customary, for all employers to learn how their employees worked, trained, fought, defended… Every fight, without fail, I reigned victorious, and much more quickly than my peers.

Rumors, gossip, and whispers about me floated about in the wizarding world.

No one feared me, but I most certainly got the respect I deserved. I never had to raise my voice, give anyone a stern glare, or utter a word to get things done that needed to be done. I rather liked that, the power, the will.

I never thought much of the level of my power, not until people started to constantly mention it. Criminals, peers, colleagues, professors, employers. It was as if people hadn’t seen what studying could do for people.

Even when I realized that I was quite powerful, I had no desire to exploit it, to use it against others. All I wanted to do in life was have a good job, hold a secure career, and live in a humble home. That’s all. Nothing more, nothing less.

The years went on, and Nora opened a book shop. Curious, as I was in such an adrenaline rush of a job, and she ran a simple book store. Leta Lestrange had joined the Ministry and that turned my stomach. She was in Department of Magical Law Enforcement, assistant to the head! Of all things. The very idea of her in that position had me fuming. Newt was offered a position to write a book, and he took it. The opportunity allowed him to travel the world and discover new creatures. Nora, my cousin, would sometimes join him.

Nora, however, was one year behind Newt’s brother, at Hogwarts. Theseus Scamander. Now, he was a very well-to-do boy. Always kept, always pressed, always ready for the next promotion. Much like myself, he kept his nose down, and he followed orders, to the dot. He was someone who I very much admired. Even if I wasn’t very close with him, word had gotten around about him. Excellence was often noticed at the Ministry.

It seemed to be though, that Theseus and I were often in the same social and work circles, while the two dreamers -- Newt and Nora -- were off in the world, discovering things. Nora helped Newt at his flat with the animals on and off, when he was out traveling and needed someone to stay behind to take care of what he couldn’t bring along.

Things were starting to get stale around my life. No man, no real loss there. No friends outside of work. Not much but Nora and the occasional chat with Theseus, Newt, and other Hogwarts alumni that roamed the halls of the Ministry of Magic. So, my ears perked up when I heard it may be time to elect a new Minister for Magic.

The campaign began, with the blessing of my direct employer. He headed up the starting program himself. Before I knew it, the election was only a few months away. The polls were looking fantastic, with my name always 100 points ahead of anyone else’s.

But one day… It all changed.

Nothing extreme happened. Nothing dire. Nothing life changing. No mid-life crisis. Nothing extraordinary at all. I merely woke up, with an intense desire to not return to my job, or to pursue being the Minister for Magic any longer.

It wasn’t stress. I handle stress incredibly well. Wear it like a new Chanel suit. Even if it was the stress of the campaign and the very real fact I may be the new Minister for Magic, at least for a part of Europe… I could’ve just withdrawn from the race. But no, this ran much deeper than that.

But seeing as I never do anything hasty, or risky, I sat on it, at least for three weeks, to see if I could shake it. Yet, nothing wavered. The pull to leave a life I’d strived to built was ever present.

So I began job seeking.

“You… want to what?” Nora had asked while I stood in her shop.

“I want to leave,” I stated matter of factly. Why was this so hard to grasp?

“But you’re… you’re practically Ms. Minister for Magic. Why now? Is it the campaign?”

I frowned, waving her off as she filled an order, waving her wand to stack some books. “No, nothing like that. You know me. That wouldn’t bother me.”

“I do know you,” she agreed emphatically. “Which is why I’m concerned that you want to leave at all… but, if you’re serious, I do know that Newt is looking for a full time assistant.”

“An assistant?” I asked, a hint of incredulous in my voice.

“Yes, something wrong with that?” she retorted.

I made a slight face. “No, but…”

“If you want prestige, cousin, you may reconsider staying where you’re at,” she said with a lilt in her voice.

In response, I sighed, my shoulders drooping momentarily in my cranberry blazer and matching silk blouse. I stood back straight and tall though, smoothing out my skirt, looking rather lean in my heels.

“No, that’s perfectly fine… But I thought you--”

“Bookstore’s getting busy, and unless I can find some help…” She peered at me for a moment, wanting me to chime in.

“Cousin, I’d be delighted, but I would enjoy work that took me… away from London, for a bit.”

Nora nodded, smiling gently. “I understand. He’s interviewing for the position. I’m sure he won’t mind if you drop by.”

“Oh, is he home?”

“Just for the week. He leaves on Sunday.”

“Fantastic. I’ll head there now,” I informed with a slight grin.

I made my way through the city to Newt’s humble abode. As soon as I arrived, I knocked twice, and after a moment, the red-haired man appeared on the other side of the door.

“Rosaline?” he greeted, slightly confused. Typically, it’d be my cousin. Or myself and Nora, but I never arrived alone.

“Hello, Newt,” I greeted in return, warmly.

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” he suddenly started.

I laughed. “No, no. I’m not here for that. No. Of course you haven’t. You’re just fine, Newt, I promise,” I assured, touching his sleeved arm with my gloved hand. “Do you mind if I come in?”

“Uh, not at all.” He backed up and let me in, showing me to the kitchen, where he made some tea. “What brings you by, then, if you don’t mind my asking. You and I aren’t very--”

“Social?”

He nodded.

I sipped my tea before jumping to the point. “I’m looking for work, and heard you were hiring an assistant.”

He peered at me with incredible shock. “You’re… you’re here about the job?”

I nodded. “Mhm.”

“Alright. Uh, let me just… get my questions,” he said before pulling his wand out. He whisked it in the air and said, “Accio interview papers.” Before long, a few papers came gliding into the room, landing in his hands. He glanced at me nervously before speaking.

He went down a list of fifteen questions, to which I answered them all truthfully. He put his papers down and stared at me for a long time. I kept my hands on the table, my long fingers interlaced.

“Newt? What’s the matter? We’ve known each other for nearly fifteen years…”

He nodded. “I know, I know. It’s not that.”

“Then why are you taking so long to make up your mind. You know what I do, what I’m capable of. I know what you do, what you’re capable of. You know my cousin very well. If you can’t teach me, I’m sure she can... “

“Why do you want this job?” he suddenly asked, curiosity burning in his voice. “Why leave your job at the Ministry?”

“I want this job because… I want something more fulfilling in life. I don’t… I don’t want to spend my entire life in politics, in police work, in… deciding who gets to keep their wand, their power? I want to do something that enriches my soul. I feel that’s needed, to have a good, happy life, don’t you?” I said.

It wasn’t until I uttered those words, there in Newt’s small kitchen that I realized how true they were. I was afraid of giving my life over to the Ministry. Of my life having nothing more to show for it than a plaque or two, a portrait here or there. I wanted my life to feel like it was mine, that I was serving myself, as well as others. My job was never my reason to get out of bed in the morning, nor was anything else, and I wanted to change that. I wanted to wake up, and be thrilled for where I was going, and not just because of the status that job gave me.

“I do,” he agreed with a head nod. “If you remember, my boggart was an office desk in school.”

I grinned at the memory. “Yes. Dumbledore found it amusing.”

“And you? Clearly you aren’t one to fear a desk,” he noted.

“Newt, I left desk work a long time ago. I’m a hit witch now. My life has been out and about for some time now…”

“Then… why change? If you believe it’s satisfying.”

“Not all adventure is satisfying,” I retorted.

He thought for just a moment, but then concurred. “This is true, I suppose. So you’re looking for the right adventure then, hmm?”

“I suppose I am, yes,” I realized with a grin.

“And you think you’d like it here?” he wondered, peering at me, gauging my response.

“I do. I’ve always found your work fascinating. I love creatures, animals. Nora tells me you’re about to set off on another leg for your book, gathering information…”

“But why… me? Why my work? You’re… you’re one of the greatest witches alive. I’ve never seen such talent. The way they talk about you at the Ministry. The way my brother talks about you… I can’t help but think you’re entirely too overqualified for this job, Rosaline.”

A tiny grin came to my face.

“Newt… Your job is to study creatures, learn their behavior, their thinking, their eating, the way they sleep, where they live… And most people say you’re the best at what you do…”

He frowned for a moment, wondering where I was going with this.

“How would you feel if someone told you that you were overqualified for your job? Would you step aside, and let someone else gather the information that you so lovingly gather all by yourself?”

“I think I’d--”

“Hate it? Loathe the idea of being forced to sit in an office? That’s how I feel…Being your assistant is fulfilling work, I’m sure. I wouldn’t let you down. I’d be here early. I’d read and learn all about the creatures…”

After a second, he said, “I can’t pay you what you’re getting paid at the Ministry.”

“I didn’t even bring up salary,” I reminded with a soft grin.

“So you’re willing to take a cut in pay, in status, all to… travel the world with me to find strange creatures?” he asked. Of course, he didn’t think the animals or critters were strange, but to most, they were, and he was trying to get to the bottom of why I wanted to leave a job I’d worked so hard for.

“There are no strange creatures, only strange people. People too dull not to see their beauty,” I noted, almost as if I weren’t answering him at all. Snapping out of my thought, I finally looked directly at him. “I know this isn’t orthodox. I’m sure if it were me, I would be incredulous too, but I’m not here for a temporary position. I’m not doing this on a whim. You know me, Newt.”

“I do.”

“You know I’m not doing this until I can figure out what I really want to do or any of that nonsense. I’ve had a change of heart, that’s all. My heart no longer seeks what the Ministry can offer me.” I stood up, taking a deep breath. “If you’d like to think on it though, review other applicants, I understand. These animals mean a great deal to you, and you can’t just hire anyone. Feel free to think it over, just keep me as a consideration…”

I began to leave. I didn’t want to pressure him into hiring me. He had a right to think on my offer.

When my hand hit the door handle, he suddenly spoke up behind me.

“An hourglass, right? Your boggart… it was an hourglass, wasn’t it? Your biggest fear is time.”

A grin popped onto my face.

“Perhaps it was, Mr. Scamander. Let’s make sure this interview and offer wasn’t a waste of yours.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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#the softest fire #newt scamander x oc #newt scamander fic #fantastic beasts fic

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sea-side-scribbles · 4 years

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Fanfiction: Sympathy For A Downer

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/22737214/chapters/60534745

Chapter 21:

The next morning Norbert couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened between him and Mortimer and he knew he was going to spend the day trying to make sense out of it. At the same time he wanted to hide what he felt at any cost. It was when he met Matthew again that he noticed how painfully obvious he had been.

„What was up with you yesterday?“, his friend asked right away and Norbert tried to deny it.

„I don’t know what you mean.“

„Well…you didn’t look very happy about Mortimer.“

„But I voted for him, didn’t I?“

„Sure,“ Matthew backed down. „Listen, just give this a chance, okay?“

„I do“, Norbert sounded all innocent.

Then he had an idea.

„Anyway…did you notice something about him yesterday?“

„Now, what do you mean?“. Matthew lifted an eyebrow.

„Uhm…something odd?“ Norbert tried, but he immediately saw that his friend had no clue what he was getting at.

„No“. He shook his head. „You?“

„Uh…it was probably nothing,“ Norbert waved him off, wishing that he had never brought it up.

Matthew eyed him, but Norbert ignored him, so he had to give it up.

„Just talk to him, okay? You’ll see he’s alright,“ he urged him instead

„Okay…“ was the simple answer he got.

Norbert was planning to approach Mortimer anyway, because he needed to test if he still had that unnerving effect on him. The mere thought of meeting him again gave him goosebumps already. But he had to get it over with, now also to convince Matthew that he wasn’t down on Mortimer.

Since he had no clue where to find him, he simply searched the music rooms and actually heard someone play in one of them. When he touched the doorknob he could see his fingers shiver, but now he couldn’t just stand there in the corridor like a coward, so he carefully opened the door and peeked through it to see who was playing. It was indeed Mortimer, who looked up and eyed him, almost exactly like the way he did the day before.

„Hello,“ Norbert said bluntly. „I heard the music and I thought it might be you…“ He paused, then he pulled himself together to ask: „Can I come in?“

Mortimer nodded slightly. „Sure“.

Norbert closed the door behind him and walked over to the piano. It felt like a painfully long way while the other boy was watching him. He stopped at the window and leaned on the board at a safe distance and hoped that Mortimer didn’t notice how nervous he was.

„Sounds great by the way,“ Norbert tried to sound casually. „What are you playing?“

Mortimer crossed his arms and furrowed his brows when he said: „You don’t have to play-act. I know what’s going on with you.“

Now Norbert felt hot and cold at the same time.

„W-what?“, he stuttered, „What do you now?“

„You don’t want me in the band,“ Mortimer said and kept staring daggers at him.

„What?“, Norbert repeated himself. „What gave you that idea?“

He was upset. How could they all misread him so drastically?

„I saw your reaction,“ Mortimer stated and then held up one hand. „No, you don’t have to be sorry. I can bail out of this before I cause a fight.“

„No, no, no! You got it all wrong!,“ Norbert shouted, gesturing wildly.

He completely forgot about the safe distance when he stepped closer to Mortimer.

„You’re exactly what we need!“, he went on and almost grabbed the other boy’s shoulders to shake him. When he realized what he was doing he backed away a bit and crossed his arms.

„I was…busy with something else yesterday“, he explained. Inwardly he begged Mortimer to stay.

Mortimer looked at him in silence before he answered: „If you say so…“

„Absolutely!“, Norbert insisted. „It’s gonna work out just fine with us! I mean…the band,“ he stammered and broke out in sweat, realizing he was still standing way too close to the other boy and was talking nonsense. Instantly he backed away to the window again.

One thing was for certain: the unnerving effect was definitely still there. Norbert felt his strength fading away.

„You know, I think I’ll leave you alone for now,“ he muttered.

„Okay,“ Mortimer simply said and Norbert felt a pang in his chest. As if he had hoped for him to say ‚No, stay with me.‘ But now he had to go, and so he sadly trotted towards the door.

„Oh, Norbert“, he heard Mortimer suddenly call for him and turned around again, eyes wide with hope.

„Yes?“

„You could bring your guitar next time, so we can play together.“

„That’s a great idea!“, Norbert blurted out. „Until next time then, right?“

„Right,“ Mortimer said and Norbert closed the door.

Outside he kept slapping his forehead for acting so damn stupid. He had looked like an absolute beginner! What the hell was Mortimer supposed to think about him now?

In the following lessons Norbert barely listened. After school all he wanted was to hide in the park and play the saddest song he could come up with, since he felt completely worn out and depressed.

Now that he had figured out what his stupid heart wanted from Mortimer, he was left to wonder why it had happened to him, of all people. And how he could make it clear to Mortimer. And even if he did, would it do any good?

Mortimer would possibly think even worse of him if he knew.

Suddenly life wasn’t so beautiful anymore.

After sitting in the park for a few minutes someone disturbed him once more. It was Matthew again, who looked for him.

„Hey, Matt,“ he greeted him much less amused than yesterday. „What’s it this time?“

Matthew sat down in the grass next to him and answered quietly: „It’s about what you said this morning. I asked around about Mortimer if there’s something odd about him…“

Norbert broke out in sweat again. This was getting about way too far.

„Well there’s only a few rumors and I’m sure that’s all bullshit…“, Matthew hummed and hawed and Norbert wondered what an embarrassment his friend had digged out because he couldn’t keep his bloody mouth shut.

„Actually, it’s nothing we must know, but just in case you hear about it…Some say he tried to flirt with a guy…“

Norbert suddenly felt a tickle in his stomach.

„What?“, he said bluntly after he had processed the news.

„Yeah, I know, it’s bullshit,“ Matthew waved him off.

Norbert blinked.

„But why would he do that?“, he insisted.

Matthew rolled his eyes.

„Forget it, okay?“

Because Norbert was only sitting there and staring in silence he added: „You won’t tease him about it, won’t you?“

„No! Of course not,“ Norbert said with a blank stare.

Matthew eyed him suspiciously.

„Just be normal again, please?“

„Okay,“ Norbert sighed and all that was left for Matthew to do was to shake his head and walk away, hoping it would all come together. Norbert instead let himself fall backwards into the grass. The park was beautiful again, all the colors had come back, the birds sang again and the leaves were rustling in the trees above him. He himself remained quiet, watching the clouds go by and smiling.

The next day started way more cheerful.

Actually Norbert had never been so cheerful at an early morning than today.

He planned to meet Mortimer again to make a much better impression on him. This time he was full of resolution when he made his way to the music room, where he could hear him play already and hummed along with him. His knock at the door was much louder and more confident than yesterday and he opened the door almost solemnly.

„There he is,“ he said beaming at Mortimer. „My favorite pianist! Are you ready for a jam session? Because I am!“ He ran his fingers over the strings of his guitar and let the sound echo through the room.

Mortimer looked very surprised about the sudden change of mood.

„S-sure. Come in,“ he stuttered a bit and Norbert grinned confidently.

He grabbed a chair and sat down right next to Mortimer, this time he didn’t need a safe distance and he wasn’t shivering. Again he vibed the strings.

„So let’s rock!“, he prompted Morrie who still couldn’t turn his gaze away from him. Then he looked at his sheets of music.

„How about we start right here, in the second stave“, he suggested, pointed at the sheet with a nod and shortly played a melody to demonstrate. Norbert looked at the sheet, his gaze got lost somewhere in the stave before he looked back at the other boy and said with an insecure tone: „Okay.“

Mortimer eyed him again.

„You can read music, right?“

Norbert shrunk a bit.

„No,“ he admitted, „but we don’t need that now, don’t we?“

He straightened himself again and didn’t blink when Mortimer gave him a look.

„And what if you need them some day?“ He wasn’t convinced.

„Didn’t happen yet.“ Norbert shrugged.

Somehow this didn’t work out as planned.

Mortimer wiped his forehead.

„But Norbert, it’s so simple. Listen…“

And then he suddenly started to talk a mile a minute. Norbert listened to his voice in awe and didn’t really pay attention to his words. He was only surprised to hear so many words from Mortimer who was rather taciturn all the time. Then this rebellious hair strand caught his attention again. It was loosening once more, while Mortimer spoke, and Norbert had to fight the urge to reach out and smooth it back. He simply couldn’t stop watching it.

Suddenly Mortimer fell quiet and Norbert jumped at that.

„Are you even paying attention?“ Mortimer didn’t sound very happy.

Norbert stuttered: „..Y-yes..of course.“

„So, what did I say?“, the other boy asked, arms akimbo.

„Uh…“ Now the shivering came back. Nervously, he ran his fingers through his hair while he tried to remember what he heard.

„Something with…many letters,“ he said desperately and the other boy’s face told him that he didn’t make it any better.

He held up his hands in defense.

„I swear, I’m listening, I just didn’t get it yet! Please, explain it a little more slowly, and perhaps not all at once…“ he pleaded and Mortimer’s expression softened.

„Alright, I guess we have to start with the rudiments.“

When Mortimer began to explain again Norbert noticed that he had to take action or else this would turn into a dry-witted music lesson. So he dared an attack, right when the other boy showed him a chord. He leaned forward and laid his fingers on the keys, quite close besides Mortimer’s hands and his face got so close to the other boy’s that he could almost feel the warmth of his cheek.

„Like this?“, he asked and slowly turned around to Mortimer.

He jumped a little himself, noticing how small the distance between them had become and he was sure that his heart missed a beat the very moment their eyes met. His left arm almost touched Mortimer’s shoulder and he was glad that he didn’t blush easily.

However he was disappointed that Mortimer didn’t flinch at all, even though he locked gazes with him for a while. His look was rather wary.

„Exactly,“ Mortimer simply answered and put away his hand.

„Seems like you’re learning something after all.“

Norbert remained undecided, frozen in his half embrace, until he realized he had to accept his defeat.

„Nah, all beginner’s luck,“ he muttered in frustration and slumped back on the chair.

Then they both were surprised by the school bell.

„Great! Now I’m late because of you,“ Mortimer shouted and bobbed up.

Norbert pouted.

„Wouldn’t hurt to be a bit more charming,“ he muttered when Mortimer ran out.

#we happy few #Wehappyfew #whf #nick lightbearer #whf nick #fanfiction

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holdouttrout · 7 years

Text

A lots more than five minutes ficlet: Snow Day, OUAT, Swan Queen

@witchpieceoftoast prompted me to write Swan-Mills family snow day and @wig257 prompted “Regina gives Emma a hot chocolate with a surprising added kick” which seemed like they belonged together, honestly. Then I started to think about how I’m always writing first kisses and really I should mix that up a bit. The following is a bit light on the “family” part of the prompt, but Henry is in it!

...

Emma and Henry looked through the window with matching frowns, watching snow hurtle from the sky. It didn't so much settle on the ground as obliterate it. A snow day had seemed so exciting when it was announced; Storybrooke had snow, of course, but it was usually not enough to close schools or keep people from work.

Today was an exception, a true blizzard with white-out conditions that had everyone huddled inside, including the sheriffs--although David was at home and Emma had gotten herself stuck over at Regina's.

Henry sighed. "I can't believe it. First snow of the year and we're trapped inside."

"Totally with you, kid," Emma said. She'd already considered (and rejected) walking home, but there wasn't really anything there, and it wasn't like she had seriously considered it anyway--it looked really bad out there.

No, it looked like she was going to be here for at least a few hours if not all day. This meant spending time with Henry, which was always nice, but it also meant spending time with Regina. That would have been fine a week ago, but now things were a bit fraught between them. She'd come over today to check in with Henry but also to… test the waters a bit.

"Well, maybe it'll get nicer later," Henry said, turning in his seat and picking up a notebook and pen he carried with him everywhere these days.

Rolling her eyes at how easily Henry gave up moping--so not like her in that way--Emma got up from her perch and wandered over to the other window. She wasn't sure why. It wasn't like the weather would be different over here. She wondered where Regina was. She wasn't going to go looking for her.

She wasn't.

She wandered the other way, and then wandered right down the hall and into the kitchen.

Regina was pouring a pot of hot chocolate into three mugs. Emma waited until she was done before shuffling awkwardly into the kitchen.

"Hi," she said.

Regina startled--just a little. Placing the pot into the sink, she turned around and indicated the mugs. "I thought…"

Regina looked almost as uncomfortable as Emma felt. She said, "I was going to take one to Henry."

Two of the mugs, Emma saw, were in keeping with the kind of mugs Emma would expect Regina to have--perfectly pristine and white, a little boring but obviously quality. The third was black with beat-up yellow lettering that said STAR WARS.

Emma stuck her hands in her pockets and rocked back on her heels. "Oh, yeah, good idea. Thanks."

Regina gave her a funny look but just took the Star Wars mug and left for the living room.

"Thanks?" Emma muttered to herself. Oh god. What was wrong with her?

The other two mugs were still on the counter. Emma would have thought Regina had taken the other with her to the living room. She could hear Regina and Henry talking in low voices. Should she take them both in? She thought that would probably be the nice thing to do. She picked on up and took a sip.

It burned. Emma choked, not expecting the strong taste of mint and booze that came with that first sip.

"That is definitely not cinnamon," Emma said to the mug.

"I suppose I should have warned you," Regina said from behind her.

Emma turned. "You think?" She took another sip. This time, she was able to appreciate the combination of flavors. She raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't have thought you were the spiked-chocolate-in-the-morning type."

Regina shrugged and took the other mug from the counter. "Maybe I thought we'd both need it if we're going to be spending the day together," she said.

Emma's pulse picked up. She turned the mug in her hands. "I guess things have been a bit…"

"Tense?" Regina finished. She took a sip of her own mug.

"... tense between us lately."

"They don't have to be," Regina said.

"They don't?" Emma said.

Regina stared down into her mug, Emma getting the distinct impression she was avoiding meeting her eyes. "Of course not. It's not that big of a deal; we'll just pretend it never happened."

Emma blinked at her. "Not that big of a deal?" she said.

Regina huffed out a breath. "It doesn't have to be--"

"Regina," Emma protested. "That's not--I don't think I can just pretend it didn't happen!"

Still not looking at her, Regina's shoulders hunched. "Okay, fine," she snapped. "I'm sorry, then. I apologize and it will never happen again. I just… made a mistake."

"Wait, what?" Emma was more confused than ever. This conversation was quickly getting away from her. "You made a mistake?"

"Yes, okay--I thought--well, I clearly misread the situation, and--"

"You--whoa. Wait. I'm the one who freaked out, not you," Emma said. "You didn't do anything wrong. At all."

Regina shook her head. "I shouldn't have assumed."

Emma saw a way out of the confusion. She said, "You didn't assume anything that wasn't true."

"I did, I assumed--" Regina stopped as Emma's words finally sank in, looking up at her for the first time. "What?"

Emma put down her mug and took Regina's, setting it beside hers. "I said, you didn't assume anything that wasn't true." She swallowed and took her hand.. "I just wasn't expecting--which is not the same as saying I didn't want--"

"But you--" Regina looked down at their hands, and then back up to Emma's face. "You've been avoiding me."

"Yeah, because I thought you were going to kill me," Emma said. "Because I took off like a chicken shit and ran, not because you kissed me."

"Not because I kissed you--" Regina repeated in a monotone. "Not because I--" her eyes narrowed, her expression hardening.

Emma braced for impact.

"You let me think--Emma, it's been a week!"

"Hey--I thought you were already mad at me. I was giving you space!"

"Oh, no, you are not going to get off that easy--" Regina stopped suddenly, a horrified look on her face.

It took Emma a second or two to realize the double meaning. She snorted and said, "I would hate to presume," and then Regina was laughing, too, little gasps that turned into full-throated laughter.

God, Emma loved Regina's laugh.

She was still holding Regina's hand, so she gave it a tug and then Regina was right there--not laughing any more, and then they were kissing. A proper kiss this time, because Emma was expecting this one and not standing there like an idiot. She was pretty sure Regina had already forgiven her, because she was wrapping her arms around Emma's neck opening her mouth and this might be the best snow day ever.

#ouat #fanfic #my fic #swan queen #five minute ficlet

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