Fic: A Lesson in Holding Hands, post four

[krisomniac]

Sorry I didn't get this up last night. Will try to post again later today.

Author: krislaughs
Title: A Lesson in Holding Hands
Rating: PG
Characters: Remus, Tonks - the night after the battle at Hogwarts.
Ships: R/S - only. I swear.
Disclaimer: Story based on the work of J. K. Rowling, owned by various publishers, not me. Clearly. Because if they were, this scene would not exist, and Remus would be happily snuggled up to his padfoot.
Wordcount (this part): 370

( Back to the beginning )

( Post three )

~*~

Remus' face is set, hard, closed, and Tonks knows he won't say any more. She wants to hit something, to grab his robes, to shake him, to kiss him soft, to make him see. She wants to scream. She takes a deep breath and curls her fingers into the blanket beneath her. Starchy and stiff, it yields to her touch. Slowly the oxygen, cooled by its nighttime wanderings, tempers her frustration. She has to make him speak again, to hear his voice if nothing else.

"Fine. What would make you happy?" she half-dreads the answer but continues recklessly. When he is her everything, she has nothing left to lose. She parries his question as a weapon against the silence. "What do you want?"

Tonks stares while Remus half-closes his eyes.

Remus smiles. It is only the slightest shift in his face, a tiny upturn at the corners of his mouth, a knowing glint in his eyes. "I want to finish Albus' work," he says. "Whatever that entails. Minerva believes Harry has been charged with a secret mission. I'll help him in any way I can; whatever way he'll let me until he finishes--whatever it is that he's set out to do. Then, if I survive, I want to leave it all. I've had too many years of running, of fighting, of blending, of trying. I want to live in the house in the countryside, away from all this, and just be, for a while."

Despite herself, Tonks is intrigued, swept into his dreams. She could live in a house in the countryside. She could be. "You said the house," Tonks prompts eagerly. "You already have one in mind?"

~*~

Remus takes a deep breath. Outside, a cock crows. The sound is unexpected, jarring. It is time for Tonks to understand. He will tell her everything because he can see no other way to convince her. If she asks, he will tell her the things he's told no one--no one who's still around to remember them. The idea fills him with a strange sensation: relief. He feels lighter than he has in months, a year. He could float on a whisper of phoenix song out into the morning.



( on to Part five )

--

Comments

Oooh... and what will he say?

[jazzypom.livejournal.com]

What will he say.

It is time that Tonks understand should be 'understands' and yes, Lupin needs to just be.

I'd rec this, but its a WIP. Hurry up and finish please :D?

Oh, and can

[jazzypom.livejournal.com]

Lupin call Tonks on the carpet for her inappropiate behaviour? Or is it just me then?

Don't worry. I'm enjoying the story either way.

Re: Oh, and can

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

Hehehee. Maybe he won't have to. It's amazing what you can accomplish with a few choice words and a slightly raised eyebrow. ;)

Thank you for reading! I'm so glad you enjoy.

Re: Oooh... and what will he say?

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

YEah. I meant understand, but the context wasn't clear. I changed the wording a bit. Hope that's better!

And the goal is to finish tonight--before orientation begins and Real Life takes over My Life tomorrow.

[sleeper6.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I'm so intrigued! How's he gonna do it? What is he gonna say?

And that Tonks, can't she just let him be?

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

Heheee. It's up! Thanks bundles for sticking with this!

[dru-plus-spike.livejournal.com]

*Squeee* Loverly, as usual.

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

Thanky much. I'm so much enjoying writing it.

[danibel.livejournal.com]

Ahh! An evil place to leave off, that is. More! Need more!

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

It's up! It's yours! HAve fun. :P

[wickedevra.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous line this: "He could float on the whisper of a phoenix song out onto the morning." I'm loving the installments and suspense! I like the idea that Remus can offload his mental burden to some extent, even if it's not at all for the purpose Tonk envisions.

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

Exactly, Remus is in such desperate need of someone to talk to that he's been confessing things to Harry. :)But there's some things that Harry doesn't really want to know.