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[savinscripts]

❝ Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart. ❞

TW: Discussions of miscarriage

Her sleep was mostly dreamless. Perhaps because Fane made it that way, or perhaps because Faye had nothing to dream about. Nightmares, however, were a different story.

She was walking alone down a passage made of stone. Not marble, or granite, but old stone. The kind that whispered things. And this stone whispered to Faye. Whispered things she couldn’t quite hear, yet it called her onwards down the path. It was cold in that passageway, she knew, yet her bare feet were warm. As was she, though the dress she wore was made for summer: thin, white, hanging loosely down to her ankles. It dragged behind her in the dust and the dirt. She could feel the flux of Fane’s magic mixed with hers, vibrating with life this time, and not that hollow, empty feeling from before. But… why?

Back in Fane’s cabin, Faye made a sound in her sleep, hands tightening against him. Her brow furrowed, and she shifted restlessly, but didn’t wake.

The nightmare shifted, and now the passageway was gone. There was a chamber now. Carved from that same stone, but large as any room in the Ministry. The ceiling arched up overhead, disappearing into the darkness. Only a single space, a large round hole in the roof of the cave, allowed the moonlight to filter in. It reflected off a pool of black water in the center of the room. Only… it wasn’t water. It was something else. Something… horrible. Faye took a step back. Or tried to. There were hands holding her. Ripping her dress. Pulling her hair. Pushing her towards the blackness. She tried to fight back. Tried to scream for Fane. But the hands held her tightly. They whispered, just like the stone. Of things that had to be. Things that were destined. Things that were inevitable. Faye screamed and screamed, but there was no sound. No sound other than the whispers, and the rush of liquid in her ears as Faye was pushed bodily beneath the surface of the pool and held there while her life was drained away, and her screams were replaced by the sudden, high-pitched wails of an infant…

Faye shot awake, covered in cold sweat and trembling violently. Magic coiled around her hands, prepared to protect her if needs be, from the monsters in her nightmare. It took her a moment to realize where she was - in Fane’s cabin, with moonlight shining in the window now instead of sun - and only then did she manage to slow her rapid breathing. But the fear didn’t abate. The cold feeling in her chest remained, and Faye had to press a hand to her heart to try and steady it.

Sleep was a luxury that Fane struggled with lately, stress and concern over Faye’s well-being. Not to mention the ever-present paranoia that lingered lately. An unabiding shadow that seemed to hang and shroud every thought of his. There was little else for it. So as Faye drifted off, wrapped in Fane’s arms under the covers he settled at her back and while he may have let himself doze there was little more than that. After all, there were dangers that still circled. Even more dangerous now they were together they would try their hand at something once again. What, Fane didn’t truly care to find out. How many more times would he be expected to endure her absence? The risk of losing her? He didn’t quite know how much more he would be able to take.

For now, Fane dozed, his breath coming in shallow puffs against Faye’s neck as she moved and shifted in her sleep. The agitation in her magic drawing forth his own to sooth it with barely a conscious thought required on Fane’s behalf, cocooning them both in a shroud of pliant and soothing magic that held a natural inclination to protect that within. Except, what use had it done thus far? When all that truly mattered had already been taken.

Too little, too late. The story of his life as it was.

He was startled into consciousness as Faye shot up, the magic around them breaking and causing him to sit straight up and draw his wand lumos naturally illuminating the darkness of the room which he scanned. The paranoia was habit by now, had kept him alive this long but left him ever-aware of lurking threats and dangerous. Only after a scan of the room, finding nothing amiss did Fane turn back his expression one of concern for Faye’s state. “Love?” he asked, moving to touch her arm softly stroking up over her shoulder and to her back but the clamminess of her caused Fane to pull her in tight “I’m here. I’m here love. You’re safe, absolutely safe.”

Perhaps it was Fane’s magic that kept her floating for so long, as it tried to push away the bad dreams that flickered to life in Faye’s subconscious. And she felt it, deep down, with her own magic. But the fear had been so great that when she had to wake up, she pushed through all of it, every last bit, and forced herself to wakefulness.

She let Fane pull her in. He was at her side within the span of a moment, his touch an instant comfort as it had always been. Faye wrapped her arms around him, clutching at his shirt as she tried to stop shaking. “I think I-” She couldn’t make herself speak just yet, so she just held Fane tightly, letting the soft hum of his magic soothe her.

“I think I had a vision…” Her Gram had had them. She had been a true Seer. People thought her crazy at times, but the woman had seen things when she was a girl that had come to light in the future. Both before and during Faye and Fane’s time. Faye had never Seen anything. Not in her whole life. But this didn’t feel like a dream. Fane’s magic should’ve kept her from dreaming. If it was something bad or frightful. “Make it so I can’t,” she asked him. “Make it so I can’t See anything else. If that’s what it was. Please…”

Fane held her tight, until she calmed enough to form words to try and articulate what she wanted. His fingers traced over her back, pressing her face close as his mouth pressed open kisses to the side of her head. He listened, and what she said caused Fane’s mouth to press tight and him to squeeze her just a little more. His own magic wove its way around her, humming and pulsing gently and only once she seemed to settle some did he allow a little space between them.

Enough to hear her properly. Though the mention of visions had him frowning and a hand raised to stroke her face with utter devotion but pain lingered there too. A wish to take it away from her.

“Tell me what you saw first… Please,” he had a feeling he already knew but he would make sure first. If she still wanted the memories pushed back then he would do as she asked, but Fane knew there would be a time she had to know the truth and he couldn’t keep putting this off. At least it was here with him, “tell me love.”

When Faye finally found her voice, she told Fane about what she’d seen. “I don’t know what it means. I’ve never… I've never seen that place before. It felt… old. Felt like… like someone was waiting for me. Like there were things I couldn’t see. Faces…” She clutched more tightly at his shirt. “What if it’s those… those people you told me about. The ones that… wanted you? But I don’t… why would they want me? Why would I… be of any importance?”

As frightened as she was - and truly frightening Faye was hard to do - she wasn’t able to analyze the situation at all. To put anything together other than the vision of the cave, the black water, and the feeling of being watched. And the screaming…

But Fane’s magic was slowly calming her, and eventually her breathing slowed and the trembling mostly stopped. “My Gram told me I might see things one day. I never thought I would. She said… she said they only come for things of… great importance or… or things that will cause great pain. She never had a happy vision in her life…” It was the way of magic sometimes. And one of the reasons Faye had never wanted to See.

“I just… I don’t understand.”

Waiting for her? There was nothing good about what she said, but it was the screaming of an infant that caught his attention in particular and Fane wondered whether perhaps recent events were factoring into and seeping through to influence what it was she had seen. “Did it feel bad? Or good?” he asked, his voice relatively neutral and calm despite everything. By now Fane had grown rather good at schooling himself, he rarely panicked and often approached situations with a relatively calm and grounded approach. It was simply part of how he had managed to survive the years as they had come about. Rushing in had never done much. “Was there anything else you could make out?”

Fane pressed her face into his chest, letting her breathe in his scent knowing that it would help to continue calming her as well as the flux and pulse of his magic. Slow and steady. “Did she ever tell you much of them? Did she ever speak of things combining?” because some of what Faye spoke of Fane could only assume of as being past, not future because presently he had no wish or desire to even risk the same heartbreak that had already come to pass of late.

“You’ve been through a lot lately… Perhaps something has triggered that ability in you,” Fane couldn’t be sure though. His mouth pressed to her temple, closing his eyes as he rested there momentarily “how are you feeling?”

“It felt… ominous.” It was the best word she could come up with. It certainly wasn’t good, and ‘bad’ didn’t seem right either. “Like… a warning.” Faye didn’t know what to make of it other than what she’d, felt, and heard. She’d never been one to have many nightmares. Not since Fane was nearly always with her, or she with him. The occasional one that drifted in was nearly always short and violent and had something to do either with the war, her accident, or losing the people she loved. There weren’t too many variations. But this was completely different.

She took a moment to simply breathe, because speaking before her thoughts were somewhat unmuddled would only confuse her more. And Fane as well. What else had there been? Any detail, however small, could mean something huge. Faye squeezed her eyes tightly shut, trying to remember anything. Trying to pull the images from her memory before they faded completely. “Moon. Full. Orange. Maybe red?” She spoke quickly and precisely, saying the words as they came to her. Fane would remember what she said. “Harvest moon. Blood moon? Smells like… salt. Sea. Pillars of… stone. Inscriptions?” She shuddered a bit as she recalled the inky blackness of the water in the stone pool. “Crying… in the dark...” There was a flare of pain in her head, and she grunted with the force of it. A sick feeling rose in her stomach, but she held it back, breathing through it until it passed.

As for her Gram: “No. She never really talked about them much. Other than the few times she told me that I might have the Sight one day. And those talks were few and far between. It was… the last time we talked about it was after I got hurt. Then she… passed a couple of years after.” Faye’s voice caught, and she needed a few more moments to right herself again. “I miss her. So much.” Her Gram had mourned for Fane as well, and burned a candle for him every year on the anniversary of the battle. If she had any inkling that he had survived, she never told Faye. Though perhaps it was for the best. Because if there had been any hope whatsoever, Faye would have abandoned everything to search for him.

Just as she should have abandoned everything now. To keep him safe. To keep them both safe.

“Maybe. She said stress can trigger them. Trauma. Grief. All the above.” She gave a humorless huff of laughter as she pressed her face back into his shirt. “I feel… better than I did. But… not great. You?” Her head tilted to look up at him. Because no matter how bad she felt or what she’d been through, Faye would always worry about Fane first.

“Foreboding?” Fane mused, his mouth moving a little against her head but not shifting otherwise. For her nightmares Fane did what he could, whether that was brewing dreamless sleep draughts or the like. Whatever it was he could do to ease her so she could sleep peacefully and regain her strength then he did his best to achieve that end. Some couldn’t be predetermined or anticipated, but Fane did his best to try and sooth her when they did come about but it was sometimes easier said than done.

His fingers carded through her hair as she pressed her face into the depths of his shirt, soft and encouraging but not in any fashion that might startle or cause her to feel forced to speak. But he took note of the things she said, “then we do our best to prepare for whatever this is…” Who was to know if it even would come to pass? Premonitions were tricky like that but it didn’t mean they couldn’t be aware of it should anything of the sort come to pass.

Fane squeezed her as talk turned to her Gram, she had been a good woman if not a little obstinate about some things. He had met her occasionally, but mostly kept his troubles to himself not wishing for the charity of Faye’s family or to feel like he was taking advantage of the kindness they always seemed to show to him as a boy. “‘Course you do, you loved her and she loved you darling,” Fane kissed her head once more. Whether she knew or didn’t there would be no telling now and for what it was worth perhaps that was for the best.

“We’ve had our fair share of all of those,” he agreed his arm falling to wrap around her waist as he pulled her more onto his lap so he might hug her tight. “Tired,” but that was hardly anything new, “and glad that you’re safe.” He glanced at the window, it was still rather late by all accounts, “why don’t we lie down?” They could talk until they fell asleep again, or not, whatever the case Fane wished to take care of her.

“Yeah. Like something was… waiting. On me. Or at least that’s what it seemed like.” Faye knew any sort of ‘vision’ or ‘premonition’ had to be taken with a grain of salt. And viewed cautiously. They could mean anything and nothing all at the same time. Interpretation of such things wasn’t an exact science, and there were people that studied the phenomenon their entire lives who couldn’t say one way or the other whether something would come to pass or not. And to interpret things wrong, well… it was that very thing that caused the downfall of the Dark Lord wasn’t it? Prophecy? Misunderstood prophecy.

“Prophecy…” Faye said to herself, frowning. What if-? But no. No, there’d be no reason for that. But even as she tried to push the thought away, it lingered in her mind. Something that should connect. Or possibly connect. But nothing came to her, not in her shaken state. Sp as much as it perturbed her, Faye tried not to think on it too hard. She would remember if it was meant to be remembered. She always did.

She nodded against him, agreeing that all they could do was prepare as best they could. Whoever or whatever wanted to hurt them, and for whatever reason, was sorely underestimating them and their devotion to one another. Faye would walk through the literal fires of Hell to keep Fane safe. And Fane himself? He would learn to command the hellfire and use it to burn their enemies to ash.

“She would have been so happy to see you again.” Her Gram had never truly believed Fane dead, but Faye had figured the old woman was just trying to life Faye’s spirits. If Fane had been alive, he would have come home, right? Well, now Faye knew that her Gram had been right, and she’d been wrong. But he was home now, that’s what mattered. Home, and never leaving again.

“We have.” It was true. So much pain and grief. So much sorrow threaded their lives together. Faye wanted to say she was tired of it all. That she was so sorry for all of it. That if she could take it away, take it back, make it right, she would. But it wouldn’t do any good. Fane knew all of that already. Faye would be wasting her breath.

Her arms tightened as he answered her question, and a small hum followed. “I’m not sure I can go back to sleep now…” But she did want to lay down with him. They got comfortable, wrapped tightly in the warmth of each others’ arms. Despite her misgivings, Faye soon drifted back into a light doze which became something deeper and more restful after a bit. But thankfully, this time it was dreamless.

Fane wasn’t so easily inclined to sleep, now that he was awake and after whatever had startled Faye enough to rouse her he felt a protective urge to remain observant. So he lay there, holding her close and talking about this and that until she quietened against him once more and he could rest down against her not quite asleep but bordering so that if anything else might happen he might be awake to deal with it instantly. Paranoia had a habit of keeping him on edge for anything that might be out to hurt them, of which there were things aplenty of late.

By the time the sun was rising, Faye hadn’t been disturbed any further by nightmares or premonitions or anything else of the sort. So, Fane figured he would let her continue to rest knowing that at some point today he would have to tell her the truth and full extent of everything that had happened.

It wasn’t going to be easy, but Faye deserved the truth and Fane was determined on giving that to her. By the time he heard shuffling he was just cooking some egg, bacon and sausages over the fire. He’d boiled a kettle to brew coffee for them both also. At least they could have some semblance of a normal morning before things went to pot once more.

Couldn’t they?

He glanced over his shoulder, but said nothing as he turned the food and let it continue to cook over the fire. He could have used magic to help, but there was something cathartic about leaving magic out of the equation and needing to go through the motions of actually preparing a meal for once.

Faye woke to the smell of cooking. Stretching a bit beneath the thick covers, she made a sound of contentment. She still felt a bit foggy, but more rested than she could remember being in the past month. Fane’s presence was nearby, the familiar hum of his magic permeating the space around her. The corners of Faye’s mouth arched lazily upwards. She’d missed this. Despite everything that had come to pass, Faye could still find joy in the simple things.

“Smells good,” she murmured loud enough for him to hear. Shifting onto her side, Faye blinked slowly until Fane’s familiar silhouette came into view. “Time is it?”

Fane busied himself with moving the pots and pans around, eggs boiled and Fane was occupied presently with frying up the other bits and pieces. It was an old way of doing things but it worked and Fane could hardly complain too much. It was cathartic really, the methodical steps behind each thing that culminated in a nice meal.

Sensing the stir of faye’s own magic as she woke, a fluttering nudge somewhere that he subconsciously recognised Fane tried not to let his tension get the better of him. He was doing this to keep himself occupied from the issue of what needed to be discussed. That namely being what Roger truly had done to them both and what this case had cost them. Would it be better to tell her straight and try to minimise the fallout or take care of her first then broach it? He still wasn’t so sure. But he busied himself with grabbing the coffee he made, bringing it over. “Mid morning, not too late… I let you rest.”

No matter what Fane decided, Faye wasn’t likely to take the information well. She had wanted a family of her own since she and Fane were teenagers. A family of their own. And then those dreams had been crushed by his ‘death.’ Faye could have moved on. Could have tried to have a family, a life, with someone else. And for awhile she did. But it didn’t last long. Because no one was Fane. He was the love of her life, as cliche as she knew it was.

And now that he was back, those dreams had been rekindled. And lost before she even knew they’d begun.

But for the moment, her ignorance remained intact. Her mouth slid into a smile as Fane came over. “You spoil me, love.” Rolling to her side, Faye reached for the warm mug when it was offered. They shared a few minutes of companionable silence, Faye sipping her coffee and commenting on how good the food smelled. “Will you show me around outside today? I think I feel up to it.” She’d done nothing but sleep since she’d gotten here. What was it now? Two days ago? Three? Faye couldn’t quite remember. The rest had been much-needed, Fane being right to make her stay in bed, and even if she still felt a bit off, it was much better than before.

Faye leaned to press kiss to Fane’s arm. “We could go for a walk if the weather keeps? Show me the mountains?”

When Fane reached the bed, he moved to lightly stroke his fingers against the wisps of hair curling at her temples the backs of them ever so gently brushing skin. His eyes softened considerably as he gazed at her in the early morning sunlight as it filtered through the windows of their barren accomodation in the middle of nowhere. There wasn’t much to do out in these parts, but it was part of its own charm in a way, despite the isolation of it all.

A small piece of reality that the outside world hadn’t corrupted and tainted with its murky clawing grasp. Fane was thankful for that one fact at least. Plus, it didn’t hurt to get away for awhile or longer depending on your reasoning. His fingers flexed and curled back.

“Yeah, we’ll go on a walk nothing big though okay? And I want you layered up to the gills ‘cause it’s cold out there hm?” She’d almost frozen to death not two nights back and if he hadn’t have found her. Well, they wouldn’t have been having this conversation themselves. He let her linger against his arm for a moment before moving away to finish fixing up breakfast.

Faye tipped her face towards Fane’s touch, the light brush of skin flaring warm and familiar. The light cast his own face in soft relief, catching his dark eyes at such an angle that they flared briefly as he looked at her, the color of fire opals. He was startling in his contrasts. The dark features and light skin that turned olive when he was in the sun for too long. His quietness that could turn to anger at the drop of a hat, depending on the day and his mood. His frailty alongside his overwhelming strength. God, she loved him.

A moment later, Faye nodded, readily accepting Fane’s conditions of their walk. Vaguely, she remembered the sight of snow-capped peaks from the night of her arrival. But they were nothing more than flashes of memory, images come and gone too fast to focus on. They ate breakfast in more companionable silence, Faye utterly content to sit next to him - in front of the fire this time instead of in the bed - with her plate of food and coffee. The little cabin was the absolute opposite of where they’d spent their recent holiday. And as much as Faye had loved the glamour and the glitz and the no expenses spared life they’d lived for an entire month, this was almost preferable. Just them and a few comforts hidden away in the frozen wasteland of Romania.

When they stepped outside a bit later - Faye bundled up to Fane’s liking - Faye took a deep breath. The air was crisp and clear, not thick and muggy like wizarding London. And there was magic here too, Fane’s magic. Faye could feel it beneath her feet, in the snowflakes that drifted from the trees, and humming through Fane himself as they took each other’s hand and started to walk.

“It’s beautiful here,” Faye said after a bit.

Fane was thorough in his certainty that Faye was bundled up and protected from the chill of the morning and its bitter wind. The sun was up though and it softened things a little, though it seemed they had received another flurry of snowfall overnight that had left a deep blanket covering the world outside. Everything had at least several inches piled up and his boots crunched as it compacted the snow with each step that he took from the cabin. His breath clouded on the air, small wispy puffs that faded into nothing before another was exhaled as he glanced back at her stepping outside.

She still looked a little pale, but he hardly expected her to look in the prime and peak of fitness all things considering. He didn’t even know how he might look, though he knew his beard needed a definite trimming, he’d let it grow and it was far more unruly than he liked in all honesty. But trips to town were few and far between for anonymities sake and that meant shaving supplies beyond a knife weren’t so very easy to come by. So he let it be, but given the opportunity he had plans to get rid of it. A breeze stirred over the rolling slopes, flushing his face some and causing him to tuck his mouth down behind his scarf that was wrapped around his neck.

Rubbing his gloved hands together he stepped over to Faye, pulling her hat down a little more securely over her ears before he smiled at how the sunlight danced and reflected in the violet hues of her eyes. Always so dazzling and bright, full of a passion and fire for life that could never be denied. Taking her hand they started to walk, no direction in particular just away and Fane mulled in his thoughts as they wandered along. “Yes, it is.”

As cold as the breeze was, Faye turned her face into it, letting it sting against her cheeks. It was a stark contrast to the warmth of Fane’s longhouse, and it took her breath away. She’d have wind-burned cheeks when they went back inside, but nothing a little spell couldn’t fix. Her eyes found Fane as he walked next to her, tucking down into his scarf. A few flakes of snow stuck to the bit of his beard that was still visible. She liked it, but preferred being able to see his face. She’d watched him scratch at it here and there, and knew he’d most likely be shot of it soon enough. Faye could always shave it off for him later in the day.

She hummed as he agreed about the beauty of this place despite the harsh conditions. They walked until they came to the edge of the forest, the evergreens dark and tall against the white backdrop. Something skittered in the underbrush, and Faye stopped, watching something small and covered in dark fur scoot beneath the branches that brushed the ground. It triggered something in her memory, and she blinked several times, sorting it for a moment before she suddenly turned to him.

“You utter bastard!” she said, laughing and giving him a small, mostly playful, shove. “You’re an animagus!” Her expression was both exasperated and thrilled as she remembered the little fox from the night she arrived. “Why didn’t you tell me??”

The trees started to thin a little as the land began to slope away into fields covered in pure white as far as the eye could see, it glistened like diamonds had been studded into the surface as it stretched out in front of them. Sparkling in the early morning sun and despite the chill it made Fane smile just a little despite everything, feeling rather completely at ease here despite how cold it was.

The rustle of the bushes meant little to him, probably a rabbit or something or other. A deer even. Who really knew, in these parts it was unsurprising as to the range of wildlife you could find despite the coldness of the conditions. Even so, it seemed enough to stir something loose in Faye’s memories. Her exclamation caught him utterly by surprise and he blinked rather owlishly at her, confusion clouding his features as he tried to make sense of what she was going on about not really understanding.

“What?” he truly didn’t know and he stumbled a little in the snow righting himself a moment later as he turned back to look at her. However, the clarification came soon enough and his confusion gave way to an almost sheepish look, one hand raising to tug at the lower lobe of his ear prior to his fingers falling back and rubbing his neck. “You never asked.” It also wasn’t something he let anyone know, mostly for the sake of allowing him a backup plan that others couldn’t anticipate considering if no one knew they couldn’t plan for that sort of outcome if a situation went south.

It wasn’t often that Faye caught Fane off guard, so his slight confusion was more endearing to her than anything. She didn’t feel lied to. Because Fane was right: she’d never asked. So as he recovered and his look turned sheepish, she grinned at him. “Oh, sure. That’s exactly the question I would think to ask my partner. Hey, Fane, can you grab some milk on the way home. Oh, and you wouldn’t happen to be an animagus would you?”

She snagged his hand again once he dropped it back to his side. They continued on through the snow. “I won’t tell anyone.” Obviously she wouldn’t, Auror or not. It had most likely served Fane well, so there was no way Faye was going to tell him to register himself, and she wasn’t even going to pretend like she knew. Plausible deniability and all. “You know I always thought if I ended up an Animagus I’d turn into something ridiculous. Like an elephant or a clam.” Faye didn’t possess the same talent for transformation. It wasn’t something she lamented, or was necessarily envious of, though it would definitely have been useful in her job.

It was ironic in it’s own way that Fane should be a Animagus. It was difficult in the extreme. So much so that it was theorized the ability was inborn and couldn’t simply be learned. Yet Fane couldn’t cast a Patronus. A spell that was now taught to fifth years at Hogwarts. It wasn’t an easy charm, that much was true, but almost every witch or wizard Faye knew had one. Except for those that had been loyal to the Dark Lord in the past.

And Fane. He’d never been able to cast one. Not as long as she’d known him. Though she expected that had more to do with his childhood and the traumas he’d experienced than anything else. Perhaps with time it would come. Faye’s own was a strange hybrid of raven and falcon, for Fane’s House and his peregrine familiar.

They stood on the hillside, the fields below stretched out in a blanket of endless white, ending at the base of the black, snow-capped mountains. Faye leaned against Fane, wrapping her arms around his waist. “We could stay here. Not go back.” The words weren’t said lightly. But after nearly losing him again - not to mention the things she didn’t yet remember - Faye was closer than ever to giving up everything and letting Fane take her away. Starting over with new lives.

But something told her that wasn’t an option now. That that time had come and gone, and they were on a new path. A path that had no certain end.

“Well if you never asked then why would I have reason to tell you, so you’ve exactly summed up everything right there,” Fane waggled his fingers at her but the smile on his features still remained a little smaller than it was. Perhaps nerves, or uncertainty about what she would think about it. But soon enough his hand was back in her own and they were moving once more. “I know,” she didn’t need to promise him that she wouldn’t. He trusted her implicitly. There was absolutely no question about that. At all. The thought of Faye as an animagus brought a smile to his lips though, there was no helping it.

And the thought of her being an elephant or a clam, there was no stopping his snort of mirth. He did cover his mouth though in some (small) attempt to quieten it. “An elephant or a clam? Those are-- wow, pretty big spectrum.”

Growing up Fane had been known for his proficiency with magic, a dab hand at most things due to his insatiable curiosity. But the bright-eyed boy who had walked into Hogwarts so many years ago had been tarnished and some might say corrupted from the experiences endured at the school. It hadn’t been easy, far from it, and those events had shaped the person that he had ultimately become. And perhaps that, as Faye thought was one of the factors that explained his inability to cast a patronus. Happy memories fuelled it, but Fane’s bank of things that were truly powerful to draw upon was limited each happiness tainted with some sort of darkness.

Cato had vanished along with Fane, the falcon nesting in the rafters of the lodge and occasionally taking to the skies to hunt. Fane didn’t mind, though he always felt better with the falcon somewhere in the nearby vicinity. “You know as well as I that’s not an option anymore,” the words were spoken quietly. Faye meant well, but by now there truly was no other option than facing the road that lay ahead of them. Whether they wanted to or not.

“I don’t know? Because we don’t keep secrets. And because it’s a pretty big deal? I mean… Animagi are rare, Fane. I don’t recall anyone from our year at Hogwarts that’s registered as one.” Though it didn’t truly matter. Faye was just teasing him. Though it did matter to her to tell him she wouldn’t breathe a word of his ability. Even if she knew he trusted her. Faye wanted him to hear it out loud at least once. She squeezed his hand, bumping him as he laughed at her. “Just call me a study in dichotomy,” she said of her potential animagus forms. “Completely useless but fascinating all the same.”

The lighthearted couldn’t go on forever though, as much as Faye wished it could. His answer was received with a small dip of her head, and she clasped his hand in both of hers as she frowned. So many ‘if only’s’ whirled around in her head. So many roads not taken. So many paths lost to them forever. It threatened to overwhelm her if she let it, so she pushed it back, closing the door on what might have been and turning her focus to what was. To what had to be.

“What are our options then?” she asked just as quietly. Faye had her own ideas, but she wanted to hear Fane’s first.

We don’t keep secrets. And yet there were still so many things Faye didn’t know. Things that he had done, things he had willingly chosen to do. Even now, there were things he was holding back and that one statement though made lightly caused his smile to falter and fade. His eyes grew fixated on the distance ahead of them as they continued to walk, pondering if now was the time to tell her the truth in its entirety. To ruin the niceness of this with the horror of things that had come to pass.

And yet once more he was faced with the prospect of how to say it. How to tell her that they had been so close to a dream they’d had for an eternity. “Only one,” his voice was surprisingly steadier then, resolve bolstering him perhaps as his breath clouded on the air. “We go home,” his expression darkened then, like a shadow creeping over a once sunny day, masking any and all brightness that might have lightened the way “and we make every single person that was involved in taking our child’s life away from us pay.” His eyes finally shifted from the horizon to her face, an icy chill in their depths matching the almost clinical coolness in his tone.

Faye had only meant the words as a statement of fact, nothing more. They didn’t keep secrets from one another. Omitted information or things that weren’t necessarily relevant from time to time, but outright lying to one another? No. Never. So as Fane’s easy smile was replaced with something else, something that stirred his magic to a low-pitched thrum - one Faye recognized as the low boil of his anger - she stopped walking. Her fingers gripped his even tighter, and her own happy smile turned to a concerned frown.

As Faye watched, he laid out their options, of which there was but a single, solitary path. One that she didn’t quite understand at first. “What?” she said, her frown and the crease between her brows growing deeper than they’d ever been. Her grip tightened, and her own magic thrummed a bit louder, agitated by the roiling anger of Fane’s. Her eyes held his, neither of them looking away. It took her the span of a few heartbeats to understand.

When she did, it was like watching a car accident happen in slow motion. There was the impact, the instinctual reaction to flinch and protect your vital parts. Faye’s hand crept slowly to her belly, her other hand still gripping Fane’s like a vice. There was the wounding, the visceral pain that slashed its way through one’s entire being. Faye didn’t cry out yet, holding her voice in a stubborn, futile effort at denial. She closed her eyes against it. Against the pain that she knew Fane shared. Trying to make it not real. Trying to make it simply a bad dream. A nightmare she could wake up from. But she couldn’t. It was undeniable.

Twin tears ran down her face. Her knees felt weak, and she sank into the snow. This was why her magic and his seemed more connected. This was why she felt… different. It wasn’t until something she’d remembered or something Fane did triggered the memory in it’s entirety that Faye finally cried out. Still holding Fane’s hand, she remembered everything. Roger, the beating he’d given her, waking up days later in a pool of blood, the hospital… the nurses’ faces as they broke the news… Roger’s face as he took her home-

Faye screamed, and her magic raged out of her. It tore up the snow, impacting the earth like thunder without sound and sending a shockwave of power rushing into the forest and fields all around them. Birds burst from the trees, screaming their discontent. It rolled off into the distance and Faye sat in the middle of what was now bare, scorched ground - though her magic hadn’t harmed Fane - and sobbed.

Once she had control of herself again, Faye looked at Fane. The darkness that rolled in his eyes matched by the darkness in her own. Their shared power calling for revenge. Calling for justice. Calling for blood.

“Kill them all.”

There was nothing for it, nothing to be said or sympathies to be given. She was crushing his hand with the tension of her grip, but he hardly even noticed it even if it would probably bruise later. In a way, it was nice to have something beyond the rolling boil of anger that had been simmering in the time he’d taken to build Faye back up to her strength. But as the truth was set free, a small counterspell to lift the few final doors placed on her memories the full brunt of things came forth.

And now she knew.

The terrible truth of everything they had lost, a life that had barely begun to blossom snatched away before it could ever take root. She slipped to the ground, tears tracking down her face and Fane stood by his expression almost devoid of anything save the wrath that had been stirred to life once more. The darkness seeping out of the cracks that had for a long time now rested dormantly in the calming and soothing influence of Faye’s presence in his life. There was nothing for it. Not now. There was no reason for restraint, for trying to hold back the violent nature that warred and fought to break free. Fane was buffed by the winds stirred up by the explosion of magic and energy Faye released; a combination of her own and his, fuelled from the land and pools of magical energy around here that he had tapped into. Their link allowing her to connect and tap into it also.

She met his eyes eventually, sitting back on her heels and Fane’s blood practically sang with the urge for vengeance. For retribution. They would suffer. But they needed to be smart about this. “They’ll die.” It was matter of fact and there was nothing more to be said really but the thought of what they lost brought a surprising roll of grief too. But he tamped down on it, pulling his coat around him tighter as he stepped up behind her. “Come on, you’ll freeze.”

Faye didn’t expect Fane to coddle her in her grief. Nor did she expect him to fall at her side, weeping as she was. She could feel everything he felt, so Faye knew he too grieved for what they’d lost. For what had barely begun before it was so violently taken. Fane grieved, and later perhaps, he would mourn. They both would. But right now was no time for mourning, save for Faye’s gut-reaction to the memories of losing their child. To the hollow feeling that flared inside her and dragged her to her knees. Right now was the time for making it right. For making the ones responsible pay. For taking their rage and unleashing it.

Faye’s pain always turned to anger. To determination. It strengthened her resolve and left no room for error. She let Fane pull her up out of the snow. The tears were done, frozen on her cheeks like twin diamonds. She knew what it meant to say those words to Fane. To have not a care in the world about holding him back. To let him have his way with those that had wronged them. Faye knew exactly what she was doing when she let loose the hold she had over his darkness, and plunged into it with him. Those that had taken so much from them would regret ever being born.

And there was nothing else that needed to be said on the matter. Not once he affirmed her words. That they would all die. It was settled, and they would go on from here.

There was no fight left in Faye as they went back to the longhouse. She didn’t say anything, simply let herself be led by the hand back into the warmth of Fane’s temporary home. She fell into the chair by the fire, staring into it as Fane moved off into the room. “If we go back to London, you’ll be arrested,” she said flatly. The anger was clear in her voice. It was what they had to do, but her brain spun with so many things, she didn’t know where to start.

There was nothing more to be said for the moment, not while the news and information of what had happened was still sinking in. So Fane said nothing, simply latching onto Faye’s hand as they made their way back and once inside he shut and bolted the door. The wards here strengthened with a new resolve to keep the world out, to leave them in their isolation while they planned. Who knew what Faye’s colleagues would have supposedly found by now. “They can try,” his voice was flat as he answered her comment about his arrest. Like hell was he going to let the people who did this slip through his fingers.

No. This time the people that had made Faye suffer, made their lives a living hell would know what it meant to beg for mercy. But there would be none given. Not an inch. They would see their error and loathe the day they were born. For neither Faye nor Fane’s wrath would be put down until every last individual that had wronged them was wiped from this earth and perhaps even the next. Perhaps Fane would drag them back from the beyond, only to drive them right to the brink. Over and over and over until it was all said and done.

“First, we need to figure out the players. Once we know their respective goals we can see how best to handle the situation, we would be better off playing them against one another than we would be trying to dismantle them entirely.” Fane eventually said his eyes fixated on the clues he’d already picked out and pieced together.

Faye had always abided by the law. Had always done her job, upheld it to Ministry standards. And she had been good at it. She was good at it. But being good at being an Auror also meant that Faye knew how and where to infiltrate the inner workings of the Ministry. She nodded at Fane’s comment about his potential arrest.

“At this point they’d probably rather kill you than take you in. One side of this at least. The other…” Faye shook her head. “Who knows what the other side really wants. Harming you - harming us - seems counterproductive. That, or they don’t know you at all.” Whatever punishment Fane wanted to dole out on the ones that had done this, Faye wouldn’t stop him. Only if it threatened his well-being, his mental and emotional health, would Faye tell him to stop. Because in the end that’s all she cared about. Him.

But for now, as drained and shaken and furiously angry as they were, they had to start figuring out what they would do. Where they would start.

“Roger’s no leader,” Faye said, naming the one person she knew was involved. The anger in her voice tightly controlled as she stared into the fire. “He’s a patsy. A fall guy. He was promised something for all this. He had to of been. Something worth betraying everyone and everything. We get to him and we find out who he’s working for.”

Fane licked his lips and rubbed his neck in consideration of Faye’s points, “perhaps so,.” Perhaps it was reckless, but Fane was willing to take the risk if it meant putting them a step closer to their targets. Sometimes a risk was necessary when any other route had failed. “Either way they won’t trust you now, not with how long you’ve been away they’ll suspect if you return that something’s up - either that or try to put you under their influence again.”

But then perhaps that would work in their favour, “that man is obsessed with you,” Fane said of Roger his voice surprisingly contemplative and measured despite everything. “Do you think he’d come if you asked? Could you convince him to come to you? That I kidnapped you but you managed to get away and nothing is making sense?” Faye would have to be hysterical, but she could be quite the actress when the time suited and he doubted in all honesty much would be needed.

The issue would be from not having Faye kill him on the spot for what he’d done. “If you can isolate him we can trap him and get him to spill everything he knows.” Means and method didn’t matter now. So long as he talked was all that mattered at the end of the day.

Faye had thought the same thing: that she would no longer be trusted if she returned to the Ministry. Her absence would certainly be noticed. Both because of her position in the Auror Department and because whoever had been watching her - along with Roger - would most likely be pulling their hair out wondering just where their plan had gone awry. And where she was. Because Fane’s spell had left no trace of where she’d gone, Faye knew that for a fact. So when she - when they - decided to show back up, it would be on their own terms.

“They can try,” Faye said, mirroring Fane’s words from a few moments before. Like hell was she letting someone get the drop on her again. She’d let her guard down. She’d trusted people she never should have. And that had cost her and Fane dearly. If only she had listened-

The thoughts were pushed aside as Faye looked towards Fane. He seemed to have latched onto an idea. One that was just as mad as it was brilliant. But that was Fane, wasn’t it? Brilliant as they came, but just a hair’s breadth from being completely mad. Though Faye knew the same could be said about her. For loving him as she did. Luckily, Faye could give a fuck what anyone else thought. “I can do anything that needs doing. Just say when.” Because Roger was obsessed with her. Faye had never wanted to admit it, but the signs were all there. And whoever had their claws in him knew what buttons to push. So it was likely she’d been part of the things he’d been promised once Fane was out of the way. The very thought made Faye viscerally ill. Her hand pressed over the hollowness in her belly, unconsciously protecting something that was no longer there.

“He’ll come. All I have to do is say I need him, and he’ll meet me anywhere. But we have to make sure it’s safe. There’s a possibility they might expect a double cross.” Faye gazed at Fane for a long moment before she turned back to the fire, rage burning in her eyes despite the pain that shone there s well.

“Either way, Roger won’t remember a thing. I’ll make sure if it.”

Faye had been away too long for it not to be viewed as suspicious. They would question her return and she would be subject to whatever questioning and methods they would choose to try and get to the most wanted wizarding criminal in the world. Fane wouldn’t let her be subject to that. She had been through enough. Perhaps it wasn’t his decision to make, but his urge to protect her from any more suffering. Any more harm or loss was enough to stir him to make that decision.

Madness was just another word for genius. They were one and the same. Never understood or accepted at first. Fane was accustomed to that. The challenge of people not understanding. Not wanting or willing enough to understand. To judge and cast their shame before they ever truly would. He’d been subject to enough torment. For Faye he’d endure that and so much more if only to see those who had wronged her brought to account by his own hand and he would do so gladly. No thought spared for their miserable little lives. “Then we draw him out to a situation of our devising. We pick him and anyone else he might bring along with him up and we find out what the hell they want with us.”

And then we make them pay the dark look in his expression said.

Faye only nodded, content with any plan Fane might devise. She was completely aware of him as he stood nearby. The vibrations of his magic weren’t subtle. The air hummed with it. With anger. Rage. Sorrow. Despair. All things Faye felt in spades. Though in addition to that, her own magic felt… confused. Now that she remembered what had happened. Their child had joined them in a way that no magic ever could, yet it was the greatest magic there was: the making of new life.

And now that it was gone, there was a barren place where the magic didn’t know what to do.

“I’ll send a message tonight.” There was nothing but cold determination in her voice. The flames shuddered in the hearth. “People will die once this starts. And not just the ones that deserve it.” Faye had to say it. Even though Fane of all people already knew. There were no winners when it came to war. Only those that survived. And this would start something. Maybe not a war like the Second War. But there would be a fight. How far it would go, how far this all went, remained to be seen. But the first step was now.

“Come here…” She held out her hand, but didn’t look at him. Her words were soft, but brooked no argument.

His fingers curled at his side hearing that she would send word tonight. So it would begin and they would rain hell down on all those that had ever thought it wise to cross them. “Then let them die,” it was perhaps a morbid thing to say and opinion to hold but what else could be done after all that had been taken from them? A life for a life. It was the only semi-rational understanding his brain would presently accept. So what if innocents died? This hadn’t been Fane’s decision to fight yet they had taken the life of his and Faye’s child without question.

Innocence hardly mattered after that.

Her beckoning caused him to hesitate, as affectionate as he’d been with Faye up until now he had modulated his affection and how long his touches lasted. The fear of causing her more harm a lingering doubt and present thought. The regret of causing her that harm already. Fane didn’t know what to do with it, but as his hooded gaze lifted to look over at her some of the coldness melted. The yearning longing for affection causing him to take a halting step, then another towards her until his hand settled in her own, letting her draw him in with no protest until he stood between her knees looking down at her. His hand stroked her face reverently, a sadness passing over him once more at what they had lost. “Promise me, you’ll never leave without saying goodbye.”

Things made sense now. Things that had confused Faye mere hours before were now explained in startling clarity. And not just the feelings she couldn’t place. The things she couldn’t remember. But Fane’s behavior as well. The almost hesitant way he touched her. She pushed it off as him worrying over her. Worrying he would do something to startle or harm her further. And in truth, that was the reason. But Faye hadn’t known the depths to which it ran. Not until now.

Which is why she called to him. She wouldn’t let this put a wedge between them, self-placed or not. Fane was no more at fault than Faye herself. They only had each other now. They could only trust each other. And perhaps two other people in the entire world. Faye closed her eyes in silent gratitude as Fane did as she asked, choosing for once not to be stubborn.

Faye threaded their fingers, looking up at him as his other hand brushed her face. She could feel the tidal wave of warring emotions that ebbed and flowed inside him. It only made her more determined to see this through. To make it right. Though as much as her anger shielded her, kept her safe, kept her own emotions tightly contained, Fane’s words had it all crumbling away. Her shields turned to ash, and she turned her face into his touch. Her words were soft, pushed past the tightness in her throat. “I promise.” Her other hand rose to cover his where it traced her cheek. Another turn of her head and she pressed her mouth to the mound of his thumb. Warm breath blew over his skin.

“Promise me you’ll do the same…”

The stubbornness would always be there. For now, he was bone-weary of everything that they had been through. He had been bone-weary for far longer than this, it had been the source of their final argument before Faye had been cursed by Roger. He’d asked for her to leave with him, to forget all of this and for them to start a life somewhere new. No matter what it took, a part of him wondered now if they had made the decision whether it would have meant Faye would still be carrying their child.

But that was a dangerous path to tread and Fane knew he could afford to let himself be lost to such impulses and wonderings.

His eyes were sad as he looked at her, regretful for the things they had lost both to sacrifice and things seized from their grasp. Their whole lives, Fane’s especially. Perhaps this was simply par for the course. How things were meant to be. His fingers brushed her face, silent as she kissed his thumb but his head dipped, “I promise.” His touch lingered, and Fane stooped to kiss her forehead, “come on-- we should rest if we’re to do this.” Fane held no real desire right now for anything more than laying down in search of whatever semblance of peace he might come across. No desire for anything that would breed more pain with it being taken from them.

Part of Faye would always blame herself for what had happened. There would always be that tiny place inside her that knew if she’d only listened… that she might have come to Fane and been able to tell him more than just she was sorry. It wouldn’t do to get dragged down by what ifs. Madness or worse waited that way.

Even so, as hard as it was sometimes, Faye didn’t believe it was their due. They’d suffered enough. Why shouldn’t they have the life they wanted? A family? Peace? Why shouldn’t they be allowed that happiness?

The things she saw in Fane’s eyes broke her heart. And she knew then that nothing more would come of tonight. No matter how much she wanted to be with him again after so long. But Faye would take what she could. At least they were together. She didn’t object to the chasteness of his kiss, and crawled into bed once Fane pulled her from the chair. She couldn’t sleep, not even with Fane’s arms around her. Faye lay there in silence for a long while, listening to Fane’s breathing and the soft shuffling of his falcon somewhere in the rafters, until finally she drifted off to a restless sleep.

#hp au #au #scene

[savinscripts]

❝ Grief does not change you. It reveals you. ❞

TW: Discussions of miscarriage

After gathering up her ice-cold form from the snow, Fane carried Faye the short distance across the field to where he’d tethered up his mount. She’d fallen unconscious not long after making her request and Fane saw no point in wasting any time. Bundling her up in his coat to ward against the cold winter chill in the air he mindfully loaded her onto the back of his horse before climbing up himself. The journey through the snow was slow-going, but eventually they returned to the cabin which he had made his home for the last month or so. The fire was still burning thankfully, and the stew was bubbling away, moving to lift her down Fane carried her in from the cold and set her down on his bed brushing some of the hair from her face.

Her magic fluttered weakly under her skin, but still present and Fane lightly stroked her face. Despite the chill she looked peaceful here, asleep almost. He’d need to work for a while without interruptions and so before he did so, Fane returned to stable his horse with enough hay to ensure that he would be fine and warm enough for the night.

With those tasks tended to, Fane returned to where Faye rested, moving to press his fingers to her temples and start to process through the contents of what had been done to her head. He tsked under his breath, “goodness me love, you’ve had some real cowboys in here,” she wouldn’t be able to hear him, Fane knew and there were plenty of barriers that through the hours he worked and coaxed his way past. His magic had interwoven with hers with a surprising ease, more so than usual, and it was a few hours into fixing and restoring the parts of her mind that had been tampered with that Fane realised why.

But she couldn’t have been… She would have told him…

Wouldn’t she?

Drawing his hands back he almost sank in his seat under the crushing wave of trauma and emotions he’d accessed for the duration of the last few hours. Despite it all, Fane didn’t stop there, moving to use some of his blood manipulation techniques to warm her up and stabilise her general condition anyhow. Better safe than sorry. Once it was all said and done, Fane was sweating and pale. His hands trembled a little but he pushed himself up, pulling the covers over her and moved to collapse down in the chair rubbing his eyes all while trying to make sense of what had come to pass.

What a mess it was. He should hardly be surprised.

Faye knew nothing as Fane had carried her back to the cabin. She knew nothing as he’d sorted through the mess in her head. She knew nothing when he’d finished and was suddenly burdened by all the things that had been blocked from Faye herself for the last several weeks. The first thing she did know was the smell of woodsmoke and the feeling of warmth. It took her awhile to come round, to push past the haze and the throbbing in her head. But when she finally did wake - ironically feeling clearer than she had in ages despite everything - the first thing she knew was that she wasn’t at home. Nor was she at Fane’s. She was… somewhere else.

But… where?

Sitting up, which made her dizzy, Faye took a moment to look around. She didn’t feel as if she was in any danger. She felt… safe. For the first time in months. She felt utterly and completely safe. Pressing a hand to her temple, Faye slid her legs over the side of the bed. As she did, there was a throb of pain at the base of her skull. Suddenly, she was back in the snow-covered field from the night before. The hazy silhouette of a man leaning over her, then the soft touch of fox fur. The shine of a diamond ring, a letter… and the notes of a song…

“Fane…” she said as the memory came back to her through flashes strung together by a familiar magic. Fane’s magic. Faye looked down at her left hand. His ring still glinted on her finger. “Fane?!” she called, pushing to her feet. The dizziness came again, but she steadied herself on the wall as she padded barefoot towards the door. He wasn’t here. Though now that she remembered last night, she knew where she was. She could see the trappings of the man she loved all around. They were simple, but they were there. In the title of one of the few books she could see. In the scarf hanging on the peg near the door. In the way the firewood was stacked…

“FANE!” Faye called again. He had to be here. He had to be here somewhere. An open door and a step out into the snow, Faye nearly fell to her knees as the wind buffeted her. “Fane!” she called again, looking around for any sign of him.

For all the time Fane had spent sat with Faye as she slept, feeding her the odd bit of soup here and there just to tide her over before letting her rest he found himself feeling particularly restless. The revelations that came through restoring her memory left him wondering what really was the point of it all any more. When it had all been for what? For all they had lost, what had they gained? But Fane refused to stop, refused to mull on it for the time being when there were jobs to be done.

Presently, Fane was outside the cabin chopping larger pieces of wood down into smaller chunks of firewood. These were then stacked up in the log pile before being covered by a tarpe to keep them dry and suitable for kindling in the fires that warmed the cabin against the winter chill outside.

Fane worked with swift and precise motions, splitting the wood and moving it across. A beanie was pulled low over his ears to keep them hidden from the chill of the wind and the lower half of his face was covered in a slightly too-long beard. The axe cleaved through another piece of wood with a thunking noise when Faye called his name and a wash of relief went through him that she was awake. Grabbing the wood he’d just split, he turned, dark eyes meeting plum-violet and a small but sincere smile appeared on his lips. “Nice to see sleeping beauty’s awake.”

She heard the sound of an ax meeting wood before she saw him. The solid’ thunk, thump’ echoed off into the surrounding hills, and when she turned her head she almost couldn’t believe it. But she didn’t move towards him, even though she stood barefoot in the snow. Not until he turned towards her, and she looked into his eyes, did she know he was truly real. He was real and he was there. Right there.

Faye sucked in a sound that was part laugh, part sob. Despite the cold and the dizziness, she wasted no time in trudging through the snow to fling her arms around his neck. “You’re alive…” she sobbed, voice muffled against his neck as she held on as tightly as she could. “God… are you alright? Are you hurt?” She pressed her mouth to his neck, breathing him in. even as she wet his neck with tears. “Your letter… I thought…” More sobbing as she dug her fingers into the fabric of his shirt. “I don’t know what I thought… it’s all so… so muddled… I can’t remember… anything… except the last time I saw you... I’m so sorry… I’m so, so sorry, love…” She dissolved into tears that were both relieved and frightened, but her hold on him didn’t loosen despite how she trembled.

Fane wasn’t so sure if he should move towards her or let her come to him but before he could even make that decision she was making it for him. She threw her arms around his neck and Fane in turn wrapped her up in a tight hug lifting her petite frame off the snow-covered ground. “You shouldn’t be out here love, it’s cold and you’ll catch a chill,” he fussed her affectionately. But there was no anger to his words only sheer relief. That she was here and she was remembering.

“I’m sorry love… that letter… it was… it was meant for an occasion I was afraid of happening… I never anticipated that it would draw you to it now,” but god he was glad it had. She buried her face in his neck and Fane carried her back inside to the warmth of the house but never forcing her to let go. “Don’t be love, you’re safe now… you’re safe now” he set her down and brushed her face staring at her as if to commit her features to memory but god he swore he would never let her be taken from him like that again. Where his fingers pressed to her skin he could feel the warm twineing of their magic, slotting and slipping together. “You’ll remember what happened slowly… I’ve fixed what that bastard did to you but giving it to you all in one go would have been too overwhelming.” His own eyes stung as he pulled her in tight for another hug that was almost crushing, but god it was good to feel her, “I missed you so much. Sososo much.”

Nothing could have stopped Faye from going to him at that moment. She didn’t care about the snow, or the cold, or how her head hurt. All she cared about was having him in her arms and never letting him go again. “I had to find you…” she said through her tears, meaning so much more than just this present moment. Which was why there was no protest as he lifted her and carried her back inside the warm cabin. “We were… we were raiding your shop…” The remorse and the fear was apparent in her voice. “- and… I wouldn’t let them… upstairs. Roger. And the rest of them. I went up and…” Faye swallowed. “The piano…” She huffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “How did you know I would ever find it? That… song… Heart and Soul...” Faye shook her head as he sat her down.

Her own hands lifted to his face as she looked at him. Fingertips moved through his beard, which she’d never seen quite so long, and she nodded as he explained about her memories. Because she had so many questions. One lay on the tip of her tongue, something she needed to know regardless. But he pulled her in, and she held on as tightly as she could. “Me too... “

They held on for a bit longer, and then Faye pulled back some, but only so she could kiss him. It was slow but firm. A reaffirmation of her love for him, her devotion, her promise to never leave him, and to follow him to the ends of the earth if needs be. Which it seemed as if she had.

When she finally broke away, a bit reluctantly, she still didn’t let go, wrapping her arms around his waist instead. “Where are we?” she asked quietly. There were a few other things she needed to ask, but they could wait a bit she decided.

“And you did,” Fane said softly in response to her statement giving her a small squeeze to assure of that particular fact. Hearing they were raiding his shop brought about a slightly unsettled look but Fane had left nothing incriminating down there. His residence above though? Especially his spell room could seem like a dark emporium of magical artefacts and collections. To have those fall into untrained hands, Fane winced at the possible implications and consequences.

But it was mention of Roger that made him fume, a darkness clouding his features in such a way as how the sky darkened before a storm erupted. “What has he been doing? What’s he done?” This was all his fault in part, but there was more to it than anyone could have ever anticipated and the players went further than any of them had thought possible.

For now though he would take this, the quietness of this moment shared between them as she ran her fingers over his jaw and beard. It needed a trim but he’d had several more important jobs than sorting his own self appearance. But how could he not be lost if only momentarily in the slow and firm press of her mouth over his own? His fingers dug just a fraction tighter into her sides, exhaling shallowly as he pulled her close the warmth of her sinking in from how cold he had been outside. When they finally broke apart his eyes were soft as he gazed at her.

Her question was met with a momentary pause before he answered, “Romania, back end of nowhere but we’re safe here.”

Faye knew there was nothing in the shop itself that could ever truly incriminate Fane. A few questionable things perhaps, but nothing that would get him any more than a small fine and the item confiscated, if that. But upstairs… had they gotten upstairs? Other than Faye herself? If they had…

Her thoughts were brought up short at the mention of Roger. Faye frowned. “I don’t… I don’t know....” She trailed off, trying to remember past the night before. Past the raid. It hurt so much that she had to press a hand to her forehead. “Um… I remember he was there. In the shop. I let them in… the wards…” Faye shook her head, willing her mind to push harder. To push faster than Fane’s time-release spells were allowing. Slowly, the hours before the raid bled back into her memory. She gripped Fane’s shirt as the pain increased, but then thankfully faded to a dull ache.

“He was blaming you… for something. Always blaming you… the warrants… they got pushed through. Don’t know how. Wasn’t me. He was… pacing. In my office. Like… an animal in a cage. Like he was… worried. Nervous. Kept looking at his watch. Checking his mobile.” Faye shook her head again. “He was waiting on something. Something besides the warrants.” Faye recounted the rest of what had happened, how she hadn’t let anyone else upstairs with her. Whether they had followed once she had been whisked away, she couldn’t say.

“What’s he got to do with this anyway? He’s never liked you. Everyone knows that. But… he’s an imbecile.” She still couldn’t put the pieces together quite yet. Though if Fane’s reaction to the man’s name was anything to go by, Faye didn’t know the whole story. “What’s happened? You have to tell me. The memories will come, but I need to know what happened that night…”

It would have been so easy to forget all her questions. To forget all the answer she so desperately wanted. To forget the connections she needed to make that were presently nothing but frayed ends floating aimlessly. So easy to forget it all for the warmth of his mouth and his skin. To pull him in and forget about the world forever. Because this was her world. The man in front of her and the life they still had the chance to build together.

Faye let out a breath as he told her where they were. “Romania. Right. Of course.” She smiled up at him, and it was genuine, if weary. “To the ends of the earth, right?” Rising up again, she kissed him once more, this one just a touch desperate. But she made herself pull away after a moment. “Have you been here the whole time?”

Fane’s thumb brushed over the line of her jaw as he sat there with her, he saw her effort to remember, the furrowing of her brow and he just shook his head. “Stop, it won’t do you good to rush remembering” there were other things that would come back too things that would be heavy to burden and even Fane was doing his best to put those things aside in focus of looking after Faye. He harrumphed at the fact Roger was in the shop, no real surprise, “then I’m going to be even more incriminated, no doubt.”

Even without her memory of everything that happened Faye was practically there anyway. “It’s his fault, he’s the mole,” Fane said with plain certainty over the fact. “I’ve been tracking his movements for the last few weeks. Everything that’s happened, at least on our end, it’s been his fault. He’s part of some organisation,” Fane pointed towards his investigation board which had several bits and pieces tied together. “He’s the one this did all of this to you… Attacked you that night after I left, put that spell on you,” his voice was a low tight growl and his eyes flashed bloody murder even speaking of the man. If it was anything to go by the future would not be bright for Roger.

But more than that, Fane bit on his lip wondering if it was better to let her remember or wait to tell her. “There’s… There’s more,” Fane’s features were drawn and tight as he looked at her as he sat back just enough to take her small hands and cup them in his own. “To the end of the world and beyond,” the kiss was welcome but Fane knew that he was going to have to tell her the truth but for now he set it aside for answering her question. “More or less, I woke up in some fields… A local hedge-witch found me.” Fane explained the last few weeks, the fact he’d splinched his shoulder rather nastily in his haste to get away and nearly bled out in a field as a consequence. The time to recover and time he’d spent since trying to make sense of it all.

Faye forced herself to slow down. He was right. She knew he was right. Occlumency was a strength of hers. Her mind was strong. But even the strongest psyche could break if forced to remember too much too fast. But there was context there that she needed. Fane telling her now wouldn’t make the actual memory come any faster. It would bleed through when it was supposed to.

“No… no we… I remember we went through and made sure there wasn’t nothing there that could be harmful? Remember? Before we went on our trip? You made a small fortune selling it all under the table to B&B.” Though that didn’t mean something couldn’t be planted.

That was pushed aside however, as Fane explained Roger’s involvement. “What?! Roger??” She glanced at the board, her expression as shocked as her words sounded. “But he’s… he’s…” Faye trailed off. No. No, it made sense. Roger was always there in the peripheral. Somewhere. He’d hated Fane from the moment they’d met. He’d also never gotten over the hurt pride of Faye ending their so-called relationship years ago. He’d never once apologized for nearly getting her killed. He’d come so readily when she called him that night that she’d first found out Fane was back…

“Oh, god…” She knew she had gone pale as Fane recounted what had happened that night. She didn’t remember getting assaulted. Didn’t remember being beaten bloody. Didn’t remember what had happened a few days later because of that beating. “He did all that? But… why? What… organization? Is it… the one you were talking about? The ones that wanted you?” Her mind was working overtime, trying to piece things together. “But no… no it’s can’t be the same one. If they want you, why would Roger want you dead? That doesn’t make any sense. None of this makes any sense…” Faye believe him, of course. It was simply so much to take in, when she had never even suspected him. “God, I was so fucking blind.”

She rubbed a hand over her eyes. “What else could there possibly be?” Assault. Imperius curses. Blackmail. Framing someone for murder. Secret cults. Faye couldn’t imagine how this could get any worse. As he took her hands, she felt a bit of the weight lift, and let herself enjoy his warmth, his presence. Faye wasn’t going anywhere without him again. Not anytime soon.

Her eyes fell to his shoulder, to the scar she knew was there beneath the sweater. Her fingers ached to touch him, to feel his skin beneath her hands after so long. To kiss his scars, every single one of them, and remind him that he was loved. So much. “She has my eternal gratitude, then. And I’m in her debt.”

She glanced at the board again, trying to decipher his process. “What else have you figured out?”

Faye was a very powerful witch, there was no doubt in Fane’s mind of that fact but it didn’t mean that even the most powerful of people couldn’t be caught unawares. The fact that she was remembering anything anyway without much issue on the slow-release was fact and proof enough of how strong she truly was. Fane pulled a face at the mention on all the things he sold, he still didn’t want to have sold most of it but he’d done what was necessary. “Roger,” Fane confirmed flatly, with no point of questioning in his voice, “yes I know what he is. He’ll have planted something or other there of that I have no doubt now that he’s through the wards but even then there are… other things” Fane commented pointedly “that are upstairs that are just as if not more incriminating than that if people recognise them.”

Fane shook his head then, “I don’t think so, I think there’s more at work here than just one thing-- I think there’s a secondary gang at work but I’m not so sure of their motivations… I have feelers out but they haven’t gone this far undetected by being sloppy.” Mind you with Roger working for them that was debatable. Fane’s opinions of the man were severely low, even moreso with what he’d done to Faye. The man had signed his death certificate by even looking at her, not even mentioning having raised a hand to hurt her. He took her hands and gave them a soft squeeze, “you couldn’t have known love. We worked for so long on this to try and find who it was… How could we have known? There was no way of knowing...” Not that Fane didn’t wish he had. Didn’t wish he’d removed that man from the equation right from the outset.

He felt her eyes on his shoulder, a small smile was enough to tell her that it was alright. He was alright. Pain, especially physical pain was something he’d learned to endure a long, long time ago. “Damien and Cat have gone to ground too… That’s why you probably couldn’t find them. They’re safe though which is what matters on that account.”

He glanced at the board and sighed, “bits and pieces, one of these groups seem to want me back in power-- Magical supremacy and that old song… The other? I’m not sure, but I doubt it’s anything good if they’re trying to get me out of the way… Or maybe that was Roger just trying to get you for himself…” Fane’s mouth twisted at the thought, and the thought of chopping the man’s hands and several other appendages off seemed very, very tempting right now.

Faye knew her strengths. She knew she was strong, though she probably wouldn’t go so far as to call herself powerful. That being said, Faye had a terrible time admitting her weaknesses. She liked to think they were few and far between. With Fane being the only one that mattered. She would do anything to keep him safe. Go through anyone that stood between her and him. It didn’t matter if it was a hundred to one. She would go down fighting. But she also had a weakness when it came to pushing herself too hard. Pushing too far too fast. Because she would push until she fell over. Even now, a few scant hours after she’d nearly frozen to death, Faye was gearing up to jump back into this feet first. Now that they had their mole. Their source on the inside. Their fucking traitor. At the mention of what was kept upstairs, Faye’s mouth tightened. “Your wards are strong. If we can get back in, maybe we can… dismantle and disapparate everything before they find it.” Faye was thinking in leaps and bounds she knew. They couldn’t just go rolling back into Fane’s flat. No doubt it was already being monitored. Had been monitored for a long time now. Right under their fucking noses. Some Auror she was, letting that happen.

“All this time… all this time he was right there. And I-” Faye clamped off her words. She felt dirty. The term ‘sleeping with the enemy’ jumped to mind, and made her feel vaguely ill. She pressed a hand over her stomach, trying to quell the sensation. There was nothing else she could say to it, since she knew Fane was right. There had been no way of knowing. Though the implications ran much deeper than just Roger. He was no leader. No head of any organization. He was a fallout boy. A patsy. He was expendable. Which meant that this ran much, much deeper than they’d originally thought. Or higher even. Possibly all the way to the top.

The news that Damien and Cat were safe settled Faye a bit. Last she knew, Maya and her family were gone on holiday to Europe for the month, so they were out of the loop too, thank god.

Faye let herself sit with him for a bit longer, reaching out touch his face once more, still reassuring herself that he was real, before she pushed up and moved across to his board. She still felt swimmy, and there was an incredible ache that encompassed her entire body, but being here with Fane made it all exponentially more bearable.

“One that wants power, one that doesn’t.” Faye said the words mostly to herself, though they were loud enough for Fane to hear. “None of this is a coincidence. Roger may be obsessive and bitter and jealous, but I’m not worth all this effort. Not for just him. He’s not that creative.” She glanced back at Fane. “Odds of these two groups not knowing about each other are slim. If this one wants you-” Faye pointed to what looked like that section of the board. “- and Roger has been trying to get you out of the way, then I was just part of the package. A prize for a job well done.” Magic coiled around Faye’s hands, bright and angry. “Fucking bastard.”

Her vision swam a little at the emotional overload, and she reached for a nearby chair to steady herself. “Where do we go from here?” she asked, closing her eyes until the vertigo had passed.

“They’re strong, yes, but they were designed to let only you through and I don’t know whether you might haven’t broken them down…” and even then there was no guarantee that the auror task force hadn’t brought in their best and brightest to crack through them forcibly. There was simply no way of knowing. Returning wasn’t an option, and whatever came because of it, they would just have to deal with in their own time. The fact Faye was no longer there either was also likely to be an indicator that he had ‘kidnapped’ her. Just another thing to add to the long line of things he would likely end up being accused of.

“You couldn’t have known Faye,” he said once more, because she couldn’t have and there was no point in beating herself up over that particular fact. But he said nothing more on it, what was done was done and they would just have to move on from here. As for how far it went there was no real telling.

As for Roger, “he’s an imbecile frankly, but that’s nothing new and something we all knew already.” Fane said simply, still pissed but tampered for the time being. “Whatever the case they’re using him to an end, they want me out of the way because-- why? They see me as some sort of… obstacle to their mission?” He wasn’t sure yet, but watching Faye get up and wobble some when she was over there had him frowning. “Right now, we stay here. Get you back your strength and then we figure out what’s really going on here.”

“God…” she sighed, groaning at the thought of those people traipsing around in their home. And that she might have let them in. Like she had tonight. Giving the order to sweep every last corner of the place. He repeated the fact that there had been no way of knowing this would happen. No way to predict what was happening right under their nose this whole time. Thank God that at least some of her more important files on this case were charmed for her eyes only. Not even Fane could read them. And they would go up in flames if anyone but her tried to break the spells placed on them.

“I know. Still doesn’t make me any less responsible for it though.” She looked at his board, at all the work he’d been doing. She also thought about all this case had cost them, even though she didn’t know the full list of casualties just yet. “I’m sorry, Fane. We should’ve… we should’ve never come back. At least not to stay. I should’ve turned this over to someone else. Then you would’ve never been forced to run. Again.”

His thoughts on Roger and his purpose were given a nod. Faye agreed. He was a fall guy. If she was a betting woman, she would chance a guess that he’d been promised something in exchange for his treachery. But she grew dizzy then, and could only wait until it passed. Part of her wanted to protest not jumping back into it and taking down Roger, making him talk. But it was a tiny part. The rest of her was bone tired, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

“Alright. I don’t know if I’d survive another long distance apparition at this point anyway.” She righted herself and managed a small smile. “Will you lay down with me? I don’t wanna sleep alone anymore…”

“There’s no point beating yourself up over it, no one could have anticipated that of all things happening.” Even though it may not have, if she’d only just agreed to go with him. But it was what it was. There was nothing for it really at the end of the day she had done what she thought was best and what could he say to that? Even he hadn’t seen it happening so soon, the night they agreed to give it one month before abandoning it all in search of a new life that was entirely their own. “Stop it, stop… stop saying you’re sorry,” Fane’s voice was tighter then, unable to help the slight edge to it. He didn’t want to hear that he’d been right about leaving.

“It doesn’t matter now.” What mattered was gone now anyway wasn’t it? What use did apologies do now? They did nothing to alleviate the pain and aching loss he felt. Faye’s latent emotions bleeding through to him also.

Because maybe if he’d pushed harder, insisted more they wouldn’t have lost something so precious. Something Faye couldn’t even remember just yet and Fane wasn’t sure if she deserved to go through the pain of those memories. He’d put a stop on those ones for now, so that she wouldn’t be surprised by them out of the blue. Not until he had a chance to talk to her properly about everything that had happened.

“Yeah, ‘course, but you should eat-- Go get comfortable in bed, I’ll get you some stew and then I’ll come and join you,” Fane insisted moving to pour out a couple of bowls. She needed something if she was going to get her strength back.

She deserved the slightly snappish response to her apologies. Faye knew she was stubborn. She and Fane had come to words - and more - often enough at this point over the issue. And his own in turn. Though she also knew better than to refute him this time. There had been enough of her not listening. Now she would listen. She would listen, and they would regroup.

“No, I don’t suppose it does.” Faye agreed quietly, though she still had no idea the true extent of it. She could feel Fane’s emotions bleeding through when they touched. Their magic was so intrinsically entwined that it usually wasn’t hard for either of them to pick up on the other’s mood. She felt enough loss and pain without knowing just how precious a thing her decision had lost them. It would kill her once she knew. But it would also encite her anger. Her rage. Her determination to see this through until Roger was dead. So it was for the best that Fane blocked the memory for now, in order to break things more delicately. Or as delicately as something so tragic and violent could be said.

Faye didn’t argue against his instructions. Not because she felt obligated, or because not doing what she was told had resulted in their life being shredded to bits. It was because she knew it was best. That Fane only had her best interest in mind. And she his. And right now, letting him take care of her was her way of taking care of him. She climbed slowly back into the bed, sitting back against the headboard and breathing in the smell of him that wafted up from the warm covers. She watched him move around the small space, her heart near to breaking with all the emotions she felt. Love, joy, elation; sadness, pain, fear. When he came over, she made room, and took the offered bowl of stew. It was good, and she told him as much, and she ate nearly the whole thing before she was full.

Her bowl set aside, Faye slid under the covers, laying down and sliding close even though he still sat up for now. She put her head in his lap and curled her hand gently over his thigh. The ring on her hand glinted in the low light from the window, and Faye smiled as she looked at it. But she didn’t say anything, unsure if he would want her to continue wearing it now that they were here. She was fairly certain he would, but this wasn’t something she would dare speculate about. He would speak if he had anything to say about it. So she contented herself with the the familiar warmth of his body, and found herself relaxing into a light doze before she even realized what was happening.

Once Faye was under the covers Fane followed with his own food and climbed into the space she made beside herself buried under the heaps of blankets. He knew what she was doing, placating him and letting him look after her though right now she was the one who needed that most. He wasn’t the one who had experienced having his brain scrambled twenty-three hundred times. Fane didn’t have much of anything in particular to say as he sipped on his soup and by the time Faye was finishing he was just draining his own.

Who knew talking could work up such an appetite?

Regardless, Fane ignored those rather useless facts. Just as he was ignoring the mixed cocktail of emotions he was experiencing. A jumbled mess of good and bad, though he couldn’t help but mull on the worst of them all.

How do I tell her?

What way was there was some other way beyond the truth? But Fane knew it wouldn’t go down well. How could news like that not result in some sort of breakdown? Fane wasn’t sure he or that Faye herself would be able to handle anything like that right now. So for now he set their piled bowls aside, wrapping an arm around her and holding her close. Glancing down he saw the glint of the ring, how it fitted perfectly on her finger. Just as he hoped it would, but his smile was bittersweet because what would her face have been like upon receiving this? Beyond hysterical with grief of course…. She was right that he would bring it up, but in his own time. No need to rush something that was an important stepping stone forwards for the both of them but Fane was sure that this was something he wanted. He took her hand, bringing it up and pressing a kiss to her knuckles; utterly affectionate and endearing as he looked down at her face where she rested in his lap nuzzled up against him. “I’m so glad to have you back love. So glad…”

It was funny, in a strange way, how very similar the two of them were when it came to caring for the other versus caring for themselves. Like now, Faye knew she needed rest and time to recover. She knew now that she’d been through weeks of a very serious situation - the assault, the mangled memory spell, and who knew what else would come to light - that could potentially have long-lasting consequences. But she only worried for Fane. For his well-being. His mental stability. His emotional state. So by letting him care for her - which she knew she needed to do - that in turn let her care for him. In a roundabout way. Maybe it was a bit placating, but not in a bad way. It was Faye saying ‘you’re right, so I’m not fighting you.’ It was Faye listening without protest for once in her life.

As for the news of the loss she’d experienced - the loss they’d experienced - Fane was right in waiting to tell her. Faye would be beside herself with guilt, with grief, and following that a raging anger that would have to be quelled before she did something rash. And while to some it may have seemed cruel to postpone such a thing, Fane knew Faye better than anyone in the world. Everything in it’s own time. Especially this.

She hummed in contentment as he pulled her close, snuggling deeper against him beneath the covers. God, she’d missed him. With the spell gone, even without all her memories restored just yet, Faye knew the last month had been miserable. Her magic would have known he wasn’t there, and it wasn’t right, even if Faye herself had been unaware. It thrummed softly against his own, purring like a cat reunited with a beloved owner.

It settled some as she studied her ring. Faye had been nearly mad with grief when she’d read his letter. Add the ring - something he’d written that he’d had for awhile now - and it had been like a dagger straight to Faye’s heart. He wanted to marry her. Her. The hard-headed, work-obsessed, smart-mouthed Slytherin who became an Auror. Of all the people in the entire world. Of all the people he could so easily have if he wanted, Fane Savin wanted her. Even after twenty years. If that wasn’t a love story worth telling, then what was?

When he took her hand, she followed with her eyes as he pressed his lips to her skin. An acknowledgement of things to be spoken of later. “Me too. And I’m never going anywhere again. Ever.” They both knew that wasn’t 100% true. Eventually they would have to leave this place, possibly one before the other. But for right now they were together, and Faye would cherish every single moment, despite the circumstances that had brought it about. He’d come back from the dead twice now. For her.

“Has this place always been here?” she asked quietly.

Fane had her wrapped up in the tight brace of his arms, pulling her flush to his chest and letting her bury herself down into his shirt. His own head tipped down, burying his mouth and nose against her head as he breathed her in. Slow shallow breaths exhaled against the flyaway curls of her tangled hair. She snuggled close and Fane made a low noise of absolute contentment both at how it felt to have her in his arms once more and just at how easily she fitted against him. He would never take moments like this for granted.

How could he? With how easily they were taken away. How his world shifted in the space of a night and he’d been working ever since to make it back. For no other reason than to be by her side. Next the the woman he loved utterly and completely.

Their magic was surprisingly compatible and as he lay there Fane toyed with her hand and fingers in his own enjoying the lazy slip and slide of their respective magic as it hummed and vibrated just under the surface. Just out of reach but there if needed. His eyes closed in utter contentment at the warm heat that threatened and swirled through his veins from wherever their skin pressed together. Intensity and power that had his hair standing on end.

The ring would be addressed in its own time, when they weren’t so highly strung and running on their respective emotional train-wrecks to god knows where. Fane toyed with her fingers, occasionally brushing the band but saying nothing on it for now. Nothing had changed from the day he had written that letter, other than the purpose it seemed to play. Not to take her to his body and grave, but to in fact reunite them in such circumstances neither could ever have truly predicted the gravity of. “Centuries, this is one of the old places my ancestors actually date back to… There’s a very powerful convergence of ley-lines near here that my family claimed a very long time ago.” Suffice to say, Fane was very, very powerful here.

Faye was happy where they were for the time being. She watched Fane’s fingers play against hers, a sleepy smile on her face as he brushed the band of the ring. Faye wondered idly if he would have asked her properly one day. If their lives hadn’t turned into such a madhouse of things they had no control over. Maybe. And part of her hated the fact that such an important, life-changing moment had been overshadowed by death and pain. Though as their lives went, that was par for the course. Their first kiss overshadowed by the start of a war. Fane’s love for Faye leading to the death of his brother. Faye’s love for Fane leading her where they were today.

Would there ever be a day without pain? Without strife? Without worry? A day when their lives were filled with peace? Perhaps. Today was close. Here at the end of the world.

Fane explained the origins of the longhouse, and Faye hummed. “Your magic feels stronger here,” she agreed. Not that he wasn’t powerful to begin with, but Faye could feel the way it was bolstered as their skin touched. Her own magic felt… different. More sure of itself. More at home. And that was saying something. Faye had never doubted her own power or skill. Never doubted the way her magic so readily recognized Fane’s. But there was something different now. It almost felt like… like his magic was inside her. Physically twined with her own. But that wasn’t possible. Was it?

No. No, it was probably just the way he’d undone the memory spell. He’d worked a long time, and it hadn’t been easy. So of course she’d feel the lingering touch of his power. What else could it possibly be?

“Is this were you were? Back then?” After the war.

Fane had been planning the day he would finally ask her that question, but had wanted for it to be at a time when their life wasn’t weighed down by the pain and strife this case was bringing to their lives. Just another reason why he wanted her to leave it all behind and move away somewhere that they could start their life together properly. Instead, it had ended up becoming a fail-safe in his concern over whether he would live through to the other side of these ordeals. Because in all honesty, when Fane had written that letter all those weeks ago he hadn’t been so sure he’d be seeing her again this side of things.

He had written with the full intent and belief that he wouldn’t likely make it out of all this alive or at least certainly not without ending up behind bars. So this was a welcome change, and his fingers threaded through her own slowly twisting until he gripped her hand securely needing the grounding contact of her presence for the time being. Because their lives had always been overshadowed by something, every good thing met with a bad and this was honestly no different. In fact, if it had gone well Fane would’ve been thoroughly surprised and more than likely waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“I am stronger here,” and he was, which wasn’t simply Fane bragging. This land was the origin and place where his ancestors had bled and toiled, learning their craft and honing it into one of the most powerful bloodlines this side of the ocean. A force that could rival even that of the Black Family, which was saying something. Pureblood mania had been strife in his family, but not to the same point of inbreeding as the Blacks, each generation made up of several children with every man and wife taking their duty very seriously. Fane’s mother had been no different, and he had several siblings both sides of his own age that was a prime example of this.

Fane pulled her hand down, moving to press his hand to her stomach and feeling a pang of painful longing there, wishing for something that would never be. Or never seemed to be an option, not until all this was over. But he said nothing on it for now, turning his face into her hair and breathing in deeply as he nuzzled against her. “For a time, mostly no… I didn’t have a home then. I lived on the road for a lot of my life back then…” the less roots he put down the harder it was for people to track him and it had worked rather well by all accounts.

Faye’s guilt over all of this was something she would always carry with her. Because of her stubbornness, her bull-headed determination to finish what she’d started, they’d only gotten hurt again. She wouldn’t lie there and openly blame herself anymore. It was pointless, as Fane had said. But that didn’t mean the feeling wasn’t heavy on her conscience. And would be even moreso once she knew the true extent of what had happened. It was enough that Fane’s wish to give her the ring properly had been overshadowed by all of it. It was enough that he’d been hurt because of it, forced to run because of it. It was enough that their life as it was had been nearly overrun with it, and it had started to affect them. Any of those things were enough on their own. But together? Together they could easily crush someone.

“I feel it…” Faye said quietly. She let her magic flow from her fingertips. The soft violet - which seemed brighter and more radiant - of her power danced gently over his skin, twining around their joined hands. Eventually it pulsed in time with the beat of Fane’s heart. Faye smiled, letting it fade after a bit. Her magic would always recognize his, no matter what. It was why she was here, after all. It had called to her, the spell on the letter he had left. The magic he’d placed in the ring she now wore.

He pressed a hand to her belly, and Faye could feel the quiet flare of his emotions. The pain that rose in him as he pulled her close and answered her question. She frowned, feeling quite suddenly as if she wanted to cry, but not sure why. Her hand covered his, and Faye closed her eyes. She knew he’d had a hard life after the war. He’d told her a lot of it over the last couple of years. But not all. “I wish I could’ve been there with you.” Faye knew it was futile to think about what if’s and might have beens, but part of her always would. “You have a home now, though. Right here.” She touched a hand to her heart. “No matter where we are, or where we have to go. No matter what he have to do… you have a home with me, love. Always.”

Fane had endured enough pain in his life by this point that the heaviness, while burdensome was not something that would crush him. Regardless of how he felt or the ache in his chest whenever his thoughts turned to everything they had lost together and respectively. To war, to love, to fear and so many other things. Unfortunately, by now he was accustomed to pain, life would always turn to pain eventually and Fane was barely surprised when it showed up right at the moment he felt happiest. That was simply the way of it, the way things would always be destined to be for him. So it was fitting in a way, that he’d written such words of adoring affection to her while weighted by the knowledge that he likely wouldn’t make it out the other side of this alive. Morbid as it was, death was inevitable regardless of how many times he’d cheated it thus far.

Perhaps he was cursed. So many things in his life had led to this point, he would hardly be surprised by fact being just another one on the list. Ever growing, never-ending.

He felt the gentle and familiar caress of her magic, his own a stormy gunmetal shade of blue, like the ocean calm after a storm. Their respective power and energy danced over each other’s hand and forearm, smoky trails drifting from where his fingers were threaded through her own. His magic ebbing and flowing in synchronisation with her own and Fane could sense something stronger connecting them now. Something that was no longer there and it explained the spike in emotions he’d tried to quieten. Holding her flush as he tried to quell the pain that came with the loss of their child. “I wasn’t very good company,” he said simply, understatement, he’d been a spiralling mess. Just as bad in his own mind as those who had ravaged the castle and murdered innocents. Murdered their friends. He’d murdered his own kin, what was worse than that?

Barely a thought for it either. All for her. Always for her.

He let her pull his hand to her chest and his palm rested there gently stroking her skin with a lazy drag of his fingers. He said nothing to her claim of his home, instead, pulled her close and wrapped himself around her. She needed sleep, and for now that mattered more to him than any assurances that could be given. “You should sleep,” he pressed his mouth to her head, arms tightening securely about her waist. This was enough. For now. It was enough and he would take whatever he could have.

Despite outward appearances, Faye knew Fane well enough to realize that this had hit him hard. He was an expert at being ‘fine,’ but she knew better. She could feel it. In the thrum of his magic, the slight creasing at the corner of his eyes, the timbre of his voice. And gods above she only wanted to make it better. To make all the pain and strife and sorrow go away. To give him the life he wanted. The life they both wanted. The life they deserved. Though knowing Fane as she did, Faye knew that it was highly possible that he believed this was what he deserved. Always running. Never resting. Always suffering. Alive, but not living. She would give anything to make him happy. To give him those things he deserved.

But would you really? … a small voice inside her said. He asked you to leave. Time and time again. But you always wanted just a little more. Just one more day. One more week. One more month. Never seeing that it was tearing him apart. Because you know he’d never leave you. You used him… you did this. You brought this down on the both of you-

Faye shook her head, pressing a hand to her temple. The voice went away. But the feelings lingered. Guilt, fear, anger, sadness. Such inadequate words for all of it. And for the gentle flux of their interwoven magic that she could find no source for, no memory of how it had come to be. Though it made her infinitely sad. It made Fane sad too. A grief so strong it nearly took her breath away. As it was, she had no words. Could only hold him tightly and ride out the wave of emotions that threatened to drown them both..

She swallowed past the tightness in her throat when he finally spoke. “I wouldn’t have cared. Long as we were together.” It would have been better than thinking he was dead. Better than living nearly two decades with his ghost. Desperately I’m love with someone who she thought was never coming back. But life had surprised them. Put them through hell and back. And yet here they were. Still standing despite it all.

Faye didn’t want to sleep. She’d had enough to last her a lifetime. Enough foggy patches of unremembered time that might as well have been sleeping for all they were worth. She almost protested, but in the end, wrapped in the warmth and safety of Fane’s arms, Faye realized that she was exhausted. Her little bit of activity this morning had worn her out. As much as she wanted to deny it. So she only hummed in agreement and held him tighter, eventually letting herself drift off.

#hp au #au #scene

[savinscripts]

❝ Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly. ❞

TW: Assault, Miscarriage

Unfortunately, they had to return. A week more on the island, spent with Damien and Cat (who had taken a great shine to each other) and getting up to several other habits before they had to pack their bags and apparate back to England. Things hadn’t seemed to have changed much or so it seemed, but Fane couldn’t help the crawling unease and paranoia since his conversation with the Russian. He’d taken note of the name on the card which burned up once he had read it; William Shaw, a young wizard operating out of London himself from what Fane could find. Faye had returned to the case, enlisting Fane’s aid when needed but it seemed as if their leads had turned up next to nothing except a few leads that panned into nothing remarkable. Suspicious in Fane’s opinion and to him, even more of an indicator there was someone tampering with whatever was being uncovered.

Tonight they had a night in, presently at Fane’s residence in Knockturn where he was cooking dinner and Faye was pawing over casefiles. Rain pitter-pattered down the windows as Fane methodically stirred a sauce on the stove lost in thought, one particular thought that he’d had more and more lately. I don’t think we should stay here. “How many times are you going to go over those files Faye? They say the wands didn’t match any of those reported stolen… Whoever has been tampering with things must’ve gotten to this too… If they’ve been so careful up until now they won’t have suddenly made a mistake and left a clue...” He knew it was futile. She wouldn’t put them down for anything, not when they had been certain that it would trace back to something that would shift the case forwards.

Faye had nearly lost her shit right in the middle of the Ministry when she had read the reports from the wand office. “Inconclusive evidence my fucking arse,” she’d said, slapping the file closed and storming towards her office. “A first year with half a brain can cast a proper Priori. What the bloody fuck are they paying these idiots for if they can’t trace a fucking stolen fucking wand back to the last user? Or the last spell that was cast.” Faye had slammed her office door, upsetting a pile of new case files (that were promptly spelled up and returned to their sender because apparently someone had forgotten this was her only case right now) on her desk, and tossed the report across the room. “Goddammit…”

That hadn’t been a good day. All their waiting. All their hard work. Faye nearly getting molested and Fane almost killing a man. For what? Inconclusive fucking evidence.

Now, Faye sat at the table at Fane’s, looking over the files. Again. Because there had to be something. She wasn’t a newbie. She had to be missing something. Something important.

Faye glanced up at his comment, knowing he was right. But her eyes fell back to the files. “They always make a mistake,” she murmured. A second or two passed before she huffed in irritation (at the files, not at Fane) and let her head fall into her hands. “Whoever modified this evidence is on the inside. We know that much. You have to be to get access to restricted files. You can’t even get into the wand office without a badge. Or without being escorted by someone who has one. I just-” She looked up at him again. “Who would do this? Who would sabotage all this work we’ve done? Everything we’ve done to-” Her words cut off, and she pushed up from the table. She snagged two wine glasses from the cabinet and set to pour them each a glass. When she lifted her to her mouth, the smell of the alcohol gave her pause. Faye made a face. “I think this bottle’s turned…” she said. “Smells off.”

Fane had hardly been surprised when they had been handed the report that the evidence they had turned up had proven to be inconclusive. They had both known that people were working on the inside, and this simply went to prove that their access was higher than anyone could have anticipated. Either that or they were smart about however they had gone about tampering with the records. So seeing Faye pawing over them at the dining room table caused Fane to sigh under his breath. When would it stop?

Would it ever stop?

“Where has the mistake been Faye? Give me one… one moment they made a mistake, one moment that hasn’t seemingly been planned or orchestrated for us to come up against yet another dead end?” Fane’s movements were a little sharper when he spoke then, frustration from being back here bleeding over into his words. “We never should’ve come back,” he muttered under his breath stirring the pot a little faster then. But hearing the scrape of the chair Fane looked over at her and the bottle. The wine in hand caused him to frown, “but that’s only just been opened.” He reached out a hand for the glass “lemme try it.“ Once the glass was handed over he took a sip and frowned, “don’t know what you mean… This is fine.”

Faye clenched her jaw as Fane grew frustrated with her. Though she couldn’t blame him. When they’d come home, the change in both of them had been apparent. Fane brooded more, and Faye obsessed more over the case. Part of her (a tiny part) wanted to throw her hands up and say fuck it. Let it be someone else’s problem. But they were so close. She could feel it. If only they could get over this huge fucking hump.

She heard what he muttered, but kept her own mouth shut. The last thing she wanted was a row. This case had drained her. She’d felt exhausted since they came back. Falling asleep as soon as she hit the pillow almost every night. “We got that image from the bird,” she said in regards to whoever was behind this making a mistake. “Though that led to fuck all.” As had everything else.

The wine was handed over, and Faye moved to get a glass of water instead. “Smells bad. Sour.”

Fane watched on as it all unravelled, Faye spiralling deeper into her obsession over this case that seemed to keep turning up dead ends. And maybe, just maybe… it was a good thing. That this was going no where. Maybe it would mean she would finally throw in the towel, because as much as Fane loved her he couldn’t deny the fear he had about what getting close to whoever did this might result in. This was all proof someone near to them was already working against them and until (or if) they ever found out who it was they spent their lives paranoid about what lay around every corner.

About who might be following or seeking harm on those they cared for. Fane could barely stand to leave the room Faye was in, fearful for what might happen. It was a frustrating habit, his lingering but his fear was an ever-present companion that Fane couldn’t bring himself to shake. While Faye had been conducting her official investigations, Fane had put out feelers of his own and the things he had found (few that they were) left him feeling even more sure that he wanted this to be over.

“Well I’m sorry it wasn’t enough for you or this fucking dead end investigation,” Fane was tired too, worry and paranoia making sleep hard to come by unless he’d smoked himself out entirely and even then it was proving harder than normal to sleep in his worry over Faye. “We never should have come back to any of this… Why can’t we just… leave Faye? Let someone else try to figure it out...” in reality it wasn’t just his tiredness that fuelled the statement, his fear for her security was the largest driving factor around and very little would change it.

Fane glanced at the wine as he set the glass aside, “you must be getting ill or something, the wine’s fine.”

Faye knew she was teetering on the edge of being in too deep. That it was once again leaking over into the private life. But they’d done so much, come so far… suffered through so much in regards to this case… giving it up now would make it all worth nothing. Wouldn’t it?

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it,” she snapped back. “That bit was brilliant.” Faye wasn’t saying that to try and stroke his ego. It had been brilliant. Pushing the limits of what magic could do. “The fact that it led us to the wands that led us nowhere isn’t your fault.” She sighed. “It’s mine.”

Looking over, she frowned. “I’ve told you why. Because I don’t trust anybody else with this. You are the only person I trust completely, Fane. The only one. And you’ve been so… so resistant to all this since we came back. You knew this was waiting.” Ironically, and perhaps tragically as well, it was Faye’s worry for Fane that was her main drive to see this case through to the end. Her desire to see him safe. To not have to watch their backs for the rest of their lives. A life she wanted to spend with him.

“I don’t feel ill. Not really.” The episode of not feeling well back on the island had only lasted the night. So Faye had blamed it on the blue drink. “I’m just... tired… all the time,” she half-laughed, rubbing her eyes. After a moment, she looked back up. “I think I’m going down to the Department of Mysteries tomorrow. Maybe there’s something there that can help us.”

If letting it go would mean getting a chance to leave and live their lives then Fane, for once in his life, was willing to consider it. He’d spent his life running and now all he wanted was to wash his hands of the responsibility of having to uphold other’s laws. Laws that had failed him and left him facing judgement and criticism at every turn. Why should he defend and uphold such an establishment? He had no allegiance to them, only to the woman to whom this responsibility truly mattered.

And of course he wanted justice for those who had fallen.

But if it came to choosing between normality and yet another fight, Fane knew which he would pick in a heartbeat. Could he be judged for it after the life he had led? “So what if it was brilliant Faye? It didn’t get us anywhere, none of this is going to get us anywhere.” He swept his hand out wildly, annoyed now that she wasn’t even willing to consider just throwing in the towel but he knew that wasn’t Faye’s way and it never would be. But Faye said he was the only one she trusted with this and Fane scrubbed a hand over his face “I’m tired of this Faye, I’m tired of never seeing you except for when you have a theory you want to run by me, how long is this case going to drag on Faye? Because at the rate this is going it’s going to take the rest of our lives…” He moved the pan off the heat with a small flick of his wrist, “I’m resistant because maybe it’s a good thing we’ve not turned up anything… Maybe this case should go cold.”

It was unfair to the people that had died for him to even suggest that, he knew this, but he also knew that if there was no case then Faye wouldn’t be putting herself even more at risk. “Why can’t we just go?” he turned to look at her then, eyes wide and almost imploring, “why can’t we leave everything behind and just… Just live normal lives?”

Fane looked a little sympathetic to her saying she was tired, but it quickly grew exasperated. “What are you going to find there that we haven’t already thought of? We’re chasing leads in the dark with no sense of direction Faye… How long are we going to keep grasping at straws?”

Faye would argue that if it came to a fight, one like the last time, that even if they ran to the ends of the earth it would find them. In some way. At some point in the future. Even if they decided to scrape out a living in some desolate place in the middle of nowhere. The fight would come to them one day. And Faye would rather meet it head on than have it take them by surprise after they’d grown complacent.

She let him have his say. It wasn’t the first time. And honestly, every time they had this conversation she was one step closer to agreeing. To throwing everything in and resigning and going to live her life with the man she loved. “I am trying to find a break. There’s something there, Fane-” She pointed to the files on the table. “- I know there is. My solve rate is over 95%. I can do this. I know I can. And then we can… we can get on with our lives.” It was selfish of her, she knew. To make him wait. But she had promised him. This was her last big case. Maybe her last case at all. She would turn in her badge the moment the person behind this was locked away in Azkaban forever.

But Faye frowned as he said something new this time. “Cold?” Faye set her glass aside and leaned towards him, one hand on the counter. “This case will never go cold because this maniac will keep killing people and throwing up Dark Marks and setting buildings on fire until the entirely of the wizarding world is terrified to step outside. It will never go cold.”

When he turned to look at her, it was nearly her undoing. Faye knew she didnt’ deserve his loyalty. She didn’t deserve his help. Fane stayed because he loved her. Because he promised he would. And she wanted him there. With her. Even if he was right that they’d barely seen each other since returning. She’d been neglecting him, and she knew it.

Faye blinked, her expression softening a bit, though the tension didn’t leave her eyes. “Because if we go now, we’ll be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives. I don’t want that. I know this is a lot. That I’m asking you to… to give up so much. To be patient where I’ve already asked for more than I deserve.” She come towards him a bit. “I want that life, Fane. I want that normal day to day. With you. I want a house. And all the things we talked about when we were kids…” She smiled, but it fell a bit short as he grew even more upset.

“Until I catch one,” she said firmly. “ Because that is the mistake they will make. Thinking they can do this right under my fucking nose.There is a mole in my department, Fane. A traitor. I plan to flush them out.”

“How much longer will we keep repeating this Faye? Over and over you tell me you’re going to find a break, tell me you’re close to finding something and it comes out to nothing… Your solve rate doesn’t mean anything if this case is the one that will never be buried” he couldn’t help the almost imploring look he gave her. “How many more times am I going to have to wait?” His fingers curled, hands balled tight at his side trying hard to control what he felt but his self-control and patience was growing fraught. Faye leaned in and insisted that this would never go cold and his head lowered.

She was right. To a point. She was also wrong.

But it didn’t mean he had to like it. “That’s just it,” he gestured wildly “I don’t think you’re right on that account. I don’t think it’s one person doing this maybe one person’s the face of it but this is too organised to not be a group act…” Fane had other opinions too, but hearing Faye say that it would keep going on… Fane didn’t know what he could truly say to that. “Yeah, it probably will, until they get what they want and you know what I think they want?” He waited until she was quiet, swallowing back the thickness in his throat “they want me. Can you say it’s truly such a coincidence that all this started when I came back? And I’m not saying that to be egotistical but the only catalyst to all this happening is Rita Skeeter running that piece that announced to the world found out that I was alive and survived? Me, the man they all still say has Death Eater allegiances and sympathies because of his goddamn name.” Perhaps it was a wild assumption and he could certainly be wrong, but the coincidences were too close and too tied up to not be anything but, “you know what I think Faye? I think these sick, twisted people want my attention and I think they believe that by doing this they’re honouring me.” It felt morbid to say but Fane had been thinking on it plenty since they had returned and since speaking with Solokov’s contact Fane was even more of that opinion.

“And you know what? You know what I think of that? I think it’s sick and twisted, but more than that-- It scares the ever living shit out of me because if they want me so much… What does that mean for the people around me Faye? What does that mean for the people I’m putting in harms way by sheer association-- I’ve already gotten Alex killed, how many more?” His voice was pitched low, but there was a small waver in it because Fane truly was scared. “I… don’t know how much longer I can see this go on and not feel like the guilt is going to drown me… But we both know the only reason I’m staying is because… I won’t, I refuse to leave you behind.”

“Oh sure, you know this is a lot,” he scoffed a little setting his glass aside and throwing his hands up slightly “do you Faye? Do you really want that? Because I can’t help but wonder if all these… requests for me to be patient are just excuses to never just… go and do it?” She spoke of wanting a house, a family, all the things they had talked about once upon a time that felt barely real now and Fane leaned on the counter closing his eyes as he fought against the urge to rail. Because god damn it how many more times would he have to give up that wish for more time. And what if they were too old for the things they wanted? The things he wanted. Every day, every year it was another step further away from where he wanted to be.

“Jesus, do you hear yourself, Faye?!” Fane’s voice rose a few notches but he reined it in though it trembled. “How?! How Faye? And how do you plan on finding out who it is? If they’ve gotten through this many times what’s to say this won’t be different?” How many more times was she going to put herself in danger for this mission? Fane truly didn’t know how much more of it he could truly take.

Faye sighed and scrubbed a hand through her hair. She knew Fane was right. She knew that she kept asking for more and more and more. For just a little bit more. And for what? Dead ends, broken leads, and information that always turned into nothing? She knew it wasn’t fair. That he wanted to move on with their lives and she was the one holding them in this limbo. Revolving around this case that had stalled out since they had returned to London.

“I don’t know. I don’t…” Faye shook her head helplessly. “What if I stop? What if I leave it, and the one thing I needed to finally move forwards would’ve been right there?” Her need to find whoever was behind this was bordering on obsession. If anyone could see it, Fane could. And Faye knew she could only push him for so long before- No. No, she didn’t want to even contemplate that. Contemplate being without him. The very thought was enough to make her throat tighten and her eyes start to sting.

Her thoughts refocused for a moment, somewhat, as he rebuked her claims that it was simply one person. She listened, dread growing heavier and heavier in her belly the more he went on. She grew quiet though, and what he said then - that this group of fanatical terrorists - wanted him… Faye suddenly felt very, very ill. The implications of such a thing… it would have made a normal person want to run. But Faye was hardly a coward. “If it is something like that.” She looked up at him from where she’d had to sit down, feeling decidedly dizzy. “It means we have all the more reason to stop whoever it is before they can cause any more harm. Before they hurt anyone else. Before they hurt… before they hurt you.” Now it was her voice that wavered. “Because that’s the main reason I’m doing this, Fane. The reason I became an Auror in the first place.” She shook her head. “I can’t lose you again. I won’t lose you again.” Though ironically, she was losing him. By trying to save him.

But she knew his guilt weighed heavily on him even on good days. All the lives lost. All the families and lives torn apart. Through no fault of his own, but even so, Fane carried it with him always. Standing up, she moved closer. Seeing the pain and the fear in his eyes broke her heart. Was it really worth it? To put him through so much when he’d already endured enough, just because she knew he wouldn’t leave her behind? That wasn’t why Faye did what she did - she would never ever manipulate him in that way - but she felt the weight of her own guilt like a chain around her neck. She took a literal step backwards as he snapped at her about the things she supposed wanted. And that… that made her angry.

“Don’t you dare stand there and accuse me of being false, Stefan Savin. Not about that. I’ve wanted those things with you since we were fourteen years old. I wanted those things with you even after I thought you were dead,” she snapped. Faye was practically seething, feeling hurt and scared, though her voice wavered audibly as she spoke. “And I want them now. But how can we have that? If the things you’re saying are even remotely true, how can we live - how can we have a family… children… - and not spend our lives looking over our shoulders?”

She didn’t flinch as he snapped back, asking her how she planned to flush out this mole. Or the ones controlling them. Faye waited until he was done, having to look away because he was right. In this, he was exactly right. But she couldn’t just leave it like it was. “Give me one month. From today. One month to find… something worth continuing with. If there’s still nothing but dead ends… then I’ll give it up. And we’ll go. I swear to you.” Tentatively, she reached for his arm. “Nothing is more important to me in this world than you. You’re the love of my life. Without you… there’s nothing…”

“Okay, so what if it is? And then what? Another dead end? Another several months of being told to be patient? That this’ll be the time it changes?” Fane could see it now, and knew it would be the case because that was how it had been ever since the start of this case. Fane would never leave her behind, if she was staying then he was damn well staying as well but it didn’t mean things couldn’t get fraught.

Fane wouldn’t make such a claim idly, he’d been stewing on this for a couple of weeks now and in all honesty it was the only thing out of all this that did make sense. And Fane wasn’t running because he was scared, or well, not entirely. He wanted to leave this behind and do what he’d done years ago; try to forget it. “That’s the thing, if they want me I don’t think they’ll hurt me-- but the people around me? You, Maya? Her family? Faye what’s to stop them being dragged into the crossfire even by sheer association.” If he left, if they left. Changed their names and vanished then that would be it wouldn’t it? Fane knew why she’d become an auror, they’d discussed it, of course they had and Fane held a guilt over how Faye had sought such a dangerous path just to avenge him. “And I won’t lose you, but can’t you see we are losing each other? You into this case… and the risks you’re taking, you don’t want to lose me but what if I lose you? I’ve experienced that near miss and I can’t do it Faye.” He wouldn’t do it.

The snap of her own ire was welcome, because Fane was god damn tired of her just talking. “I don’t know Faye, move to another country, change our names-- I’ve vanished off the face of the earth and I’d rather take that option and have a life with you than… Whatever this is-- Being left to wait on you, wondering if you’ll even come back or not this time.”

His jaw tightened when Faye asked for one more month, exhaling sharply through his nose. “Fine. One month. Then that’s it. We pack our things and we leave.” She reached for him and he longed to let her touch but Fane pulled away, wasn’t willing to let himself be lulled by this. Because would it be the case that in a month she asked for another? How many times had that happened on this case? Fane looked at the pot of sauce he moved to pour it over the plates of food but instead of taking one he put it in the oven and shut it. He left the other for her not feeling hungry. “I’m going for a walk… Maybe a drink. Do what you need to do Faye, but one month and that’s my quota.”

Faye wanted to scream at him that she hadn’t run fifteen years ago when someone had been after him. She hadn’t run away when she knew something was wrong. When she knew something had happened to him even though he barely spoke to her. She hadn’t run from the Death Eaters, and she certanily wasn’t going to run from ghosts now. She wanted to say it, but she didn’t. It wasn’t a good idea.

Her brow furrowed as he pointed out what she knew: that they were slowly losing each other anyway. That in all the fervor, all the scrambling and digging and grasping at straws, all for the sake of keeping him safe, Faye was putting distance between them. When that was absolutely the last thing she wanted. She dropped her head. “I don’t want that either. I don’t want to die. I don’t want you to lose me. I just want everyone to be safe. I want… I want to be able to love you where everyone can see us. Without being afraid of someone hurting you.”

A distressed look passed over her face, and she blinked again. “I would follow you to the ends of the earth. You know that. Don’t you?” Faye had never doubted that he did, but he seemed… reluctant to believe her this time. And that hurt more than any words he could ever say. “I will always come back to you, Fane. I promise.” But Faye knew her promise - sincere as it was - didn’t hold much weight. She couldn’t say whether or not she would be safe every time left his side. Her job had nearly killed her once. And now it was even more dangerous.

“One month. And then we go.” She meant it. It had been long enough. And as much as she knew it would weigh on her if the case was left unsolved, especially if bad things started to happen because of it, Faye knew that the life she wanted with Fane would overcome all that. At least she hoped it would. Though she had no reason to think it wouldn’t. Still, when he pulled away, it hurt. Her expression tightened, and she drew her hand back, curling it against her stomach. She suddenly felt very tired. And not at all hungry.

“Fine. Don’t forget your coat. It’s cold out.” The words weren’t sharp or said with any heat. They were flat, almost apathetic. Faye didn’t stay in the kitchen to watch him leave. Instead, she went upstairs and sat down on the edge of the bed, staring off out the window and watching the rain streak down the glass.

Fane had nothing more to say, a look was all that was needed. A look that said don’t you see why I want us to leave then? Of course he understood that there were risks in that too, but Fane wasn’t sure how much longer he would be able to put everything on hold waiting for the other shoe to drop. They wanted the same things. That wasn’t news. But unlike Faye who would fight tooth and nail, Fane was tired enough that he was willing to throw in the towel if it meant gaining even a modicum of peace.

So with the confirmation that one month would be the final stopping point, Fane acknowledged it along with her remark for him to get his coat. Moving off to pick it up and a scarf off the hanger along with a hat and gloves he wrapped himself up. Though he’d said he was going for a drink, it wasn’t the sort she likely anticipated. Fane was, in fact, headed for the little coffee shop overlooking the Thames in which he’d ended up in on too many nights when he’d been living alone over summer drinking coffee between shifts at the Leaky Cauldron. He’d scraped by, but the patron had become a friend and over the years Fane had dropped in when he was passing by. It was a place he went to think and one that he liked to keep to himself for that exact reason so he couldn’t be disturbed.

This was one of those moments where Fane felt very much inclined to getting a drink and thinking over everything that had come to pass. So as Faye vanished up the stairs he paused by the door, glancing back “Faye--” he called it quietly, but enough to get her to pause and look back “I love you, okay? Never forget that.” With another long pause he drew back into himself, and with a nod stepped down the staircase towards the shop and exit below.

An hour or so later, a lone dark figure dressed all in black stole through the display cases and ornaments set out on display in the shop below moving with single-minded determination. The figure moved with no sound, it did occasionally pause to look at something in a case but never lingered with the intent to take anything. Soon enough the figure strolled through to the back room where it sought out the concealed passageway that led to the residence above. Up the stairs, scanning rooms that were long since dark and up the next. Until the figure came upon what it was looking for. For a long moment it stood in the doorway, looming over the end of the bed where she dozed as though contemplating or perhaps admiring the sight of the woman. A shame really that this was to be how it was. With no further hesitation, the trespasser drew his wand and made to start his work.

Faye paused on the steps as he called her name, turning to glance back at him. His words caused a look to pass across her face. A softening of her features that was only for him. “I love you, too. Always.” She waited until he nodded and turned to head out before she headed upstairs. A bit later, she was asleep, curled beneath the covers. Though her sleep wasn’t restful. It was full of shadowy images, things she could see but couldn’t. There was a feeling of… wrongness. Something intrusive that wasn’t just a nightmare. Something that screamed at her to wake up… wakeupwakeupWAKEUP!

Faye sat straight up in the bed, instantly knowing that something was wrong. It was only her years of Auror training that saved her from the hex that was flung in her direction. She saw the spark, felt the unfamiliar tingle of defensive magic, and rolled to the side and onto the floor just as the side of the headboard splintered to pieces. She reached for her wand where it had lain on the sidetable, but it was gone. Another hex hit the wall beside her, blasting a hole into the paneling. Wood splinters buried themselves in her cheek as she dodged to the side.

Faye fell flat on her stomach, staying there and holding her breath as she listened for any movement, any sound that would indicate where her attacker was. She balled her fist, and when she heard the creak of floorboards, she raised up and threw the spell across the room. It spun in a violet-colored arch of magic, breaking glass and knocking things off the wall. The windows shuddered with the force of it, but there was nobody there. Faye frowned. She didn’t stand just yet, casting out a detection spell. Still nothing. Had they gone? Possibly.

Cautiously, she stood, silently calling her wand. It didn’t come. She tried again, with a more powerful spell. Still her hand remained empty. Fucking hell. Moving around the bed, blood running down her cheek from the splinters, she moved towards the stairs. “I know you’re here,” Faye called out. “The Aurors are on their way. Give yourself up, and I’ll be lenient. Continue to fight back, and there’ll be consequences.” She was bluffing. There were no Aurors - other than herself - on the way. She’d sent no alert.

She crept down the stairs, back to the wall. A light shone from the sitting room, and as Faye listened, someone struck a key on the piano. One note, echoing through the utter stillness of the flat. It raised the hairs on the back of her neck. Slowly, she peered around the doorway. A candle was lit on top of the piano. Faye frowned. She frowned, and almost didn’t hear the steps squeak behind her. She tried to whirl on her assailant, but they were fast. Bloody fast. The wall met her face as she was forced up against it. It took her a few moments to realize that the spell being used to hold her… was an Auror’s spell. It was one of the first one’s they were ever taught.

Which also meant they were taught how to break it. Faye did, and wasted no time in slinging spell after spell in any and every direction. Glass shattered, panelling splintered, the piano took a direct hit and made an awful sound. But nothing came back in return. Not until a bright flash of magic washed over Faye like acid. She screamed as her power was negated, turned off, trapped inside her where she couldn’t use it. She staggered under the sheer force of it.

The last thing she knew before the world went quite suddenly dark, was a second flash of white-hot pain across her face, and a second impact to her middle. After that, nothing.

Faye’s assailant's features were shrouded in shadow, a mass of darkness spelled to remain there and in his belt securely fastened was her wand; taken earlier to ensure her disadvantage. She was a strong unarmed duellist, perhaps the strongest in the entire division but everyone knew you could only duel so much without a method of focussing power that it drained you. Not having her wand meant the odds were ever so slightly stacked in her attacker’s favour, proof that this had not simply been a random occurrence, but, in fact, a planned procedure.

Unfortunately, emotion could prove to be a delirious distraction. After landing the sixth or seventh kick to her ribs, vision coloured red in his anger the figure toed her limp body over with the tip of his boot staring at her marred appearance. This hadn’t been what he’d been anticipating doing, breathing hard he glared at her. This was all her fault. Everything was her fault in the end. He’d started the spell, and with her prone the figure crouched down and set to finishing it off ensuring that everything that needed changing was done. Once finished, the figure studied her slack features. A waste really, her wand was tossed to the floor a few feet away before the intruder turned and vanished once more into the shadows.

Fane wasn’t sure how long he’d wandered, he could have taken the tube but the cold city air in early November felt good as he inhaled it into his lungs. Warmed by several cups of coffee that he’d sat and had, mulling over everything that had happened before he’d paid and been on his way once more. That is, until half-way along the trip he felt some of his linked up magic at the residence trip. Each charm had been perfectly crafted… Which meant unless Faye had accidentally disrupted them (she couldn’t, he’d charmed them so she was immune to their effects)... Panic flooded him, and drawing out his wand Fane disapparated to travel the few streets left to Knockturn. Back to Faye because something felt very, very wrong.

Faye came slowly back to awareness. In the way someone that had an enormous hangover might wake up. Except she didn’t have a headache this time.

Everything hurt. She made a pained sound as she tried to move, crying out as something white-hot flared in her side. She knew the feeling of broken ribs, even though it didn’t register at the moment that that’s what the sensation was. Faye blinked, wrapping an arm around herself as she struggled to turn onto her side. Her head pounded mercilessly, and when she finally made it painfully to her hands and knees, she promptly got violently ill. The taste of blood mixed with the taste of bile in her mouth. Dizziness rolled over her, and she retched until there was nothing left to come up. What had happened? Had she fallen down the stairs?

Once the dizziness passed, Faye struggled to her feet, finding her wand by chance along the way. Stumbling, she leaned heavily against the wall as she headed towards where she knew the way out would be. There was a terrible ache in her middle as well, but Faye ignored it. She had to get out of here. Find help.

When he arrived in Knockturn, it took a few moments for Fane’s eyes to adjust to the lingering darkness cast by the narrow space of tightly packed buildings looming skywards overhead. It wasn’t a long street, but Fane found that despite its sordid and disreputable reputation it was a decent enough place to make a home for himself. People knew better than to ask questions about the residents or to bother them all too much around this part of town. But most of all, they knew which residence not to disturb of all of them.

Looking around the alley to find nothing out here amiss, Fane had just started towards his own shop when the door swung open from inside. Naturally on the defensive, Fane’s wand swung around, bright white luminescence radiating in waves from the tip of his wand. That is… until he saw who was exiting the shop, stumbling out clutching her ribs and Fane was momentarily shocked. But the panic returned almost immediately, lowering his wand “jesus christ Faye? Faye-- it’s me… I’m here don’t worry...”

What he wasn’t expecting when she looked up at him was the blazing anger and panic the clouded her eyes, as she reeled away from him the moment he tried to reach for her as though burned by the sheer presence of him. He stared at her, dumbfounded as she brandished her wand at him “Faye..? What-- what happened? S’me… S’Fane...”

Faye staggered downstairs and into the shop. This was bad. This was very, very bad. She couldn’t quite remember where she was, but it all rang as very familiar. She’d been here before. Several times. Perhaps if she wasn’t so swimmy-headed-

She staggered into the street after the front door opened easier than she thought it would. In reality, it was the wards recognizing her and letting her go as she pleased, but Faye didn’t realize that. The jarring motion of nearly falling down the steps had her clutching at the searing pain in her side. She almost didn’t see the dark figure that rushed to her side, but once she did-

There was a split second - so fast that she didn’t even recognize it - where she saw Fane and knew him for the man she loved. But seeing him triggered whatever it was her assailant had done, and the only thing she knew was a raging anger and fear so sudden that she threw her wand up between them. “Get back! You… you fucking bastard!” Faye staggered backwards, away from Savin’s hold. “You did this to me…” Her voice shook as memories of a fight, yelling at each other in his flat (that’s how she recognized the place, she suddenly ‘remembered’), and then- Faye made herself stand up straight, going pale at the sharp pain in her side and the throbbing one deep in her belly.

A patronus charm - a large raven - appeared and flashed off towards the Ministry.

“Stay where you are,” Faye said, voice fluttering. It would be near impossible to see in the dark, but Faye’s eyes were no longer a vivid violet, but a swimmy blueish color. Faye’s fighting back had botched the memory charm that was used on her, but not enough to allow her true memories to bleed through, or make her lower her wand. All she could see right now was a man who had viciously assaulted her. A man who she’d been interviewing (more than once) about the current case she was working. A case which seemed to revolve around him.

“If you try to flee,” She tightened her grip on her wand, “you will be apprehended. If you use force, you will be apprehended with extreme prejudice. If you come quietly, you will be treated fairly.”

The violent way she jerked away from him regardless of her injuries left Fane looking at her almost like a deer caught in headlights. Lost and so very confused, because what had happened? He’d left for an hour maybe two and now she was saying-- Fane made no effort to follow her as she backed up, letting her put space between them regardless of how much it hurt to see the wild panic and fear in her eyes. Fear of him. God, what had they done to her?

But this was how it was meant to go wasn’t it? This was how it always went down. The people he loved and cared for most, driven away for one reason or another. So Fane cast an orb of light up into the air to keep the alley lit, before making a slow and deliberate show of lowering his wand and keeping his hands in view “Look-- look! I’m lowering my wand… I-- I don’t want to fight you Faye but I need you to listen to me, please,” his expression and words were imploring as he fought against the hopeless feeling that this would all be in vain. “Faye, I didn’t--- Faye I swear to you I didn’t do this to you… I warned you this was going to happen, that… That they were going to get to one of us… They’ve done it Faye. They’ve done it.” But the silvery blue trail of the patronus shot off and Fane found himself taking a step back. “Faye,” his voice broke when he uttered her name this time “please--- I need you to listen to me. I need you to fight this… You’re stronger than this, than them.”

Her expression flickered, just a fraction but it was enough and Fane moved forwards once more reaching out tentatively for her arm “Faye! Remember! Remember me, remember the truth of this all… I need you to fight this, fight for me! You promised! You promised you’d come back to me, I need you to come back now! God fucking damn it fight like you’ve never fought before!” He was breathless, wild-eyed and panicked when he shouted and it must’ve been a sight. The sound of apparition echoed behind him and Fane knew that his time was fast growing short. He was good, and he could take them on but Fane didn’t want to hurt anyone that didn’t deserve it. Though a part of him was tempted to simply lay waste to them all for someone even daring to do this to her. “Please Faye-- Please love.”

The sound of apparition didn’t turn Faye’s head. She was focused entirely on the man in front of her. On what he was saying. It didn’t ring as falsehood. Christ, her head just hurt so much… she shook it, gasping with the flare of pain that had her seeing stars.

You promised.... You promised you’d come back to me… I need you… I need you… please love…

Blood ran from Faye’s nose as she opened her eyes and looked up. “Fane…?” She blinked owlishly at him, looking confused. Her voice sounded small and frightened, almost childlike. So very unlike Faye that that in itself was unsettling.

“Fane… what’s happening? Someone was… inside. They… my wand… I can’t… I can’t remembAHH!” She grabbed her head with both hands, doubling over and nearly falling to her knees as the pain came back again. “You have to-” Faye could barely get the words out, her voice shook so much. Other voices could be heard now, getting closer. “Fane… you have to run…” She looked up at him, both nostrils bleeding as she fought back against the spell trying to take her over.

Running feet now, raised voices. “Please, love...” A spell hit the wall near Fane’s head, filling the alley with the smell of magic. Faye faltered as a wave of Aurors rushed into the alleyway. “Run…” she said as forcefully as she could, meeting his eyes once more in a look that said ‘save yourself now so you can save me later…’ before she slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Fane’s eyes searched her features frantically, looking for any hint of how to break this. But there wasn’t enough time, he didn’t know the depths and intricacies of this magic affecting her and without the time to study it he couldn’t create a counter-spell without possibly risking very serious side-effects and consequences. Which were not an option. But her recognising him if only for a moment was a relief, and Fane didn’t hesitate to rush over feeling the urge to assure her of the truth, that this was the truth. Their truth. “It’s me, it’s me love I’m here… I know, I know baby but you… you need to keep remembering,” he gripped her shoulders giving her a little shake desperate to keep getting through to her “keep fighting…”

But the nearer the others got, the more distraction there was from him. Her plea to get him to run… Fane couldn’t do it, “not without you, no-- no no no, I’m not going without you.” He glanced over his shoulders at the group convering on them headed by Roger all their wands brandished. But Faye’s urging drew him back as he aimed to seek out her hand, skin on skin for a side-along apparition. His attempt to get ahold her of her was desperate, trails of tears streaming down his face “I’m not leaving you, I won’t--” he seized her hand finally and the world started to spin as he tried to focus on disapparating him.

Unfortunately, mid-casting he was struck by a barrage of several varieties of jinxes, curses and spells all of which knocked him back away from Faye with a combined force that send him rag-dolling through the air into the bricks at the other end of the alley. He crashed down, groaning, but where that should’ve been enough to stun a full grown hippogriff, Fane managed to roll to his knees clutching his stomach as blood trickled from a fresh split in his lip.

From down the length of the alley he locked gaze with Roger, now stood by Faye, shielding her in just a way that Fane found odd considering Faye’s aversion to the man. The glazed look had returned to her eyes, and realisation struck him then, kneeling in the dirt at the mercy of a dozen or so aurors. A murderous look burned in his eyes as he snatched up his wand, a final warning, a reckoning would come and as several dozen more spells were cast down the alley some glancing off him, Fane disappeared. The spells that missed exploded against the wall in a dazzling display of light, before Roger was ordering them to start searching the property and warrants to be put out for the witnessing or capture of a highly dangerous dark wizard now at large.

Faye reached for Fane as he rushed towards her. Something was very, very wrong. Both inside her head and otherwise. The whole situation was wrong. She gripped his jacket, knuckles white as she struggled to keep the memory of him - of them - at the forefront of her mind. Ahead of the thick ichor that tried to pull her back. Tried to cover her memories. Tried to make her fear him. Tried to make her forget him.

“I remember…” she managed to say. “I remember you… us…” Her eyes - a shuddering flux of her own bright violet and the unnatural, spell-induced blue - fluttered shut, and Faye had to grit her teeth to push back the magic that pushed even harder against the inside of her head. She could hear the others now, hear the voices, the running footfalls. She could feel herself slipping deeper, the spell setting it’s claws deep into her memories of who Fane truly was. Of who they were. She could feel them bleeding out… becoming less.

“Listen to me… listen!” Faye said, pushing hard in a last ditch effort to get him to understand. “If you don’t run… if you… mmphhh … if you don’t… they’ll have us both… we can’t… we can’t let that happen…” Opening her eyes again, they were more blue than violet, she looked at him imploringly, tears that matched his own staining her face. Because she understood how he felt. It would be a cold day in hell before Faye left him if the situation was reversed. “Please…” she begged him, trying to push him away. But he was already taking her hand. She already felt the pull of disapparition. And for just a moment, the thought passed through her mind that they would get out of this. That they would be okay. That they would-

A blast of spells caught Fane before he could spin them away, and he was knocked back. “FANE!!!” Faye screamed, reaching for him. But then she was being pulled back away from the fight that had suddenly started in earnest. She struggled against whoever had her, but there was a sting of magic, and then…

“Faye, darling, are you alright?” a familiar voice said in her ear.

Faye blinked, watching the flash and sizzle of spells down the alley with a slightly disconnected look on her face. She turned to the man standing next to her, his arm protectively around her. “Yes, Roger. I’m alright.” She didn’t see that Roger wasn’t looking at her at all, but staring down the alley at the man surrounded by a dozen of their best Aurors. The side of his mouth lifted just so as he met Savin’s gaze. But it fell as the man just… disapparated after being hit with enough magic to take down a dragon.

Roger frowned. No matter. Savin couldn’t get far. He was injured. He was a wanted man now. With a hefty price on his head. It was only a matter of time. “Come on, darling. Let’s get you looked after…” Roger said to Faye, turning her away from the alley.

“What’s happened?” she asked flatly. “I feel strange.”

“You took a tumble. I’ll explain things once someone gives you a look.”

“Alright. Whatever you think is best.” Faye gave Roger a smile, but it was flat and didn’t meet her eyes.

Roger took them a few more steps, then they were gone in a snap of disapparition.

Fane clung on tight as she tried to push him away, refusing absolutely in that moment to let her push him away. He was going nowhere. Not unless she came with him. There was no debate or question about it. And so he did the only thing he could think of doing, but the spells that knocked him back down the alley put too much distance in him to be able to get back to her. By the time he scrambled up Roger was beside her, and the smirk that lifted his mouth set Fane’s blood boiling. It was almost enough for Fane to up and slaughter everyone in the alleyway right now.

That slimy fucking bastard.

He’d get what was coming to him.

“FAAAAAAYEEEEEEEE!”

All Fane remembered after the alley and disapparating with a jumbled and unclear mind was falling, tumbling at high-speed and not in the same exhilarating way you got when in control of a broom. He felt like he was falling from a great height, the world slowing as though someone had reached inside him and decided to yank his innards out through his throat. He couldn’t breathe, and by the time he landed -- more crashed, body tumbling head over foot until he tumbled to a stop. God knows where he landed, the last thing he remembered was the claggy thickness of mud and dirt in his mouth none of which helped when he rolled over and wretched up the contents of his stomach and then some. His shoulder throbbed with a searing pain, mouth tasting like blood and bile he chanced a look only to see a large gash cleaved straight through the portion of which would no doubt be back in the alleyway. “Faye--” he whimpered, eyes unfocussed not able to make much of anything else out “Faye please… please Faye… come back. Please come back.”

Doubling over again he threw up until there was nothing more to come up and even then he wretched, gasping for air as he fought to no collapse where he was. He couldn’t stop, it wasn’t safe, swiping the tears away he rooted about finding his wand tumbled from his grip nearby, casting a stanching spell enough to tide him by until it was tended to properly Fane hugged his jacket around him against the bitter chill, moving to scramble and trip up and over the mound of grass nearby. He had to find somewhere to stop, somewhere no one would find him.

Sheer stubborn determination found him making it about a couple of miles on foot before he tripped once, twice again and again until he fell and couldn’t get up. The cold and sheer exhaustion of everything that had happened not to mention the shock, left him lying there in the dirt. He closed his eyes, I’m sorry Faye--- oh god I’m so sorry, it was the last thing he thought before the world spun away to darkness and the last thing he saw was a door opening in the distance. “.... Faye?”

On her end, Faye was whisked away back to the Ministry where a harried - and subtly threatened by a few choice phrases from Roger - medi-witch gave her a cursory once over, applied some healing charms to her injuries, and told her to take the next few days off. Faye simply nodded and stood as Roger took her arm and led her back to the apparition point.

“I’m going to take us back to yours, alright?” Roger said. “You’ll have to open the wards once we’re there. I’m afraid all this business with Savin has had you overly paranoid.” He waited until she agreed and then took them to the borders of Faye’s property. He knew the location from their previous association, but Faye had locked out anyone but her and Savin from passing through the wards. “Let us in, would you, love?” Roger asked as he directed Faye by the arm towards where he knew her cottage stood. “I’ll get you to bed. You should rest.”

Faye moved in the direction she steered her, a look passing over her face as he called her love. Something painful flared in her temple, over the pounding that was already there, and she grunted at the force of it. It didn’t seem right, Roger calling her that. Someone called her that. But not him. Right? Was it not-

But once again, the thick ichor of the memory spell covered any of her actual memories that tried to push through. It was only the botched spell - due to Roger’s lack of discipline and emotional control - and Faye’s skill as an Occlumens that was allowing the bleedthrough. But she was so tired, so weary, and hurt so much - the dull pain in her belly had grown to more of a sharp one as she’d been apparated for a second time, but it came and went so she paid it no mind - that it was hard to focus.

Through the wards they went, Roger’s grip on Faye’s arm tightening just the tiniest bit, as if he expected some defensive charm to flare against him. But nothing came, and he relaxed slightly. Inside the cottage, he helped Faye out of the jacket - his jacket - that he’d slipped over the pajamas she’d had on, and hung it up. Scratch, Faye’s cat - as was his custom - jumped up on the bench by the door to stare accusingly at the newcomer. The animal growled low in it’s throat, and hissed as Roger turned to look at him.

“Scratch, be nice,” Faye said flatly. But that was all as she let herself be turned up the stairs and to her room. She stood idly as Roger got her out of the blood-stained pajamas - not noticing the way he took his time and let his eyes move lecherously over Faye’s form - and eventually laid down in bed.

“There now. Get some rest.” Roger didn’t sit after he pulled the covers up over Faye. A small charm quelled anymore questions on her part, and she fell to sleep without incident. One assured of Faye’s unconscious state, Roger quickly set to work. He’d been unable to get inside the cottage while Faye and Savin had been away. Faye’s wards were a piece of work. No doubt Savin had added his own brand of twisted magical influence. So now that he was inside, he had to remove all traces of the man before Faye woke again. All traces, but leaving just enough to fit the memories he’d so expertly - in his biased opinion - planted in Faye’s head.

It took the better part of the night, but before the sun was due to rise, Roger had finished. He sat down on Faye’s couch, propped his feet on her coffeetable, and leaned his head back with a satisfied smirk. This couldn’t have gone better if he’d planned it.

Oh wait… he had.

Roger slipped off to sleep, the only witness to his transgressions the mottled gray and white cat that blinked twice at his sleeping form, and then disappeared into the shadows. Scratch had Things To See To. And no time to waste.

Fane had no idea where he was when he woke the first time, startled and utterly confused. His eyes moved about half-dazed and unfocussed. All he knew was that moving hurt, but beyond that he felt warm. “Stay still my boy,” a voice hushed from nearby, and through his bleary vision Fane vaguely made out the shape of an elderly woman tottering around the small cabin.

“Where m’I?” he groaned, squinting against the light that filtered through the curtains nearby. His head felt light and his temples were pounding, there was also a dull throb in his shoulder too.

“Somewhere safe,” the voice, nearer this time was quiet but seemed kindly enough frail hands deceiving of a surprising strength pushed him back down when he tried to prop himself up. “That was quite a number you did on yourself out there, hm?”

“How long?”

“Half a week or so,” the words panicked him and he tried to sit up but the woman pushed him back down “still, my boy, still, you need rest,” he felt something pressed to his lips and as something was tipped into his mouth swallowed for the sake of how dry his throat felt. “That’s it,” the words echoed softly as the world around him began to fade once more and his eyes fluttered shut as he drifted off into another dreamless sleep.

Fane didn’t know how much longer it was before he woke again, no one was around, but there was a bowl of something that smelled divine and a small plate of buttered bread and cheese. Sitting up, he felt better, his vision swam no more and his head felt more attached than it had before. Reaching for the bowl he started to spoon mouthfuls of the soup into his mouth realising how hungry he felt but forced himself to go slow so he didn’t end up throwing it up again. While he ate, his eyes moved around the cabin, observations being made about whoever this woman seemed to be and there was an aura of something familiar here. Magic. He would recognise it anywhere. Draining the bowl and eating the bread and cheese, Fane washed it down with the water. He was feeling better the more he ate, but the more he did so the more time he had to think on everything that had happened.

Faye . The memory of her face in the alley. Distraught, confused, lost in whatever had been done to her by that son of a bitch…. The thought caused Fane to almost throw his bowl across the room in sheer anger at the situation that had come to pass. He didn’t though, and instead managed to set it aside and swing his legs over the edge of the bed. He had to get to her. Had to find a way to get her out and figure out what had happened. But he was alone, and god knows where… First thing first, regroup, figure out a plan and go from there.

Because like hell was he sitting on his hands while all that he cared for was taken from him.

The inside of Fane’s shop was dark and quiet. No one had stepped foot inside it since the night Faye had been assaulted and Fane was forced to flee. Now, weeks later, the door swung open easily and Faye stepped inside. Her blue eyes scanned the shelves and cases that sat quietly in the dark. Holding who knew what sort of illegal items and contraband. Behind her, a team of Aurors waited on her signal. She took a moment, looking around the interior, ‘remembering’ talking with Savin in this very room. And upstairs. She remembered questioning him about the case. She remembered an argument. Yelling. Turning to leave, but then-

Roger had explained everything. How she had been working the case on the Order murders. How she had gone to Savin for information once she learned he was back in town. They had been friends in school after all. Roger explained how she had been suspicious of him from the start. Yet felt he was vital to the case. Faye remembered him. Fane, she knew his name was. An old school mate. Ravenclaw. Smart. Quidditch player. Thought to be a war casualty. But apparently not. They’d gotten on well enough. He’d even gotten her a few leads here and there. But nothing panned out. Just dead ends. She’d grown frustrated, and apparently touched too close to home one night while they were having a discussion. Savin had lost his already unstable hold on his sanity and attacked her.

She’d been alright. Or thought so anyway. Until a few days later when she’d woken up to the most horrible pain she’d ever felt in her life. Like a hot blade slicing straight through her guts.

Blood… so much blood… on the sheets… the floor… her thighs, her hands… everywhere.

Faye had fainted even as she’d called for help.

When she woke, she was in hospital. She tried to sit up, but Roger was there, telling her she shouldn’t. Making her lie back down. “What happened?” she had asked him. The searing pain in her middle was now a dull cramping pain. Much like she’d had over the last week.

Roger’s face had grown dark at her question, though he schooled his expression to something more soothing. “Darling, I don’t know how to tell you this, so I’m just going to say it, alright?” He was every bit the concerned partner as he took her hand and gave it as squeeze.

“Roger… you’re scaring me…”

“Faye… you had a miscarriage.” He squeezed her hand again.

If she had been confused before, she was even more confused now. “But… but I wasn’t pregnant? I couldn’t be… could I?”

Again, Roger looked every bit the distraught but stoic partner. “We’ve been together for a long time. It was bound to happen one day. But the doctors say it was early still. Nothing you can’t recover from. Or do again one day. If not for the trauma you suffered these past few days… everything would’ve turned out alright.” It wasn’t a lie. So it was easy enough for Faye - in her spelled and weary state - to believe Roger’s words. To take them at face value.

Faye blinked, lying back on her pillow. Her free hand gripped the sheets over her belly. A baby? One she didn’t even know about? And now she’d lost it? Because of- Faye closed her eyes, tears slipping down her face. Because of him. She’d lost her child because of him. Because of Fane Savin.

Which is why as Faye stood in the foyer of the man’s residence, she had no regrets or remorse as she ordered her team inside. “Take everything. Tear it apart if you have to. I’m taking the upstairs.”

Roger entered behind her, always close now, always watchful. “I’ll come with you,” he said, loathe to let Faye wander alone through the home she’d been sharing with Savin.

“Stay here. Oversee all this. I’ll be back shortly.” Without waiting for him to answer, Faye made her way to the hidden entrance and up the stairs to the flat above. Whatever was hidden here, she would find it. And use it to find Savin before she ended him for good.

Kristyna, as Fane came to learn his rescuer’s name turned out to be an old Romanian hedge-witch. Powerful and ancient in her craft, she had lived alone out here on the edge of the forest for several years now. Some called her a legend in the local village, others feared to even set foot on her land, but as Fane grew to learn. She was a kind-hearted woman, who had been forced to endure several unfortunate stereotypes that came with living so near to Muggles and being in possession of magic. They would never understand, because to them this was all fantasy, make-believe a good bed-time story to read before they went to sleep in their mundane world and normal lives.

But for them, this was real life and the demons didn’t simply exist in the pages of a storybook.

After nursing him back to health, Fane had stayed with Kristyna for another week or so before he had ultimately decided it best to leave. She had insisted on packing him some food for the journey, and so Fane had set off into the wilderness of his forefathers and traced a route that for most had long been forgotten. It ultimately brought him to a refuge upon a series of interconnecting magical ley-lines that he tapped into to fuel several virtually unbreakable shields around the small cabin that stood within its confines. It was here that Fane started to piece together everything he knew, he was no auror, but he was smart and he’d been following Faye on her cases well enough to know what needed to be done and where. Eventually, he’d ended up with a board of information and evidence that he had pieced together both from sources he’d put feelers out to and his own memory.

It was a rural sort of life, living mostly off the land and the basic amenities but his first few months prior to attending Durmstrang and being their himself had taught him the basic skills of survival in climates harsher than these snow-swept landscapes. One of the tests you were often put through before initiation in the institute was to be dropped into a freezing lake and ultimately find your way back to the castle. Some made it, others were eventually sought out but it was a lesson to the fresh faces that this was an unforgiving world. Those that wanted to make it in this school would do so through sheer grit and determination, perseverance was key and those who faltered would never survive. A harsh point of view, but it had its merits. There were plenty of unorthodox teaching methods that Fane had witnessed, he had even returned to the institute in the years spent supposedly dead curious to learn from the professors their the acts that Hogwarts deemed unfit for study.

The time taken then was serving its purpose now it seemed. Fane had his own informants, keeping him up to date and dropping off intel packages about the things happening in London. You didn’t stay off the grid for fifteen years and not have a network of people you utilised to keep it that way. He paid them more than enough, and chose them after a long and hard scrutinising and deliberation process, each with their own respective talent or skill that Fane harnessed to his own ability. Which, right now it seemed was keeping an eye on his residence in Knockturn and more specifically piecing together Roger’s movements both day and night. Knowing the link between the mole and the murders, it made it easier to start tracking down when and where things were happening; allowing him in turn, to learn who were the cogs and who were the integral gears.

All the while trying to understand what brand of influence and magic had been twisted and spelled on Faye’s mind. He’d been working on a cure, but such things were temperamental and needed to be carefully crafted under the very precise phase of the moon. Thankfully a lifetime of potions lessons left him with steady hands and a willful determination to save Faye from that lecherous fool’s influence. He would see it done, but how he would get to Faye? He couldn’t quite say so much on that account. It was a few weeks later, when he received news that an imminent raid on his residence would be taking place that Fane thought of it and if there was one thing he knew Faye was attuned to despite it all. That was the influence and radiating power of his magic.

Something hidden, that would ultimately lead her here if she found it.

Faye ascended the stairs slowly, wand at her side, eyes moving slowly over the dark paneling and the rich carpets. She moved through the kitchen area, finding it vaguely familiar. There was a plate of moldered food still sitting on the bar. Along with two sticky wine-glasses. Faye thought it strange, but since the food was very obviously old, she paid it no more mind. A search there found nothing amiss, other than Savin had far too extravagant tastes in food and wine. Arrogant in all things it seemed.

It wasn’t until she moved through the room where a large piano sat, that Faye paused. Downstairs, there were sounds of glass breaking, shelves splintering, things being taken apart and packaged or destroyed as her team looked for any evidence that would further convict Fane Savin of the murders he was accused of. The instrument was a beautiful thing, dark and lacquered. Faye didn’t know how to play, but something pulled her inexplicably towards the piano. The keys were white as bones next to the dark finish, and Faye felt compelled to run her fingers over it. It was slick as oiled glass beneath her hand.

Something whispered then, just on the edges of her hearing. Something warm and familiar. She turned her head, her hand pausing as her blue eyes fell closed. Not a voice. But a feeling. A tug, just at the base of her spine, that said, ‘remember…’

Faye’s brow furrowed ever so slightly, and her hand fell to hover above the keys. Fingers that she never remembered touching ivory trembled slightly as something beyond her control called them to move. The first note resounded through the quiet room, an echo of something she felt like she should remember. An echo of another life. The second echoed a moment later, and then a third, until Faye had played the entire phrase from memory. But what memory??

She didn’t have time to think on it, for with the pressing of the final key came not only a ringing of the note, but a soft click as well. The gold-painted name on the face of the instrument fell forwards, and a small box slid out. Faye stared at it for a long moment, that feeling once again compelling her to take it. She did, slowly and with great caution, and lifted the lid.

Somewhere down below, a voice was calling her name. But she didn’t hear them. All she saw was the words on the parchment. The scrawl of handwriting that she felt like she knew… that she did know… so well. Her eyes scanned the words, and the blue shimmered, wavering into a deeper color, closer to her own violet the further she read. “Fane…?” she said, confusion - along with fear, and pain, and an overwhelming sadness - evident in her voice. But there was no one there to hear her. Only the dying echoes of a song he’d taught her to play - perhaps for this very reason - and the rustle of a letter from a secret box, addressed to her.

As the letter was unfurled, it was momentarily blank parchment. Nothing extraordinary, but as its full length was unfolded in Faye’s hands the contents began to reveal themselves. Fane’s slanted and extremely neat cursive hand starting to write on the paper his voice echoing as the words began to darken the page.

My dearest Faye,

I sincerely hoped there would never be a day you would need to read these words, that I would be able to burn this letter before its contents saw the light of day but if you’re reading this, well, I doubt I have managed to achieve that end. In fact, I suppose if you’re reading this, then I won’t have made it back at all, therefore, I was not able to remind you again of the most important fact in my life: that I love you. I love you, have loved you from a time before I even knew what love truly was. Live your life and take comfort in the fact that I am always watching over you. I am not gone and with you in spirit. This must be a hard time for you, but I know you Faye, I know how strong and truly remarkable you really are and this will not be the end of you.

Because you are the woman who brought me light in the darkest of hours in my life, and I know that your friendship and kind efforts were not always appreciated as they should have been when we were younger - I was naive and terrified of bringing my darkness (something I had lived with my entire life) to you. You always deserved better than what I thought I could give to you, even now I can’t help but wonder why you chose me when the world was yours to have if you so chose. But for some reason you chose me, and there will never be a day that I will take that fact for granted.

I suppose to you this might be a rather macabre document considering to you this will only be delivered should something have happened to me. But I ask you not to look on it that way, life is just one adventure and I will wait patiently for the day you join me for our next. Don’t rush to join me so soon love, don’t worry about me, I shall be alright. You have given me the courage to face the darkness and whatever may lie therein, a courage that I know you will continue to show in these tragic times until we meet once more.

I’m writing this to remind you of how important you are to me, I could not ask for a more supportive, caring, beautiful woman in my life. The memories that we have shared over the last few years have been the best of my life. Although it may seem like my life was cut short, I lived a life that most can only dream of. My only regret is that I won’t see the day of you achieving those dreams we had when we were young of what our future together would be; married, a home and family of our own. But the memories that we do have together are just as important to me, if you feel sad, just think back on what we have shared. Look at the good we put back into the world by solving those cases side by side.

I wish I could have asked you this, I should have done it sooner but I never knew when would be the right moment. To ask you to trust me so completely, it’s a scary thought, but far less so than the thought of a life without you. I could never live without you love, but please take this ring to remember me by. Wear it now and remember me when you can. Be strong, and never be afraid to do what you need to do to be happy. It is so important that you continue to find happiness in your life. Although you may think this is impossible right now, have faith. Much better times wait for you. There is a wonderful life waiting for you, and I am so happy to have shared in even a fraction of that with you.

In this last will and testament of Stefan Josiah Savin, I hereby declare all my estate and possessions do now belong to Miss Faye Marie Delacroix should she survive me.

Use them well my dear. I love you so much.

- Your loving partner,

Stefan

His voice trailed off with the signature, the letter falling silent in her hands. Beneath lay a ring, a single diamond encrusted by twirling pavé diamonds that glinted in the low light of the residence above the shop.

Faye started to read the letter, but the moment the first words appeared, a voice did as well. She looked up, thinking perhaps someone was in the room with her now. But no. It was only Faye. The voice continued, and Faye followed the words with her eyes. Eyes that filled with tears. Eyes that started to slowly bleed violet through the ensorcelled blue. The more Fane’s voice spoke to her, the more his magic called to the part of her that was drawn to it. That had always been drawn to it. Her magic recognizing his. By the time Fane’s disembodied voice reached the end of the letter - a letter that basically told her he was gone, that he loved her and always would, but she should move on - Faye had fallen to her knees, weeping openly. Because she remembered. She remembered everything.

What she and Fane had been chasing all these long months.

Who they were to each other. Their childhood. His return. Loving each other so fiercely. Promising to always come home. Promising forever.

And then, Faye was remembering what had really happened the night Fane had fled. How he had refused to leave her despite her pleas. Yet he expected her to leave him now?? When he needed her most?

Like hell.

Faye didn’t have time to think too long on everything. On what had really happened or why. Anything after that fateful night was foggy. But there were things in those shadowy memories. Horrible, terrible things. Things that would rip her apart when they did come to light. She didn’t have time, because the ring fell into her hand. Taking her breath and yet making her sob even harder. Why?? Why now? Why when everything was falling apart around them?? When Fane had been ripped away from her, and she from him, so cruelly? Why now, when she was reading what was nothing less than his Last Will and Testament? When he was most likely-

“No.” Faye said the words firmly, gripping the ring in her hand, feeling the stone cut the skin of her palm. In that stone, that symbol of Fane’s love and commitment, she felt the pulse of Fane’s magic. Felt it like it was in her blood. “You’re not dead…” she said to the darkness. “You’re not. Not now. Not ever.”

With a trembling hand, Faye slipped the ring onto her finger, and felt the instant tug of a portkey. It spun her out into the cold and the dark. Snow capped mountains shone beneath a silver winter moon. Faye was already shivering by the time she oriented herself. And when she did, when she saw the desolation around her, she couldn’t help but feel that same desolation in her heart. That barren emptiness where once light and warmth had lived. She’d been brought to the ends of the earth, having told Fane she’d follow him there and back if she had to. But there was nothing here. Nothing but mountains and black sky and ice. Faye sank to her hands and knees in the snow, ready to simply lie down and let the cold take her to Fane. Wherever ‘after’ was, she would find him there, Faye was certain. So she let herself weep for what was most likely lost, while wearing the glinting promise of forever on her left hand.

Fane was crouched by a large stew-pot stirring the contents as they bubbled away over the log fire stacked up below when he felt his wards flare. Something to the west edge of them, and though Fane couldn’t see he turned his head in that direction. They were in the middle of nowhere, which meant someone had found him. Abandoning the pot, Fane sought out his jacket wrapping it around himself along with his hat. His wand was packed on him as he stepped outside to where his horse was tethered.

Helping out the locals who lived up in the wilderness here had earned him a few favours. The horse being one of the rewards he’d been gifted by them, saddling him up quickly Fane swung up onto the saddle and set off towards the disturbance at a fast pace. He stopped half a mile or so away, not wanting to give his location away in case whoever had come was not so friendly and thus opted to tether up his mount who stomped and puffed a little as he swung back down to the ground.

It required no thought for his body and clothes to start morphing, he would fit in better in his animagus form. His body shrinking down, ears and features elongating until a slightly larger than average black and silver fox stood in the spot he as moments before. Ears flattening and twitching as he sourced out the sound, Fane jumped off and scuttled through the undergrowth towards the figure he sensed nearby. Only as he neared, scanning the scene did he understand what had happened. Thank god for small mercies he supposed, but Faye seemed to be a mess and Fane was quick to do a quick scan to make sure she hadn’t been followed knowing it could be a trap. But if the reaction was anything to go by, well, he couldn’t doubt it. The snow was quiet underfoot, until Fane circled around (still in fox form) his head cocking as he looked and then proceeded to yip at the woman to get her attention wondering if she would recognise him. Fane had never told her of his form as an animagus, unregistered (of course) to aid his navigation of the underworld it was easier to keep some things close to the chest.

Faye had stopped crying by the time she heard anything other than her own miserable sounds of grief. She had sobbed so hard, and was now so cold, that she had no tears left. The remnants were frozen on her cheeks. Trapped forever, like a crystal lacrimosa, reminders to whoever would one day find her out here that she had died mourning the loss of… of everything . Because if Fane was gone - the very thought feeling like it was crushing her heart in her chest - then what was the point? She had nothing left to live for. She had done this once already. Lost him. But she had had the fire and stubbornness of youth to push her ahead then. The driving need to avenge the boy she loved. To keep the demons away from the innocent. To keep anyone else from having to lose the love of their life.

So there was no want for vengeance in Faye’s heart now.

She only wanted to join Fane, wherever he was.

She wondered if this was what dying felt like? An acceptance of just… letting go? Perhaps. The sound came again, and Faye turned her head. A little fox stood nearby, black and silver, like the mountains and the sky. Was she that far gone already, that the creatures of the forest saw her as carrion? Though the way the little animal looked at her, it’s eyes… they were so familiar. But muzzy-headed as she was, she couldn’t quite make the connection between the fox and the man she had come so far to find. She could only think that she wouldn’t be alone in her last few moments, even if she would be food for the little fox and the wolves that were sure to follow.

“Is it possible... to die of a broken heart?” The words were said softly, Faye not realizing she’d spoken aloud. Her voice trembled, a combination of grief and encroaching hypothermia. “I thought so… once. Almost twenty years ago now. When I lost… the love of my life… to the dark. We were so young… children playing at things we didn’t understand. Forced to grow up too soon. Forced to be soldiers barely before we’d even been kissed for the first time. And my god I remember that kiss...” Faye sighed. It was a bittersweet sound, but her mouth moved towards a smile.

There was a small moment of silence in which Faye’s eyes closed. It would be so easy, just to never open them again. But a sharp noise pulled her back awake, and she stared up at the clear, dark sky and it’s millions of stars. “‘S pretty here…” she said to the fox. At least she wouldn’t die in a filthy gutter somewhere.

She blinked. A fresh tear rolled down the side of her face, freezing into a tiny crystal droplet on her cheek. There were so many things she wanted to say to Fane. So many things she should have told him already. Things she thought there would be time for. But that was the rub, wasn’t it? There was never time. There was never time, or there was too damn much of it. She’d lost him once, and he’d come back from the dead. A second time was… it was simply too much to hope for, when the first time had been a miracle.

“I’m ready, Fane. I’ve been ready for so long. Almost twenty years.” Ready to be with him, however she could. Even if it meant finding him in another life. In what came after. Faye blinked slowly, the stars growing to bright pinpoints in the velvet blackness above.

“You wondered… why I chose you… when you say... I could’ve had the world?”

A small, tired smile. Faye’s teeth chattered, and her eyelids felt like blocks of ice, dragging her down. She wasn’t speaking to the fox now, but to Fane himself. She could feel his magic as if he were right there with her. It warmed her, and when the tears came again, they were hot and ran like quicksilver down her face.

“Dragostea mea... tu erai lumea mea…”

Faye’s eyes drifted closed, and she grew very still in the snow. She would see Fane soon, and then they would be together again. Forever this time.

It seemed to Fane as he padded closer, little paws leaving tracks in the snow that she didn’t recognise him. Though as he drew closer her distress became more apparent. He wasn’t sure as to what had happened to her since he’d been forced to flee. Roger had been sticking too close for him to gain any real insight, but she was here and she didn’t seem angry, only-- distraught he supposed was the only word that came to his mind. A cold wind blowed over the fields ruffling his fur as he skipped a little closer yipping once more more determined this time to try and get her attention.

She spoke of his letter, answering the question it held and the fox who had been stood by watching her flattened its ears considerably. The fox moved closer, seeking to duck his head under her hand nuzzling against it before drawing back and yipping more intently. Yet still she remained where she was and Fane knew that there was little else for it the fox skittered away before it stilled. A wave of magic, enforced and strengthened by the nearby leys into which he’d tapped shrouded over him. Black and silvery white fur receding as he began to transform back, bones elongating and cracking as he shifted until he climbed from where he knelt, brushing snow from the material of his clothes.

He stepped forwards slowly, unsure how strong the effects of the spell she was formerly under may still be and thus still a little cautious but for the most part concerned for her well-being. Drawing his wand from his sleeve he cast a set of heating charms around them and on her clothes as he moved through the darkness to crouch down beside her. A hand raised to softly brush her hair back affectionate as he touched her warmth from his own skin radiating through to where he touched her now. “Then let us have that time now shall we love?”

From somewhere far away, Faye felt the warm softness of the little fox as it pushed beneath her hand. She didn’t move, other than a twitch of her fingers at the sensation. It was warm where she was, like being under a favored blanket by a fire, with the one you loved curled up at your side. The high-pitched sounds only made her frown slightly, penetrating the thick murkiness of her consciousness like bright, echoing pinpoints of light. Like the stars that had glittered in the far off darkness of the Romanian sky. But even the little animal’s insistence wasn’t quite enough to draw her back from where the cold and the toll the last few weeks had taken on her mind and body had taken her.

Her breath was barely a puff of air over lips tinted blue. It was short and shallow, hardly warm enough to make a cloud in the frigid night air. Even with the heating charms, Faye only shivered, hands opening and closing as they seemed to seek out something to hold on to. It was until Fane brushed her face that she responded. His touch so familiar, so ingrained into her subconscious, that almost instantly she turned towards it. And when he spoke, voice still as dark and beautiful as she remembered, Faye’s eyelids fluttered.

They fluttered, and she made a soft sound of pain low in her throat. His outline was blurry, but she would know him anywhere. His magic thrummed against her, familiar and comforting, twining around her and over her and through her blood and her bones. Through her very soul. Her eyes were her own, a vivid plum-violet, but still streaked with a sickly blue that pulsed with every slow beat of Faye’s heart. She didn’t realize he was alive, and standing over her in a field of snow in the middle of the Romanian wilderness. All Faye knew was that he was here. He had come for her at the end of all things. He would always come for her. As she would him.

She found enough strength to raise her hand and grip his wrist. “Yes… take me home…” Her eyes slipped closed again, and her hand fell away from his arm. “Take me home…”

#hp au #au #scene #fragments

[savinscripts]

❝ Love is the biggest gamble of your life. ❞

The casino was massive. Built directly on the cliffs that made up one side of the private island, it faced out into the sea. The sun was just set, flaming the horizon with the soft colors of twilight. The lights of the casino lit up the night sky in contrasting shades of bright iridescent color that shifted through the spectrum as they swayed lazily back and forth. A sparkling fountain put on an equally impressive show out front, where marble mermaids beckoned casino patrons to toss in coins for good luck.

It was a sensory overload, yet remained elegant despite all the glitz. So to say Faye was impressed was an understatement. “You didn’t tell me it was this big,” she said, leaning towards Fane as they walked arm in arm towards the entrance. Faye slipped her hand in his pocket and pulled out a silver piece, tossing it to the mermaid that was making eyes at them as they circled the fountain towards the entrance. She blew them a kiss, and turned to the next patron.

Faye only smiled, and leaned her head back against Fane’s shoulder. They were dressed to the nines. Black tie was the theme for the evening. Faye wore a floor-length gown, split full up to her hip on one side. Stilettos gave her another couple of inches, but she still barely came to Fane’s shoulder. Her hair was up in a loose, elegant twist. Sparkling hairpins held it in place. A small bit of jewelry hung from ears and sparked at her wrist, but otherwise she was unadorned.

Fane had his own decoration (though Faye’s favorite bit wasn’t readily apparent). Not that he needed any help, as he already cut an impressive and striking figure. He drew eyes from all around the venue as they approached. They both did. Faye grinned. “How’re you doing, love?” she whispered. “So many beautiful bodies already undressing you. I’d be surprised if we got through one round of cards before someone asks to take you home.”

This past week on the island had been better then Faye could have ever dreamed. She was fast coming to wish they’d done this sooner. And even if they only had a couple of weeks left here, Faye was going to make sure that she and Fane got the most out of this vacation. Because the real world was waiting back in London. A murderer was still out there. And Faye had to catch them. Before they killed again. They may already have. There was no way of contacting either her or Fane here. They’d made sure of it. It was part of their deal to forget about the outside for awhile. So while the thoughts lingered in the back of Faye’s mind, they didn’t push forward enough to take over what was happening right now.

Waking up that morning with his choice of-- gift, to put his present adornment from his beloved was an experience and quite frankly not a comfortable one at all. Considering the fact he’d been rather rudely awoken during the night and left awake in discomfort while waiting for the pain of the contraption to send his typical morning wood into fast retreat. Several times throughout the the day he’d been forced to endure the discomfort in a similar fashion, no doubt a deliberate choice on Faye’s behalf but it had admittedly left him feeling just a fraction more on edge than he might have otherwise.

A full day, at least for him and his typical drive after all, felt like a goddamn eternity and a painful one at that. And the other thing was, there was no way for him to personally remove it, magic imbued into the contraption meaning only with Faye’s permission and wish would it offer him any relief. Thankfully no padlocks meant he didn’t rattle like the tin-can man from those Oz movies when he walked, and several times throughout the length of the day they had both caught others taking the time to admire the enhanced bulge the contraption also resulted being displayed rather prominently through the tighter material of his shorts and trousers. Well-endowed indeed but bloody uncomfortable and honestly very, very frustrated. Just as much when she’d stepped out in that dress that had once again, left him sat on the bed rearranging his trousers and grimacing at the latent rolling boil he felt deep in his belly. More than once he’d thrown the odd barbed name or comment at her, and while some might think he was genuinely pissed it was quite the opposite. Nuances to their relationship that only she could decipher and she knew, after all, that if he truly had issue he would tell her such.

“Of course it’s big, everything on this island is big, me included ” he murmured as they walked at a lazy pace towards the casino. But her teasing reminder of what might come from tonight caused him to huff, “well enough I guess,” he grumbled just a little but it softened when he saw the happiness glimmering in her gaze. “Well, they’ll have to ask you whether they can take me home-- not much I can do myself tonight after all.” With the mermaid appeased they trailed on, his hand sitting low on the curve of her hip deliberate so that when the fancy took him he could touch her how he pleased. Not that anyone on this island would care, except perhaps to watch him do so. He already had in mind the things he wanted to do to her tonight once his freedom was returned.

Faye would never do something that Fane hadn’t agreed to fully. And he had. In exchange for something. What that was remained to be seen, but Faye had agreed to it readily. She trusted him implicitly. As he did her. Hence the cage she’d magicked around his cock earlier in the day. Pain was part of pleasure, and could enhance the experience if one knew what they were doing. And Faye knew exactly what she was doing. It was a slow torture, but one that would be worth it in the end.

His rising mood only told her it was working. The sharp barbs he tossed at her evidence of that. Faye knew what they were, and a sly grin slid across her face as she’d watch him fidget uncomfortably. Though if he’d really wanted out, or was in true pain, or uncomfortable - psychologically - then she would cancel the charm instantly. He only had to say the word. But he hadn’t yet, despite some of the filthy things he’d said to her. Which in turn - though she’d become slightly better at hiding it - was pushing her willpower to it’s limits. Hearing him say such things fueled her own fire, which is why she chose to wear nothing beneath the flimsy bit of material that called itself a dress. She was hoping to push him a bit further tonight, which is why she’d chosen such an outfit in the first place.

“That you are,” she smiled lazily at him. Faye looked around. She wasn’t used to so much glamour in one place. Her job was not glamorous in any way. Some people thought it was. That being an auror came with fame and notoriety. And it did. If you caught the big bad. If you saved the kidnapped child. Stopped the wizard or witch that had gone on a murdering spree. Then you were the hero. But fail… and you were looked at with disdain. With hatred. Why couldn’t you save them? Why didn’t you act faster? Why didn’t you do this instead of that?? It was a duality that a lot couldn’t handle. But Faye had long since stopped caring what the public thought. She did her job, did it well, and left the hero status to others. To people like her fellow Auror, Harry Potter. Who, in truth, didn’t care for any of the fame or glory or anything else that came with being who he was, even now. But had grown used to the fact that it was part of his life, and always would be. So he used it to his advantage. It was a smart move, in Faye’s opinion. Use what was given to you. And while Potter might get sent on a lot of high profile cases, so did Faye. But Faye’s job was dark alleys, abandoned drug dens, and following cold trails that led nowhere. It was long hours, sweaty clothes, lots of coffee, and more paperwork than her desk could reasonably hold. It was nightmares and dead bodies and messages scrawled in blood. Leading, taunting… always taunting.

So the glam was welcome. Faye thought Fane might be proud of her even, for finally giving in to her indulgent side. For letting him spoil her a bit. Without a single protest, as promised. It made him happy, deliriously so, and that made Faye happy.

She grinned again at his comment, enjoying the feel of his hand at her hip. Again, she spoke low so that only he could hear. “If you’re good, just tell me which one you want, and they’re yours, hm? Providing they’re interested.” Which they both knew was highly likely. Fane was… well, Fane. And she wasn’t half bad herself. Though they weren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and that was fine. There were certainly plenty of options walking around.

“What should we do first? Find alcohol? Then pick a game? I’m shit for cards,” she grinned, “so that’ll be up to you. But anything else and I’ll give it a go.”

He was more than happy to let her take the time she wanted to admire the island, whether it was the beautiful vistas or the ornate and intricate attention to detail of the buildings here. They walked past a fountain, magic lights dancing and creating illusions behind the rushing water as it bounced across rock formations all trickling down into pools and streams that would run off into the crystal blue waters of the ocean. One they’d spent many an afternoon going swimming and lounging on the beach nearby. He’d promised that she would be relaxed from this trip, and she had in turn promised not to complain if he decided to lavish her with gifts and treats. She deserved it, she deserved so much and he wanted to give her everything he could and more. Anything that was his was hers and he wanted to see her just, well, be. Happy, free, indulgent in the things she wanted.

There was no talk of work here, no discussion of what they had left behind. To bring that up was just the allowance for entering a rabbit hole that didn’t need to be descended into. Not right now at least. So Fane was happy to leave that topic far, far by the wayside and plus there was plenty to provide distraction from those things.

“Why wouldn’t they be interested?” he chuffed softly giving her hip a little squeeze knowing that although she had glamoured them her scars were still sensitive to the touch and partly why he enjoyed stroking or occasionally being cautiously tactile with them and her. “Maybe we’ll see Damien tonight,” he commented idly leaning in to press a kiss to her head always inclined to press affections onto her whether they were touches or kisses he’d grown inclined to be overly tactile lately considering there was no reason to hide them unlike back at home. No danger here to do what he wanted.

“You’re shit at gambling period,” he murmured into her ear lightly bumping her affectionately. “Let’s get a drink, what are you in the mood for tonight babygirl?”

“Maybe you’re not to everyone’s taste, that’s all,” she teased. For the most part, though, Faye knew his question was valid. Most people he found himself having an interest in found it hard to turn away from him. Faye had watched it happen for the entire trip. And before. There was just something about him that drew people in. And Faye was content to watch it happen. She knew where they stood with each other. So she wasn’t jealous, or worried someone would steal him away. If anything, strangely enough, such things seemed to bring them closer.

She hummed as he stroked her hip, enjoying the feeling immensely. “Perhaps. You rather enjoyed him last time.” Fane’s old friend had only come around that one night, but what a night it had been. Faye had enjoyed him too, so they would simply see where the night led.

His touches were encouraged. She always wanted them, always needed to feel him against her or touching her in some way. But back home it was dangerous for them right now. They kept their personal life to themselves, unless they went out to the muggle city away from any potential wizarding eyes. Or far less of them at least. One day she would hold his hand in public, kiss him on the street for all to see. But only when she was certain it was safe. Until then, they would do what needed doing.

But right now they were here. And fun waited for them as they moved inside. Faye laughed. “I am not!” But she was. Her poker face was good, her job giving her that much. But anything else was just… almost sad. She bumped him back, trying to look offended but not managing it very well. “Something sweet with lots of alcohol in it. And then…” Faye looked around the room, though it was so large she was certain it had to go on for miles. “Sit a hand at cards? Or the roulette wheel?”

His thumb rubbed arcs into her hip through the tight material of the fabric, his touch feather-light and just deliberate enough to be just the other side of satisfactory. “You rather enjoyed him too if I recall, all tied up like you were” he reminded her with a slanted grin appearing on his lips. His fingers continued to linger, brushing and rubbing as they moved but always keeping her pressed in close proximity was always something he would enjoy from her. How could he not? She was a beautiful woman who deserved to be absolutely adored and appreciated as such.

A low chuckle sounded from him as she tried to dispute her miserable attempts at playing cards and he jostled her playfully as they entered into the casino that stretched on as far as the eye could see. All sorts of witches and wizards were around, all dressed to the nines and already the pair were catching a few eyes “how about a raspberry cosmopolitan? Unless you want a classic cocktail?” he suggested as he steered them over towards the bar ordering a manhattan for himself and whatever drink Faye decided on for the night leaning on the bar but staying in contact with Faye while the bartender mixed their drinks.

“Whatever you fancy,” he said looking around the room himself. They had every game from around the globe here for any such inclinations. “I’ll need to get some cash converted.”

“Willing to abandon a beautiful lady so soon?” a smooth caramel rich voice piped up from behind them and Fane turned his expression morphing into a grin as he found Damien dressed up in a slick deep red tux. “Tut tut, and there was me thinking that maybe you were a gentleman.”

“That sounds good.” She hadn’t had a Cosmo in a while. And Faye liked anything sweet, especially if it would give her a relaxed buzz if she drank enough of it. Her eyes scanned the interior of the casino, the sleek lines, the deep, bold colors, the lights… the beautiful people mingling and drinking and losing ridiculous amounts of money. It was like they were in a different world. And she supposed they were. A world all their own. A private playground to do with as they wished. That bent to their every whim.

Enjoying the quiet contact while she watched the bar elf mix their drinks, Faye contemplated what to do first. Fane was a good card player, and not afraid to bluff. They played sometimes, and he always beat her. But she supposed this was much bigger stakes than their wagers on where to eat dinner. She was just taking her drink from the elf, nodding her thanks, when a familiar voice followed Fane’s. Faye turned, handing Fane his own drink, and smiled at Damien’s strikingly clad figure. “He is a gentleman. Never leaves a lady hanging.” She eyed him up and down, leaning her shoulder against Fane’s and wondering how quickly his comfort zone was going to be breached now that the other wizard had shown up. “You’re looking dashing tonight,” she told Damien, grinning. . “Have you lost any money yet?”

While Fane took care of the drinks, charging them to the room tab he’d opened at the start of their vacation here he let Faye look around and take in the atmosphere. All around goblins and elves wandered, better treated here than in almost any other wizarding resort or establishment around the world and though it didn’t mean there wasn’t sometimes trouble for the most part the staff seemed content to work and serve their clientele. All around diamonds and magic glinted while glasses clinked, chips and cards were dealt and fates altered.

Cards were some of Fane’s favourite things to do when out, a balance of masterful acting and charm to con-- well, convince people to folding or bluffing them into a controllable position. Never play the cards, play the person. That was the aim of the game and though he’d tried to teach Faye it wasn’t so easy to teach that particular brand of skillset. No doubt she could manage it with time, but even so.

At the sound of a familiar voice he turned smiling cheerfully at his friend though setting eyes on him in that choice of suit resulted in a naturally interested brow and Fane was reminded by the discomfort that he struggled to conceal about the fact that his interested tonight was limited to Faye’s permission alone. Discretely shifting his weight to try and find some sort of comfortable position Fane handed over her drink “her on the other hand?” he offered for good measure “bloody conniving minx.”

Damien preened under the compliments Faye had to offer, “you cut quite the ravishing figure yourself love... “ though he looked quizzically over at Fane “and something’s made you mister grumpy pants tonight… Lighten up, have a drink or four.” Though he laughed at Faye’s question, “of course I have, who hasn’t? That’s part of the fun.”

Faye was content to stand at Fane’s side and be his good luck charm if he wanted. It would be interesting to see how he fared tonight, all things considered. Cards sometimes put him in a bit of a mood, depending on how the hands played. Though Faye had no doubt that he would win at least a few rounds. Faye like games of chance better. Roulette, Craps, Blackjack sometimes. And there were many more wizarding games that had much more interesting prizes besides cash or coin. They would come to that though.

For the time being, she had two handsome men all to herself. “You love me,” she whispered to Fane as she handed over his drink. She smiled at Damien around the rim of her glass. The drink was quite good, and Faye took a long sip before replying. “Thank you.” Though she saw Fane’s squirming, and since she was a merciful bloody conniving minx, she let him have a bit of breathing room, as it were. Not much, but a roll of her fingers expanded his confinement enough to take the edge off. For now. Damien was, after all, a friend. Later, perhaps, if the timing and the mood was right, Faye would let him in on her… secret. But the control was all hers. And would remain that way for tonight.

“You men and your money,” she said, shaking her head. But it was in good humor. When everyone had had a drink or two, chatting about the last couple of days, and what they were interested in for tonight, they moved away from the bar and mingled with the crowd.

Damien hung close to Fane’s left side, Faye on his right. The other man’s gaze took in the crowd at the high roller’s table, located on a raised dias near the center of this section of the casino. “See that man there,” he said to Fane, quietly from behind his raised glass. “The one with the gloves on?” He waited until Fane nodded before continuing. “Name’s Alexie Sokolov. Russian chap. Best card player on the island. Wears gloves because he thinks it’s unlucky to touch the cards with his hands.” Damien shook his head. “He comes once a year, spends millions, wins even more than that, then just… leaves. And no one hears from him again until the next time.” He glanced sideways at Fane. “No one’s ever beat him.”

Faye had heard the entirety of the conversation, and had already started to analyze what Damien was saying. Even though she tried not to, a bit of her Auror training came out. “Is it the same gloves every time?” she asked quietly. Meaning, did he cheat?

“Debatable,” he groused quietly in response to Faye’s light needling though of course they both knew she was right in her assumption. Granted, he was allowed a modicum of relief from the device she’d brought into play tonight and he almost, almost sighed as a little of the pressure eased off. Instead, taking a long pull of his own drink. He’d need it.

“Yes, our money buying you nice fancy things,” Fane commented leaning in to buss her cheek his arm slipping around her waist as they all settled into the mood of the night and crowds present. However, what happened next had Fane’s full attention and his brow cocked as he watched the confident grace with which their subject moved. Calculated perhaps, to instil a sense of unease in other players who no doubt knew who they were playing against. “Superstitious shmuck,” he remarked with a roll of his eyes.

“May be, but it’s worked so far for him,” this, earned a roll of Fane’s eyes and a huff in response as he eyed the man in gloves. He was nothing special to look at, not really. But what Damien said next had his eyes narrowing in a thoughtful fashion.

“Never been beaten?” well, if that wasn’t a proposition if he’d heard one. Faye asked her own question and it stoked him all the more to go over there himself. “Do you know the buy in.”

“Couple of thousands probably,” though Faye’s question was simply met with a slight look that was neither confirmation or denial to what she’d asked.

“Well…” Fane had a glint in his eyes, “why don’t we test his track record?”

Faye did know, so she only chuckled and kissed his shoulder. It turned to a hum of approval as he kissed her cheek a moment later. “The only pretty thing I need is you, love,” she said as they started to thread their way through the crowd.

She could feel the moment his attentions turned to the high rollers. His demeanor changed, but not so much as to draw attention from anyone watching. But Faye could tell, pressed so close as she was. And the moment the words left Damien’s mouth, that no one had ever beaten the Russian player, Faye knew Fane was hooked.

Because there was nothing Fane liked more than a challenge. And the gloved man and his unbroken streak - not to mention the millions of dollars ready to be won - was just that. “You’ve done it now,” Faye said sotto voice to Damien, who stood on the other side of Fane.

Damien only laughed and shrugged. “What can I say? Someone needs to beat the bastard, and who better? I lost money last year - a lot of money - betting against him. I need to win it back.”

“Ah, so you’re only using him for financial gain,” Faye teased. She glanced at Fane as he commented on the man’s use of gloves. “Maybe he is. I’d bet he’s a cheat though. No one’s that good. Well, except for you, love.” Her hip bumped Fane’s.

Damien named the buy in price. Faye knew that Fane wouldn’t have cared if it was ten times that. He was in. She only raised an eyebrow at Damien’s glance, ready as the other man was to see Fane leave the Russian in the proverbial dust.

“After you,” Damien said. He motioned that Faye and Fane should precede him towards the dias. They approached, Faye holding lightly to Fane’s arm and doing her best to look uninterested in the conversation as Fane spoke with the large, suited man taking buy ins. She sipped her drink, yawned a bit, and waved at someone in the crowd that didn’t exist. Though she listened intently to every word.

The buy in was exactly four thousand pounds. There were two spots left in the next game, once the current one was over. It was down to the Russian and two others. The man directed them to where the monetary exchange was made and Fane was handed a gold coin that saved his slot for the game.

“That looks fancy,” Faye said, glancing down at the little token.

There was no helping his intrigue, taking money from wealthy suspected criminals to line his own pockets for his own exploits? Not to mention doing it in such a fashion as a game of chance and skill like cards? How couldn’t he be enticed? Fane licked his lips eyeing the group with evident interest and a honed gaze, studying their movements with a thoughtful gaze.

“He uses me for more than that,” Fane off-handedly commented in response to Damien’s remarks “and if I win him his money back well,” his gaze finally left the table to look aside at him “I guess he’ll just owe me several times over won’t he?” Discussing the buy in was no major skin off his back, and once the fee was agreed and exchanged Fane spun the gold token between his index finger and thumb flicking it in lazy circles as he stood by watching the present game.

“All part of the game,” Fane explained picking up a canapé from a passing waitress and popping it into his mouth and chewing on it seeming rather non-plussed at the fact that the pot being dealt on the current table was about three hundred and fifty thousand total and climbing. It wouldn’t be the first or the last he’d have through the night, the casino’s extremely generous helpings of alcohol and food just enticing players to stay here even longer. “Now, I’m going to go and get some chips, I’ll be back in a little bit love” his fingers lingered on her elbow for a moment as he brushed affectionately by her though he knew she might have to give him a little more leeway during the course of his bout here in terms of easing off on the distraction she had control over. If he was going to win he needed to be able to focus.

“What do you think his chances are?” Damien asked watching Fane speaking with the cashier and exchanging a wad of notes for a stockpile of differently coloured chips keeping them to hand as he made his way back.

Damien could only raise his glass to Fane’s comment, turning back a healthy swallow as he grinned. “I’m sure we can come to some sort of… arrangement.” He watched his friend make fairly quick work of the buy in, standing by Faye as he walked off.

Faye watched too, and when Fane came back, she looked at the small token with interest. “Seems like the crowd is dwindling,” she commented on the group at the table as Fane snagged a bit of passing food. There was enough floating around that she would get some in a bit. Right now she was more interested in the card game, even though it was more in reading the players than the actual game itself. The amount of money was obscene, and Faye shook her head slightly. That was a decade’s salary for her. Probably more. But she didn’t comment. It would be nice to see someone else take home the money. Someone besides the man who was slowly driving away any and all competition.

It would come down to one or two players, Faye knew. Not losing was as much a matter of pride as it was chance and skill. Though the men - and one woman - left at the table all appeared to be sweating. The Russian barely looked invested. Faye watched him over the rim of her glass. Either his poker face was second to none, or something else was going on. She opted for the first, seeing as how the casino was charmed against any sort of magical cheating. Other magic, such as Faye’s glamours over her scars, were unaffected, being unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

Faye hummed in acknowledgement of Fane’s brush to her arm, watching him as he moved off to gather his chips for the game. She would certainly give him leeway for the game. Probably vanishing the distraction completely for the duration. She wanted to see him win as much as anyone. Damien included. Faye glanced aside at the other man as he spoke.

“I think if anyone can take him out, it’ll be Fane.” Her eyes fell back to where he made his way through the crowd again. “He hates to lose. At anything.”

“This is true,” Damien agreed. “All settled?” he asked Fane as he came back over.

The amount of money on the table was obscene, but hardly the most he’d ever observed in a game. He’d seen games where millions were the average on hand at a poker game. This, was barely anything in comparison to those. So he stood by, fingering the chips idly as the game progressed until it was the Russian with his almost indisputable poker face and one final player who looked just about ready to pass out from uncertainty. A testament to his foe’s nerves or something else entirely, Fane couldn’t quite say.

The game ended as all expected it to, with the Russian scooping the pot and then some while the other man departed. For a moment, Fane lingered studying his opponent with a schooled and thoughtful eye sussing out what might be his tell if any. It was an art in itself, and one Fane had grown rather apt at over the years. Finally, with the Russian stacking up his chips the dealer, a rather attractive young woman with dark features and a honey-sweet smile invited any other players to the table. No one seemed keen to be first, and so after pressing a lingering kiss to Faye’s cheek “wish me luck love,” Fane slid away.

Departing from Damien and Faye’s side he settled into a seat, adjusting himself slightly though a private conversation passed with looks between himself and Faye until he felt his earlier confinement ease off until he could settle comfortably. Setting his chips down in colour-coded order before slipping the silver disk across to the dealer whose name now that he could see her badge was Catarina.

Now that someone seemingly had the balls to take the offer of a match, more players gravitating around the table took their seats and set their chips out. And not very much time later the cards were being dealt and the game on. Fane’s features throughout were nigh unreadable, save for the easy confident posture he maintained. His hand was decent enough on the opening round, but nothing spectacular and though he made it to the last few stages of the river was called when the hands were revealed. The routine continued, Fane’s features analysing the board with laser-like accuracy and a couple more rounds going in the following order: loss, loss, small win, loss, slightly larger win and so on. Until it was only him and his opponent left, each having cleaned a lot of the other players at the table out. But Fane’s attention was on the stacks of credits still in front of the man who didn’t look all too pleased at having someone willing to challenge his games.

Where most might’ve been sweating under the losses, Fane took them in stride, barely reacting or acknowledging as the chips were dealt back and forth back and forth between them. Fane had won a couple of games against him, something that had drawn a sizeable crowd to watch the game and where most might’ve been satisfied by beating the supposed top player in the casino. Fane was insistent on one fact. That being taking everything this man was worth as his own. And so, the hands were dealt out again and the routine game continued.

Faye and Damien found a table to sit at around the periphery of the game. They chatted as they watched, Damien’s arm across the back of her chair, thumb brushing her skin lightly - explaining a bit of the deeper intricacies of the game to Faye. She understood on her own that Fane wasn’t going to blow the Russian out of the water right from the start. He lost more than once, with a decent win here and there. Weeding out the contenders who had lost enough money, and keeping the ones who thought they could at least beat Fane, if not the Russian. It was classic deception, though Faye saw the Russian watching Fane closely - in scattered glances over his hand of cards - as the throng of players thinned.

“Fane’s rattling him,” Faye said, leaning close to Damien so only he could hear her. “He’s looked up six times in the last few minutes. That’s more than the entirety of the last game combined.”

Damien grinned, turning his face closer to Faye’s. “Ten to one that once it’s down to the two of them, Fane puts all in. At some point. It’ll either be a damn good bluff, and the Russian counters, or he has a top hand.”

Faye glanced back at the table, eyes lingering briefly over the lovely woman dealing the game, before moving to Fane. “I have no idea,” she told Damien. “Whatever he does, when he wins, just be ready for it.” Her smile turned wicked as she gave him a nudge and a wink. More drinks were brought round, and Faye bought a pack of cigarettes from the floor girl. She lit one up, offering the pack to Damien just as the only other person at the table folded. Leaving Fane and the Russian.

Fane was coming to learn as the games progressed, the man he was targeting out of the crowd never lost so to speak. He folded when it suited but never let a game go unless it was to a point he could well and truly bluff. The games in which Fane won, the man folded, the ones he lost being the ones the Russian stuck out until cards were called. The chips were drawn in and exchanged more than once. The chips changing hands several times over until each player had amassed a decent total of winnings though none surpassing either Fane or the Russian.

One by one the crowd thinned, people realising either that they stood no chance to win here or that there was perhaps something more going on. Something that they likely didn’t wish to have a part in. Not to say there wasn’t a general crowd joining the table to watch the last two men standing. While Fane was well aware of his opponent’s glances, he didn’t seem to care either way though behind a neutral expression that gave away nothing his mind was working out strategies and deliberations on every single move and action that was taken. There was skill to this game after all, judging from a person’s decision to raise or call on how good their hand was and consequently decide whether they happened to be bluffing or not.

Fane was, of course, biding his time. Even now it was down to just the two of them, the cards were dealt the rounds passed and with fifty-grand in the pot Fane lost causing the crowd to hiss under their collective breath at the fact. The Russian seemed pleased with himself, scooping in the chips and stacking them up.

Of course you couldn’t land the biggest fish around without bait could you? And Fane was happy to stuff the hook full of the lures to get what he wanted in the end.

There was method to Fane’s madness, and where most might have been sweating buckets after losing the sum he had in the last match. He merely glanced at a waitress and ordered another drink in a quietly put request. The blinds were paid, and the game was once again under way. Fane occasionally taking a sip of his drink as he studied the cards on the deck, though in this round something was different about his choice of play style. Where before his choices were careful, calculated, this time he raised where he could pushing and pushing until on one of the Russian’s turns he was left to sit and wait on the other man’s choice of action. A sign that this had not been something he had anticipated, yet where the Russian might typically have folded now he merely stayed.

The pot was at a hundred thousand between the pair of them and Fane sat back into his seat, staring at his opponent while he waited for the next move to come. The river would seal his fate, that much he knew.

Back at their table, Faye gripped Damien’s arm as she watched Fane lose more money than she could make in a year. “Christ…” she muttered to herself. But she trusted that Fane knew what he was doing. He couldn’t wipe the floor with the man. Not if he wanted to win.

“He’ll be fine,” Damien said quietly. “But my arm won’t if you don’t loosen up.” He patted her hand and gave her a smile.

Faye loosened her grip. “Sorry. Just makes me nervous. Guess this is why I’m shit at poker.”

“Could be,” Damien said. “Though you’ve got other talents to make up for it.”

Faye merely glanced aside at him, seeing the smirk on his face. “I do,” was all she said before turning back to the game. It went on, push and pull, win and loss, until finally Fane sat back. Faye looked at the Russian. He’d fallen into a pattern over the course of the game. And Faye had picked it up somewhat. Now he was hesitating. She looked back at Fane. He looked almost bored. Though Faye knew that wasn’t the case. He was either bluffing, or he had something good. It was merely a matter of waiting on the other man to fold, or put his hand down and call Fane’s bluff.

The tension in the air was palpable. Even the dealer looked a bit tense as she watched the two men sit at a near standstill. The Russian watched Fane from under his thick brown. The cards moved slightly between his gloved fingers as she seemed to be deciding. Finally, after an age, he seemed to make up his mind. Perhaps it was arrogance. Perhaps it was pride. Perhaps it was underestimating his opponent. Whatever it was, the man laid down his hand.

“We have a four of a kind from Mr. Sokolov. Aces, across the board.” The dealer called out the hand that had been laid down, and there was a collective rumbling among the room. That was a damn good hand.

Faye craned her neck, feeling her cheeks flush as she watched the Russian. “There’s only two hands that beat that,” she said. “If Fane was bluffing…” She took a long pull off her drink as she waited - along with the rest of the room - for Fane to lay down his hand. “Come on, baby… come on, come on, come on…” she muttered.

The Russian simply waited, knowing that he’d called this other man out.

Fane had to pace himself, this was as much a game of patience as it was one of skill and Fane was well aware that he couldn’t simply rush in without a thought. You had to pick and choose your battles and Fane was conscious of every move being made. He was out of hearing distance of Damien and Faye not that he’d looked over at them much during the course of the rounds as they came and went.

He couldn’t afford distraction presently. Though he knew in his observations of his opponent that he was feeling rattled by Fane’s calm confidence and certainty behind his hand. The final round of betting came, and Fane paused looking at his chips, the Russian and the central deck of cards. You couldn’t give your hand away too early or risk spooking your fish to bolt before you could clean them out for everything they were worth. The fact the Russian was still at this point meant he either had a very good hand or was risking it on a bluff. Fingering a couple of chips, Fane knocked back the rest of his drink, set his glass aside and scooped his entire winnings into the middle. All seven million causing the crowd to mutter under their breath shocked by the boldness of the move.

“Mister Savin goes all in,” the young woman gave him a look and Fane half-expected her to think he was mad for doing such a thing against a man notorious for never losing.

Perhaps it was pride, or the egotistical nature that came from too many wins. Fane’s stack of chips was hardly comparable to the nineteen-million the Russian made his throne on. Perhaps it was the temptation to beat someone so thoroughly they never tried something so dumb again in their lives. Who knew the reason why, but Fane sat back and waited. Until the Russian called, and the pot was raised to the sum of their total value.

The hand set down was a very good one, rare to get a four pair on a single game and Fane could understand why people said the man had to cheat to get a hand like that. But the river was made up of an ace of spades and diamonds, followed by a four of hearts, and a jack and ten of spades. The tension in the room was palpable, eyes turning to see whether Fane was sweating but Fane’s expression remained neutral.

Until the moment he flipped his cards doing so in such a fashion that only the top card was visible a Queen of spades. He was sure that he saw several people crane forwards in anticipation of his absolute loss or victory. A smirk crept onto his lips followed by a flick of his wrist to slip the queen aside just enough to reveal a matching King sat beneath.

Stunned silence followed.

The look on the Russian’s face was certainly worth the wait, and Fane was sure he saw veins popping out of the man’s head not to mention his expression seemed a bit bug-eyed. The bystanders looked at the table in disbelief. The odds of it happening were so rare it was next to none.

“And... a royal flush from Mister Savin,” the dealer didn’t look like she quite believed she was saying it. “Twenty-six... million in winnings.”

Fane scooped it in, and rose from his chair looking over at the Russian who had barely moved an inch. “Better luck next time hm?” Fane looked at the dealer then, he wasn’t oblivious to the way Damien had been looking at her earlier “and thank you love, for a wonderful game.” Picking up five grand in chips he flipped them over to her. “And say, if you’d like to join us for drinks later… You would most definitely be welcome.”

“I--” she seemed a bit surprised to be acknowledged in all honesty, but a look between him and the couple approaching from behind him caused her to laugh a little and shake off her surprise. “Sure, this was my last game tonight anyway.”

“Positively wonderful,” Fane grinned scooping the chips into a tray so that he could get it changed into cash while Faye and Damien approached.

When Fane laid down his hand, Faye waited, holding her breath and Damien’s arm tightly. The other man didn’t seem to care. His hand gripped Faye’s thigh in anticipation. And when the dealer called out that Fane had won, Faye and Damien both yelled out loud. They clapped along with the rest of the crowd that had gathered.

“Wait-” Faye said, gripping Damien’s arm again, “did she say… 26 million?”

“I think she did,” Damien said, watching with a gleam in his eyes as Fane paid the dealer for her trouble. “I’d say that’s a fair payout.” He looked at Faye. “You know that’s chump change to a guy like him, right?” He was grinning a bit madly, the adrenaline of the last bit of the game flushing his cheeks beneath the dark complexion. “Come on, let’s go congratulate him.” Damien tugged Faye down into the crowd and they made their way towards Fane.

“I knew you’d wallop him!” Faye said. She leaned up wrapped her arms around Fane’s neck, giving him a sound kiss before stepping back to allow Damien to do the same. Though sans kiss.

“That’s my boy,” he grinned at Fane. A quick look around and he spotted the dealer making her way through the crowds. He leaned in again. “So uh… she’s coming with us? I know you slipped an invite in there, right?”

“If you’re talking about the pretty dealer with the fuckable mouth, of course he invited her. Right baby?” Faye said quietly as they both followed Fane to cash in his earnings. A trio of bodyguards (guarding the money, not Fane) walked in front of and behind them.

Fane didn’t bother to wipe the smug smile off his lips once the hand was called out, gathering the chips into roughly even piles before loading them onto a tray of coloured groups for easy reckoning. The Russian was still staring at him, and most might’ve been unnerved but Fane merely grinned lazily. “You know, if you want to play some other time-- I’d absolutely love to.” He probably shouldn’t dig, but how could he not? A winning streak lost just like that and to a stranger no less.

When Faye and Damien approached Fane was just getting to his feet speaking to a couple of staff that had come to congratulate him on the win, also to inform him that as a high roller they were willing to loan him a million to keep playing during the week if he so wished. A tempting offer and Fane explained that he’d consider it later in the week, a couple of security were moving around just to keep an eye on the chips not that he was too worried.

“Well, you know me,” Fane laughed as his arms slipped naturally around her hugging her close and lifting her off the floor. He practically melted into her kiss, and it took everything in him not to turn her round and prop her on the card table. Something had him figuring the staff wouldn’t appreciate that too much so he settled on holding her tight for now. Eventually, he let her go but not before he gave Damien a hug.

The question about the dealer caused him to glance over his shoulder at the young witch behind them, turning back to Damien to adjust the other man’s tie. Straightening it just before patting his chest when he spoke again “well I saw how you were practically eye-fucking her earlier and you mentioned you lost to the man so call me giving you the opportunity for a drink with her… Compensation hm?”

They made their way across the floor the cashier, Fane carrying the chips on the tray and sliding them under the caged barrier behind which a house-elf dressed smartly in a tux started changing and depositing it into Fane’s account directly rather than giving cash. Once it was all said and done, Fane turned back to the group (now four) grinning lazily. “Well, I say celebratory drinks hm? Ah-- but first introductions, this charming fellow is Damien Girard, the beauty beside me Faye Delacroix and you can call me Fane love” he finished dipping to kiss Catarina’s hand.

“Charmed, name’s Catarina but everyone calls me Cat,” the young woman explained to the group. Though her eyes lingered on Damien just a fraction longer than the rest.

“Careful with that one,” Damien warned with a cheeky little smile.

“Oh don’t worry love, I can handle myself.”

“I like her,” Faye said to Fane, though it was meant to be heard by everyone. “Nice to meet you, Cat.” Faye and Cat shook hands, and once the matter of Fane’s winnings was settled they moved off towards the drinks that Fane had mentioned. Cat and Damien walked a bit ahead of Faye and Fane, chatting quietly. Faye leaned over, her arm wrapped around Fane’s as they moved through the crowd. “I make my own bet with you that Damien and our new friend become very well acquainted before the evenings done.” It wasn’t as if it wasn’t obvious. Cat was already eyeing Damien like he was good enough to eat. She’d looked at Fane the same way, and Faye as well. But it was Damien that had drawn her attention first.

Faye grinned. “Speaking of bets…” A subtle flick of her fingers and the distraction she’d relieved him of earlier returned, though not as tight as before. “I can’t let you have too much leeway now that you made yourself a household around here. You might get a big head.” Her tone was teasing and playful, and she kissed his arm as they followed the other two towards another section of the casino. They passed through an archway, and unlike the brightly lit room of the gambling hall, this bit of the casino ascended up spiraling walkway. The lighting became softer, turning to deep purples and reds and blues. The air was cooler here too.

Faye looked around. She liked the semi-darkness of the walkway. Gave opportunity for a bit of playfulness. Though she kept her hands to herself for now.

“Best drinks in the casino are up here,” Cat said to all of them. “On the house for a VIP like yourself.” She turned a grinned slyly at Fane. “Though be careful with the blue ones. They’re strong.” A small wink in their direction and she turned back to Damien, taking the distraction of darkness to slip her arm through his. Faye could hear Damien’s deep murmur as he leaned over to talk to the other woman.

“Have you ever been up here before?” Faye asked Fane as the path seemed to level out and open up into a large, cavernous space filled with people. The music was less dance music and more a sort of hypnotic background beat. Not unpleasant, just different. They followed Cat to the bar, the colors of the room settling Faye into a more relaxed, almost lazy mood. Not the high-wire adrenaline she’d felt down below. Was it the music? Was it charmed to do such a thing? A glance over at Damien and Cat revealed that the man already had his hand on her waist as they ordered drinks.

It wouldn’t take them long.

Faye turned back to Fane. “Wanna get a blue one?” she grinned. “See if she’s fulla shit?”

With introductions sorted, Fane fell in beside Faye watching as Cat and Damien walked a little distance ahead. “That’s not even a bet worth making, of course they will,” Fane said as he watched the other couple ahead of them. “Only reason he probably roped me into that game is to get him a shot at talking to her, Fane tipped his head slipping his arm around her waist and drawing her close “because he would’ve looked like a fool in front of her if he lost a lot of cash.” Fane had feeling it wasn’t just that, but Fane had seen Damien making eyes at the card-dealer a couple of times in the week when they had been in here. “Plus, I’m an amazing wing-man,” he flashed her a cheshire cat smile; slow and lazy as they walked along.

Fane’s steps faltered as their earlier arrangement was settled into place once more and he had to try and discretely adjust the front of his trousers with his free hand. Not that there truly was any subtle method to do that. “Not the only big thing about me,” Fane couldn’t help the joke, his tone light and full of humour as they left the brightness of the casino and instead replaced it for darker corridors and more electro-beat music. He glanced up at Cat when she spoke, “oh I’m a VIP now, goodness, I do like special treatment,” Fane was, of course, for the most part joking on this topic. He didn’t really give a damn mostly because he always did his own thing anyway, regardless of whether it was the done thing or no.

At Faye’s question Fane let his eyes drift around the cavern “to be fair-- I’m pretty sure most of the time I was on this island I was high off my rocker… So, I don’t think I could tell even if I had been here.” Fane was hardly shy about his dabbling, Faye knew well enough about the unhealthier habits he partook in and while they had been here had shared in plenty of those together. But it was the truth, in all honesty, most of Fane’s last visit was a blur of things he could hardly remember and something he wasn’t sure he did wish to remember anyhow. Stepping into the softer lights, Fane stroked Faye’s hip interested in the feel of the material under his fingers humming contently as they arrived at the bar. “Mm,” he sounded giving a slow dip of his head in answer, “are you trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me love?” He was teasing of course, “but how could I deny such a tempting proposition? Go on,” Fane looked to the bartender “two of the blue drink thingymajigs, whatever they are.” Leaning his hip on the counter, he looked at her “I want to dance with you after this… I love dancing with you baby.”

“This is true,” Faye grinned. She stroked a hand over the front of his trousers, feeling the smooth ridges of the metal cage surrounding his cock. “Yet you take it so well.” Building him up throughout the night was her goal, and though she had released him for the game earlier - and it had turned out very, very well - their arrangement was back on. The very thought of what she was doing to him, and where it might lead later in the evening, especially considering their new friend, made her belly burn with a low desire. But she wouldn’t rush. They had all night.

Cat just grinned over her shoulder at Fane before turning back to Damien. The entire island was a VIP resort, so having additional privileges could be fun. And Cat had been working here long enough to know some of the secrets that others might not. Though she also wasn’t naive enough to think that someone like Fane - who barely blinked an eye at the millions he’d just won - didn’t already know all of them.

Faye moved up to the bar, leaning against it as Fane’s fingers drifted over her hip. “Mmm. You know… I can see the appeal of some things. The way they just… make you forget your troubles.” Faye certainly wasn’t one to fuel the fire of Fane’s addictions, so to speak, but the things they’d experimented with while on the island had made her feel… amazing. She’d yet to smoke opium with him, but they had time yet. It was safe here at least.

“Maybe,” she said. “You do become a bit of a slut when you’re drunk.” Faye turned towards the bar and watched the woman move to mix up their order. Whatever the liquid was, it was a bright, neon blue. It smoked as it was poured up. But her attentions turned back to Fane, and she pulled him close by a beltloop. “Consider my dance card full then.”

Faye knew well enough exactly what she was doing, and in all honesty Fane didn’t mind a bit. He was happy to settle into playing his part but frankly he didn’t mind one bit about whether he was considered important or not. But the perks, well, Fane did always have a knack for sniffing those out and weaselling his way into places he might not ought to have been. Call it a talent. One that pissed people off just as much as it happened to impress them. Fane rather impressed himself with it too.

“Then can anyone ever blame me for running off to places like this?” Fane asked, though it was more rhetorical because Fane had very much been running when he had been here. Running from things and a life he’d wanted to forget for longer than a while. Unfortunately, memories were a pesky sort of thing that couldn’t just be removed entirely with the use of a drug but it was a decent enough temporary reprieve to give him peace of mind enough to sleep. “That one you had the other day was fun,” Fane said, referencing the serum he’d given her before Damien and he had taken it upon themselves to take her apart between them while she was lax and utterly willing. “Or maybe I’ll use something that makes you utterly desperate.” He’d gotten an utterly pure stash of bits and pieces back at the villa and they’d been toying around with them during their stay. Had Faye wanted to try smoking with him he would’ve let her but it hadn’t come up as of yet.

“Only for you,” Fane leaned down and nipped at her neck “only for you love.” The drinks were served up but Fane was promptly distracted by her when she tugged him in just so. “Not the only thing that’ll be full tonight I think,” his brows waggled in a playful fashion and his voice dripped with amusement as he made his comment. He never could pass up such an opportunity.

“I’m starting to see the appeal,” Faye agreed. Fane knew her near obsessive work ethic better than most. Once she had something in her teeth, it was near impossible to get her to let go of it, even for a little while. And considering the case that was in limbo back home - awaiting the tedious processing of the wands they had come across - it was a testament to their relationship that Fane had agreed to leave. But she had promised. And they’d already lost so much time. So many years wasted for one reason or another. Fane didn’t have to stick with her through all the Ministry bullshit. It wasn’t his job. But he had. He’d been right there through everything. Even as the case had slowly taken over their lives. Such as they were. And Faye recognized that. Which is why she had kept her end of the bargain and fully indulged in this long holiday that they both deserved.

“It was fun,” she agreed. “Maybe I’ll try it on you? See what it does.” Her hands stroked over his side beneath his jacket. He was warm as always, and it was pleasant in the coolness of the bar. Her pulse quickened a bit a the prospect of the opposite. “Does me begging for it make you hard?” Her hand drifted lower, stroking him lightly. “Maybe you should keep this on while I do? Have you begging me in return?”

The drinks arrived, smoking lightly, and she laughed as his breath tickled her neck. “Mmm, and you are good at it too.” Her grin turned devilish, and she pulled him even closer. “Promise?”

“Does that mean I’m corrupting my good little auror, hm?” there was a sing-song lilt to his voice when he said this and his expression was entirely mischievous. If he was honest he was lothe for the day to come where they would have to leave this place, much preferring the idea of staying right here with her and absolutely none of the responsibility they would otherwise have to return to. He couldn’t be blamed for it, it certainly wasn’t Fane’s job and in all honesty with how the Ministry treated him he couldn’t have been blamed for telling them to go and screw themselves (which he had, several times) much to their chagrin. But he stayed, and he stayed for one singular reason, and that was the witch presently at his side. If there was one person he would never leave (not again), it was Faye.

“Tease, would you?” Fane asked in a quiet exhale of air at the thought of her using the drug on him. The stroke of her hand was leaving him feeling just a little overheated but he didn’t let it show instead settling to enjoy the warmth of her beside him. “You don’t need to ask that to know the answer,” of course he knew she was asking because she already knew the answer, the brush of her hand caused him to look over at her. “Granted it doesn’t take much to get my interest let’s be honest-- like you said I’m a slut. Quite proud of that fact really.” It was hardly a secret either, he’d spent too long in indulging in things that physically felt good to distract from the lingering darkness in the recesses of his mind. Some might even go so far as to say he’d become hooked on such physical pleasure to avoid the pain he might otherwise be forced to confront.

“I know, I’ve had a long time to refine my craft.” They were practically flush the booze and smell of her perfume and something that was just so distinctly her overriding his senses as she drew him in and it was all he could do not to-- his mind was in the gutter as his slight wince of discomfort proved. “Well, you’re in charge of that...” Fane remarked licking his lips as he picked up his drink and took a sip, hit with the flavour of something refreshing almost blueberry in flavour. In all honesty this was both a great and horrendous method of torture, the pain of denial only serving to heighten the desire to have what was quite literally forbidden.

“It means… that I’m starting to see the appeal.” There was a hint of teasing in her voice as she repeated herself, because she would (most likely) never admit that he was corrupting her just a little bit. Even though Faye preferred to think of it as ‘broadening her horizons.’ She wasn’t nearly as tight-laced as a lot of her coworkers thought she was. She would do things off the book. Make deals to get what she wanted. Such as with the wands. Sometimes you had to look the other way. Especially if no one was getting hurt. Except the people that deserved it. But like Fane, the prospect of returning to all of that weighed heavily on Faye whenever it crossed her mind. As it was doing more often as the month slowly drew to a close. The sheer amount of things that would need tending when they got back to London was mentally overwhelming. Though all her minor cases had been streamlined to other agents once she’d taken over as Head Auror on the one they were working. It had taken priority. And Faye knew that Fane’s loyalty was only to her. That he didn’t two shits about the Ministry or anyone there. He stayed for her. To help her. And she would never be able to thank him enough, or express how much it meant. When they got back, things would change. There would be work and real life and obligations. Danger and the unknown. People that wanted to hurt them.

Which was why she pushed those thoughts away and focused on the here and now.

“I would if you wanted,” she said. “Having you at my mercy and willing to do anything I said without question…” Her lip found it’s way between her teeth. “It’s makes me wet just thinking about it.” Her teeth flashed white as she grinned at his answer. “You’re the only person in this world I’d ever get on my knees for. Or beg for anything.” Faye was fairly certain that he knew that. She was proud, and pride was her sin if anything was. But for him she would kneel. She would crawl. She would do anything he asked, if only to please him and make him happy. “And I’m proud of you too. Not everyone embraces their inner hedonist quite like you do, love.”

Faye reached for her own drink, a devious smirk on her face. “I am in charge of that aren’t I?” They were standing close, so she let her hip brush against him instead of her hand. Her drink tasted like blueberries as well, but with something a bit like… grape perhaps… mixed in. It was very good. She took another longer sip and turned back to Fane. Behind them, Damien and Cat were bent close together in conversation, but Faye couldn’t hear what they were saying.

“What’s your take on the dealer?” Faye asked Fane around another sip of her drink. “You think she’s down for… fun later?”

“Would it make you happy? Doing that, having that power?” Fane asked in a low voice his eyes widening just a fraction as he spoke his lips hovering by her ear and lightly bumping her temple where he’d leaned in close. She couldn’t see it, but the smile was evident in his voice. “And you’re the one calling me a slut, it’s so easy to get you worked up” Fane nipped at the shell of her ear his breath warm before he drew back. “And you’re the only one in the world that I’d ever let have this much control over me.” It seemed they were each their respective achilles heel, but for Faye he really couldn’t bring himself to care less about the harm she might bring to him if it meant being blessed with a fraction of her time.

Because to her he was worthy. Even if he wasn’t sure he would ever feel like he truly was.

Fane took another sip to mask his inclination to groaning at the pressure, he knew full well what she was doing and it was working. Faye turned and Fane glanced over his shoulder to follow her gaze, his heart was still thumping steadily in time to the lazy sway of the beat that was almost hypnotic. “My take on her? I think our good friend is infatuated,” Fane said in reference to Damien “he’s been making puppy eyes at her all night.” The topic of fun however, that had Fane turning, propping himself casually on the bar. “Love, if there’s one thing anyone on this island is down for… It’s fun. And her? Oh, she’ll certainly be down for it.”

“Just being with you makes me happy,” she said in return, a smile in her own voice. “But would it give me pleasure? To have that power over you? Yes, but only if you gave it to me freely.” In any other situation, Faye would have said no, that she didn’t want to have any sort of power over Fane. They were equals when it came to their personal lives. Each of them giving and taking as the situation required. Neither being jealous or feeling subordinated by the other. It was an equal partnership, and while some may have found it strange, for them it worked. That didn’t mean that they were always on the same page with everything. They argued fiercely sometimes. And didn’t always agree on the outcome. But it got handled. And they got over it. Moved on. Life was too bloody short.

She laughed, low and warm, as he whispered in her ear. The nip sent a rush of goosebumps over her skin, and she leaned against him. “I never deny it,” she said. It was no secret that he could work her into a panting frenzy with just his voice and a few choice words. It was also no secret that of all the people in the world, not one of them would dare try to control Fane Savin. No one that knew him at least. There were some that had tried. There were some that wanted to try (like Roger back home), but no one had the courage to look the man in the eye and call him out. Except for Faye. And perhaps Maya. But they weren’t just anyone.

“Ditto,” she said. Because they were each other weaknesses. Their one and only. Faye had spent her whole adult life working to avenge the death of the boy she’d loved since she was a child. While that same boy had stayed away, missing out on years and years, just to keep her safe. It was a tragic irony really. But they were together now, and Faye wasn’t going to take any of it for granted.

He was her forever. And for some reason, she was his. He loved her above all others, even after so long apart. And she would hold onto that for as long as forever might be. No matter who or what tried to get in their way.

“Damien? Infatuated?” Faye snorted. “Never.” She turned as well, leaning into his side as he posted against the bar. “You make puppy eyes at me,” Faye teased him, slipping an arm around his waist. “Let the man dote on her.” Faye hummed as Fane confirmed what she herself was thinking. That an employee of the casino would know where the best fun was to be had. As if they had heard Fane and Faye talking, Damien turned to find them and waved a hand, gesturing that they should follow. Cat was pulling him towards another section of the room.

“Looks like she might’ve already found something.” Faye tossed back the rest of her drink, already feeling muzzy-headed. She took Fane’s hand, though when her skin touched his it flared brightly, sending waves of color along his palm. It pulsed in time with his heartbeat. Faye blinked. “Did you see that?” Still pulling him along, walking backwards as she stared at their joined hands where color pulsed and faded and ran together with their pulses. “Am I hallucinating?” she grinned. If she was, it was the drink that done it.

There was a soft thump coming from where Cat and Damien had disappeared. A hallway that faded from the deep blue lights of the bar to deep purples and reds. Stone walls glittered, reflecting the lighting back on the guests. Faye saw ripples of color as she drug her fingers over the roughness of the rock. “Do you see that…” she murmured to herself.

Up ahead, Cat turned with a knowing grin, her arm looped through Damien’s. “Your friends tried the blue drink. I think it’s working,” she grinned up at him.

Damien, who was utterly taken with the witch, smiled back. “Then this should be fun, shouldn’t it? If anyone can down a hallucinogen and make the best of it, that man can.” He glanced back at Fane where he trailed along at Faye’s side. “They never disappoint. Promise.”

Cat grinned and they moved on through into the club. Bodies writhed in a huge central dance floor, long and rectangular and lowered two or three steps down into the stone to keep the masses contained. A large section to the right was the bar. Flooded with purple and blue orbs of light that kept changing shades as people came and went, the wall behind was filled with rows upon rows of bottles that reached up into the dark recesses of the ceiling. Chandeliers, brightly lit with multicolored forever burning candles, threw shadows onto the stone. Their flickering flames contrasted with the bright colors, but it somehow worked. Wax dripped down here and there, pooling on purposefully placed diases. Some held candles that were slowly rising towards the ceiling as wax constantly dripped. Others held bodies. Men and women that caught the wax on their skin, decorating themselves and watching others do the same.

Faye found herself unable to look away from the way the wax catchers hissed and arched away from the sting as the hot liquid fell onto their skin.

“You can try it, if you like,” Cat said as Faye and Fane caught up with them. “That’s what this place is. A showroom. Of sorts. There, see?” She pointed across the way. There were evenly spaced booths - large, dark, softly-lit spaces with a small stage and comfortable surrounding seats - each featuring a different ‘act.’ One held a woman telling fortunes. Another held a man performing intricate card tricks with a sentient deck of cards that kept snapping at his fingers. And yet another held a pair of contortionists bending their bodies around one another at impossible angles. Booths upon booths of entertainment, all of which Faye couldn’t stop staring at.

“If you want something a bit more exciting, we’ll have to go upstairs,” Cat said. “This is all a bit G-rated for me.” She tipped an eyebrow, and Damien looked at Faye and Fane a bit helpessly as Cat pulled him along up the stairs. “I didn’t come here for card tricks and fortune tellers.”

Faye blinked owlishly, watching them go and leave a trail of soft negative images behind. “I’m…” A grin twisted her face, and she turned her dark eyes on Fane. “...not interested in G-rated. Are you baby?” But she was already pulling him behind Damien and Cat. Up the stairs, down another hallway and through a curtained doorway.

The first thing Faye saw was the body of a woman displayed like an artpiece. Softly backlit, she was tied in intricate Shibari, eyes covered in black silk, with only one foot touching the ground. She was very much alive, as Faye could see her breathing softly as they approached. A man stood nearby in a black suit, watching the passersby carefully. He was also checking in with the woman periodically, to make sure she was still okay. But only when no one was admiring her.

They moved on down the way, stopping to admire a man that was being slowly encased in wax by a lovely woman with bright blue hair and a ring in her nose. The man was clearly aroused, but the woman was ignoring him, concentrating on the patterns of color the hot liquid was leaving on his skin.

“That looks like fun,” Faye said in a slightly dazed voice.

They moved on, admiring each centerpiece of living erotic art as they passed. When they had made their rounds and were deciding what to do next, a waitress came over and presented Fane with a small silver tray upon which lay a small white card, folded in half.

“From the gentleman in Booth 37. I believe he wants to meet you.” She tipped her head at Fane after he took the card, and then disappeared.

Faye frowned at Fane, looking at the mysterious letter. “Who would’ve sent that?” she asked, looking around as she stepped closer to him. Auror instincts flared to life without a second thought. Her wand was on her thigh, a familiar weight within easy reach should she need it. She knew Fane would sense her sudden tension, the subtle tightening of the hand around his waist, even if there were no other outward signs of it.

“He totally is, and if anyone knows what puppy eyes looks like it’s me considering I a hundred percent make them at you,” Fane’s grin was devillish as he wrapped her up in his arms hauling her close enough that he could bury his face against the curve of her neck. He pressed a few kisses to her skin, soft and utterly doting and affectionate. “Oh he wants to do more than that.” Fane had his eyes closed when she took his hand, though when she called his attention to something his eyes opened lazy and hooded from the drink they had both knocked back.

She was pulling him off then, but he blinked a couple of times a slow grin spreading across his features at the colour that radiated beneath their skin. “Maybe so…” his eyes moved from her hands up over her neck the lights serving to heighten the beating pulse and Fane found himself wetting his lips in anticipation as he was dragged further into the private lounge. While Faye explored the drink’s effects, Fane only had eyes for her, at least, he did up until the moment Damien’s commented and Fane could only grin. “Mm, if there’s one thing you’ll have with us love… It’s a bloody good time.”

The space beyond was unlike anything he’d ever seen, even since the last time he was here. Apparently they had done some expanding and renovating not to mention the general revamp this entire place had undergone. Fane’s gaze slowly dragged across the crowd and he felt his pulse thrum in response to the music the urge to drag Faye out under those lights and pull her flush… To feel her as purely as he could get her, loose and limber and entirely his to ravish. His fingers itched to drag her off, biting his lip in anticipation of everything that awaited them here. So many possibilities but before he could even say anything Faye was dragging him up the stairs and he felt his throat and something else tighten. Though this just earned a low grunt of discomfort as he made his way up the stairs a little more stiff than he might normally would have been.The things that lay beyond didn’t serve to help either, and Fane was already getting the idea of the things he could do to-- no, he shouldn’t think on those things. He wasn’t sure how much longer he’d be able to endure this enforced chastity considering the amount of times he’d had to deal with the fact he very much wasn’t able to let his body run the normal course in terms of what it very much wanted to show its appreciation to all this display.

“Maybe I could tie you up like that,” he said as they walked on around the display that is until a staff member approached and Fane stared at them for a very long moment, eyes unfocused but nevertheless plucked the paper up regardless. Unfurling it he scanned the contents humming thoughtfully, “apparently I’m owed a drink of congratulations.” There was a symbol on the paper though, one Fane recognised but he folded it up and tucked it into his pocket. “I think I’m just going to see who this is… You three keep browsing, you can tell me if there’s something you’d like to try later then hm?” Fane doubted it would work, but it was worth a try regardless he supposed.

The display was certainly unlike anything Faye had ever seen. Cat and Damien walked a bit ahead of them, whispering close together, much as she and Fane were doing. Faye let them be, her attentions solely on the man with his arm around her waist. She marveled at how well he handled what she was putting him through. As she always did when she pushed his limits. Though tonight was hardly the most torturous thing she’d ever done to him. Far from it. But it would be worth his patience in the end, Faye would make sure of it.

Faye grinned at the thought of him going over her body with such intricate knotwork. She had just leaned up to say something salacious when a woman approached with a letter for Fane. Faye blinked at him, much as he had the letter-bearer, and then again as he tucked away the missive before she could get a decent look at it. Faye looked at Fane, the lights moving under his skin fading ever so slightly as she pushed against the effects of the drink. For a moment, the most subtle of looks passed between them. One that told him to be careful, and that she didn’t like him going off alone to meet some stranger, even if it was safe here. And even if he could take care of himself just fine. But the glassiness returned to her eyes soon enough, and Faye blinked again, giving his waist a squeeze. “Alright.” One more hooded glance and she made her way over to Cat and Damien.

Faye whispered something to Damien, and he looked back at Fane over shoulder, slipping an arm around her waist and giving the other man a subtle tilt of his head. It was less than ten seconds worth of silent conversation before Damien was turning his attentions back to Faye and Cat, and they moved on around the display.

She didn’t ever need to tell him to be careful, he hadn’t survived this long without a certain degree of precaution and necessary measures. Careful calculations of the risks and benefits of entering into certain situations. The message was a surprise but Fane also hardly figured he would leave tonight without talking to his opponent in some degree or another. A polite request in a letter was a rather nice formality in all honesty and part of why Fane was curious to speak with the Russian.

Contacts and connections never hurt to build even on holiday getaways. Fane knew also the questioning look Damien sent him but a small shake of his head, colours flaring over his vision as he did so, told the man it wasn’t something to worry over.

“Take care of my babygirl, hm? Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” he called after them grinning lazily as they walked on. Only when they turned the corner did he turn glancing at a booth number before he sauntered to the one in question. Number thirty-seven. A looming body guard stood on a silent vigil outside though Fane was let through after flashing the card. Stepping into the silenced interior to see his opposition from earlier in the night sipping on teal coloured beverage. Fane said nothing but did move to take the seat opposite pulling out a smoke and popping it between his lips, a wave of his fingers lit the end and he inhaled lazily.

“Surprised to hear from you so soon, looking for me to take more of your money hm?” Fane grinned roguishly knowing it was a ballsy statement given how much he had walked off with earlier in the night.

The man sitting in the booth merely smiled back at Fane around the large cigar he was smoking. He set it aside after a moment, exhaling as he watched Fane take the seat across the table. “The list of people who have bested me - at anything - is very short, Mr. Savin. Why wouldn’t I want to meet you?” The way he looked at Fane would have unnerved most men. A calculating, curious look, that was both neutral and yet… so very much not.

“And I’m never looking to have my money leave my possession. But…” He shrugged, as if it were something mundane and innocuous that had been lost, and not millions of dollars. “It happens from time to time.” He picked up the cigar and took another long puff. “So how are you enjoying the island this time? I see you brought a guest. She’s very beautiful.” He tapped the ashes into the tray. “Though some would say bringing an Auror to a place like this is in bad taste.”

There was no threat in the man’s words. Not really. But the conversation within a conversation said, ‘I know who you are. I know who she is. And I’m not the only one.’

Fane’s posture was, by virtue of his position, indolent to say the least; legs splayed lazily and the cigarette hanging from his fingers occasionally being raised to his mouth for a shallow drag before being pulled away and lightly ashed over the tray in the middle of the room. The scent of the cigar was strong, but Fane had spent a lifetime around the stuff to barely even let it faze him anymore. This was just as much a poker match as earlier even if the chips weren’t visibly on the table to count. So being studied, Fane remained nonchalant as ever and waited the Russian out. “Very short hm? So like you then?” it could have been interpreted rudely with how Fane grinned almost sharkishly as smoke in lines from his nostrils directing it away from the man opposite. “Now, while I am rather impressive company, I do suspect there’s more reason to you wishing to see me than simple congratulations being in order.”

The question about the island and his enjoyment of it caused Fane to reach for his drink and take a sip fingers tapping against the glass thoughtfully as he set it down. Was it worthwhile speaking to this man? Though he also seemed to already know who they were. So it was hardly anything new Fane supposed. “I’ve always enjoyed my retreats here-- a place you can do almost anything you want? Why wouldn’t anyone want to come to such a place?”

His direct mention of Faye’s occupation caused Fane to tilt his head, it was his turn to analyse the man sat opposite him. Fane knew a threat when he heard it, but this, as far as he could tell was general curiosity over why she was here. Whether there was an ulterior motivation at work here. “Well I can assure you, I have rather impeccable taste and… I must say she’s no average run of the mill auror. Though that’s a title she left behind when we decided to come here for a while.”

Contrary to Fane’s posture, the Russian sat easily reclined, but legs crossed ankle over knee. Body turned at an angle to Fane’s, one hand holding the cigar, the other gesturing as he spoke. “Very much like me,” the man grinned at Fane’s comment. “Though with that logic, one would assume your own list is a bit longer than most.” The same sort of tone carried the words through the smoke-filled air. But his demeanor changed a bit as Fane got to the point.

“Even now you see through me. I quite like that. Not many - another short list - would speak to me so openly. Which is why I find myself wanting to give you something else tonight.”

He laughed. “Why indeed? A paradise with no consequences. A place where anything you want is possible. Where everything is completely safe. Unlike the outside world.” The comment could have been innocuous, made to mean the world in general, but something in the man’s tone said it wasn’t. That it was far more specific to Fane himself.

Sokolov laughed again, though it was a different laugh. One that said he didn’t quite believe Fane’s claims about his auror companion. “A title, perhaps. But an Auror is always an Auror. No matter how… above-average they may be. The same can be said for many other… titles.” Savin could take that however he liked. Though not being one to play the long game once he’d made up his mind about something, the man leaned forwards. “My point being, Mr. Savin, is that - among other things - I’ve heard a rumor.” He glanced around, as if the booth wasn’t already sound-proofed and spell proof. “A rumor that you’re the new Dark Lord.”

“I never said it was logical, though I probably have a longer list of people who have tried to beat me and found out the hard way that isn’t something that very often happens.” Fane shrugged ever so slightly at the comment about him cutting through the crap, “You’ve seen the beautiful woman that is waiting on my return and I am admittedly very loathe to keep her doing so for too long. I’d rather speak plainly than in riddles.”

Fane’s expression remained neutral, though his eyes lingered on the Russian curious about what he might have to offer. “Part of the reason so many of us retreat here, who wants a reality that’s terrible when you could live in a place where every indulgence is catered for?” Unfortunately, Fane knew that was no option. Faye was too dedicated to her work to truly leave it especially in such a place with so many untethered ends.

“You’d be surprised,” Fane commented with a grin “she really isn’t like any other Auror you’ll have the opportunity to miss, I mean-- what other Auror you know would be in a place like this and not be wound up in trying to shut it down and arrest every person involved hm?” It said a lot about Faye, who she was and what she was willing to do with him and no one else. Fane did run his tongue along his teeth though when the Russian mentioned his rumour, and an icy chill shuddered down his spine “and rumour has it you’re a cheater and a thief,” Fane waved his hand idly “doesn’t mean there’s any truth to it… Do I really look like the sort interested in world domination?”

“Not much surprises me, these days, Mr. Savin, but I’ll take your word for it, hm?” He tapped his cigar again. “And you obviously trust her.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact. Though there was a hint of something else in the words. Still not a question, but more… as if the Russian wizard were trying to make Fane ask a question in return.

A low laugh trickled from the man’s throat as Fane countered him. “Yes. I’ve heard that. It’s the gloves, I know. But if you must know, I wear them to keep myself safe from any… charms or other nonsense some of these players try to slip onto the cards. Not so I can cheat. Though as you know, the cards are protected, just like the rest of the island. All very safe. But I’d prefer not to take chances. And of course, just because I also happen to be a very good judge of other people, and a very good card player, I must be cheating. No one could ever be that skilled at something.”

Sokolov watched the reaction - or mostly lack thereof - that rolled through the other man at the mention of the rumor attached to his own name. “Appearances mean nothing, Mr. Savin. But perspective. Perspective means everything. To me you look like a man that wants to forget the world at large. And the pain its caused you. You have no interest in ruling over anyone. You simply want to be left alone with the few things you still hold dear.” Another small pause, in which Sokolov stared at Fane very intently. “You and I are very similar, Mr Savin. We’ve both been accused - more than once - of being something other than what we are. Simply because of who we are.”

He fell quiet after that, leaning back and puffing his cigar. Waiting to see if there were any other questions to come. Though he felt certain there were. A man like Fane Savin wasn’t going to leave after a few shadowy remarks. He would need more than that. How much more remained to be seen. Though even Sokolov’s well of information had a bottom, loathe as he would be to admit.

If Sokolov was expecting another question from Fane in regards to what he wanted and why he was interested he would be sorely disappointed. Faye wasn’t their present topic of discussion and thus wouldn’t be mentioned unless necessary. Fane was fighting against the effects of the drug which while they were softening everything was something he fought against to try and keep a sharpness that was surprising by most standards. But then this was hardly surprising, Fane had endured far worse over the years than a few hallucinogenic drinks.

“You know I did debate asking you to take them off earlier, just for the shits and giggles of watching everyone else’s faces when you lost” cocky perhaps but it was all in good humour. Fane knew that going into that confrontation at the poker table you had to have a large degree of self-belief to sell the sort of bluffs they were. “Guess we’re both used to people making assumptions about us then,” and it was all Fane had to say on the topic because he knew as well as the man sat opposite him that this place was charmed against fraudsters.

“The question there is whose perspective then,” Fane drilled his fingers lightly against the tabletop passing over Sokolov’s assumptions about what he understood from looking at him. He was right of course, Fane had spent almost the entirety of his adult life running so the real world wouldn’t catch up. Had Faye not found him he very well would have continued along that train of thought and lifestyle until he ended up in some unassuming grave somewhere. Alcohol poisoning or something just as unassuming he supposed. “And because of our interests, considering magic isn’t inherently bad in my opinion… The intent of its user however? Well, I would argue that’s the true evil in this world” Fane fell silent as he took another inhale of smoke, filling his lungs and exhaling it in a small cloud the trails intermingling with the thick scent of tobacco from the cigar in his companion’s mouth.

“So first things first, this is related to the investigation back in London? It’s related to me? Or… these people that think I’m some new-dawn messiah?” Fane was far from an idiot, and it hardly seemed a far stretch to link the pieces considering who had been targeted. Old order members? People who had fought and defended some of the few pieces of goodness in the world? No Death Eaters. Which meant it was some sort of unhinged group of fanatics. “Question is, what do you know about them and more importantly, how?”

“The perspective of someone very dangerous. I don’t have a name, or I would give it to you.” Whether Savin believed him or not was up to the man himself. All Sokolov could do was impart the information. He nodded as Savin added to what the Russian had already said. “As much I agree with you, that it’s not the magic, but the intent, that makes something dark or evil, there are many others who don’t share my opinion. Others who would use those… interests… against you in any way they could.” A small warning, perhaps, to be careful in his pursuits. Sokolov wasn’t privy to the things Fane got up to in his spare time, or the less than popular practices he experimented with. He simply knew that when someone already looked at you like you were a bad person, any little pieces could add fuel to the fire.

“Yes. To everything.” It was all connected. Or so it seemed from what Sokolov had heard. “Your return to London… from the dead, as it were. The continued murders of the Order of the Phoenix. The Morsmordre in the sky over London? The death of that boy, and your role in it, indirect though it may have been. Your partner being the lead investigator on the case already. Who just happens to make you a consultant? A man accused of being a Death Eater since he was a child. A very infamous name, your family’s. Puts you very close to everything. All the inside information you could ever need.”

A cloud of acrid smoke rose into the air as Sokolov exhaled. “I have my sources that keep me abreast of any information that might be useful. I’ve told you all I know. Except…” He leaned forwards again, his eyes focused intently on Fane’s. “They know everything they need to know to hurt you, Mr. Savin. Everything. And everyone.”

“Do you have anything that links to them? Or some way I can try to get more information?” Fane had his own back channels but even then without some sort of name or point of reference it would be hard to truly pinpoint anything in particular. Though the mention of interests… Fane narrowed his eyes a little, the first real reaction garnered since the start of this conversation. Nothing was specifically mentioned, but it didn’t mean that it couldn’t be insinuated and Fane sat back, rubbing his mouth as he fought back a sigh. Of course. A lifetime of being accused of something only to have to return when he’d finally started trying to make a case for his own innocence.

How many more times could he be expected to fight this same battle? Could anyone truly judge him for being bone fucking weary of it? Of a mantle he’d carried since he was eleven and thought he was going mad when he’d nearly broken the sorting hat or heard whispers in his head. Voices that no one else could hear? Voices about cleansing and purifying the school so only those worthy could attend?

Years of a place that was a world away from what he’d experienced at Durmstrang but years that had slowly chipped away the pure innocence of a naive young boy who thought he might stand a chance of proving himself as something other than what his family legacy coloured him to be? Was it any real wonder then why he’d all but faked his death when the opportunity arose? To let the world thing him gone so that if only for a little while he might live a normal life. Anonymous and walk amongst people simply as another one of them.

But that would never be the case. His whole life would be spent running it seemed. The thought caused his heart to sink, and suddenly he didn’t want to stay. Because hearing it laid out in front of him… Fane closed his eyes for a long moment, but the emotions that were clouding him were categorised and put down. “So where should I start? I can’t very well hunt down people who I barely have any leads on can I?” And how could he protect those he cared about if he didn’t know who or what was coming for them? “I’m not running this time…” Fane seemed slightly more resigned but no less determined “but I need something to work from if I’m going to get ahead of this…” Fane’s eyes lifted to Sokolov’s then, steady and intense the drug all but worn off through sheer force of will “is there anything else you can think of that might be able to help me?”

Sokolov set his cigar aside and leaned forwards, steepling his fingers. “All I have is my source. I haven’t sought any information on my own. I only know what I’ve been told. However…” A flick of his hand and a small card appeared, very much like the one Fane had received earlier. “I can give you this.” It was a set of initials and an address. “Memorize it. The card will burn itself once you read it. Give them my name, and they’ll speak with you. Once. So don’t waste it.”

The Russian wizard watched the younger man with what might have been sympathy. He knew Savin’s history, knew his family name and what had happened during the Second War. He’d lost people in those dark years. Perhaps that was also why he was offering what help he could. To prevent another descent into madness. Into the shadow of a maniacal would-be ruler. Not that he believed Savin was that person. But there were people who did. And there was darkness in the younger man. The Death Eaters had seen it years ago. Tried to exploit it. His own family had tried to lull him to the dark. But he’d been stronger than all that. Stronger than the Dark Lord himself, Voldemort.

And that very fact - little known though it was - seemed to be the catalyst. The keystone - that partnered with his chance arrival back from the dead - that had sent Savin’s name spiraling out into the ether. A name that had been snatched and twisted and turned towards a purpose the man himself had no interest in.

“In my experience, the enemy you should fear most is always closer than you think. And it’s not always a person. Seek out the name on the card. If you ask the right questions, they’ll have the answers. Though it may cost you.” He knew what he was saying sounded misleading. But it was really all he knew. If he had had specifics, perhaps he would have given them, but as it was, he didn’t. “The only other thing I can tell you is to trust what you know. Never doubt it. No matter what the truth may seem to be.” It was nothing if not cryptically foreBut shadowing. Sokolov sat back then, taking up his cigar. “I wish you luck, Mr. Savin. You and yours. And I sincerely hope this is not the last time we speak.”

Fane took the proffered card, but didn’t look at it immediately as Sokolov explained what would happen once he did. Instead, he pocketed it for when he wasn’t fuelled up on a drug infused haze. “Do you think you could look into it for me? Or at least put a few feelers out in your network?” Fane knew that Sokolov owed him nothing, but for this Fane was willing to owe a favour himself regardless of how dangerous that was in their line of work.

There was an innate strength him that few had, but it didn’t make it any easier for him to withstand a lifetime of things whispered behind his back. Of looks and accusations to things he’d never been nor would ever be. There was darkness in him, perhaps more than the average person but darkness he tried to wrestle on a daily basis and more often than not managed to overcome. Demons could hardly darken his world when he had people like Faye around to help shine a light to chase that darkness away. Would Fane go mad? Perhaps, perhaps not. He would hardly be the first in his position or family to lose a few screws along the way if that was the way things went.

The warning, cryptic as it was caused Fane to look at the older man long and hard for a moment. He’d spent his life on the run, being accused of so many falsities it seemed that this was all setting up for yet another one to come and Fane wasn’t sure he would be able to do this many times more than he had already. “Right…” Fane said in answer to the given warning, but it seemed there was nothing more to be said of aid and he sighed ashing his cigarette and knocking back the last of his drink. “I suppose that’s yet to be seen…” Fane rose from his perch and a part of him debated leaving, but custom and formality considering the fact this man owed him nothing caused Fane to reach out a hand to shake before adding. “Thank you…”

And with that, Fane left feeling more dazed than he knew what to do with.

Sokolov considered Fane’s question for a moment. Finally, he nodded. “I’ll see what I can find. But only because I like you, Mr. Savin.” A twist of his mouth showed a row of very white teeth. “You remind me very much of myself when I was a young man, if you can believe it.” The owing of a favor went unsaid. It was what it was among those who moved in certain circles. Nothing needed to be said aloud.

He watched Savin consider his last words, and when the younger wizard extended his hand, Sokolov shook it firmly and nodded. “You’re welcome. Best of luck.”

****

Outside, Faye had set her drink aside, not caring to be without her wits anymore tonight. The colors still played over her vision wherever she looked, but the displays and all their erotic beauty did nothing for her. Her mind was elsewhere. Back with Fane. Something didn’t feel right. Though she knew it could have been overthinking on her part. Though Damien seemed as if he was trying just a bit too hard to keep her attention, whereas before he’d been fully focused on Cat. Again, that might simply have been her thoughts running away with her.

Either way, she was entirely distracted from anything other than waiting for Fane to show back up. When he did, his familiar silhouette moving through the deep purples and blues of the room’s lighting, she watched him closely, but didn’t say anything just yet.

“There you are,” Damien called, still with the same jovial tone he’d had all night. “I was thinking you’d forgotten about us. With all your new-found fame.” Cat merely watched the exchange with quiet curiosity, her arm looped through Damien’s.

With the meeting finished, Fane cut through the crowds of people quietly. His eyes not half so dazed as they were when he had departed, but considering what he’d learned it was hardly surprising. He spotted Damien first and then Cat, and Faye not a short distance from them. The sight of them immediately sent a wash of relief through him, not that this was evident but his expression immediately grew brighter as he approached and took a moment to give Damien a hug. “How could I ever forget you all? The most gorgeous people in this place.”

“Straight up we are,” Damien cheersed and took a sip of his drink glancing back at Cat with a playful little smile. “See, told you he’s a fun one.”

“Never doubted you to lie about anything like that doll,” Cat purred as she leaned in and lightly nipped at Damien’s ear causing the man himself to grin brightly.

Fane moved straight over to Faye then where she was sat and naturally sat down beside her, his arm slid around her waist and he pulled her in close. Dipping his head he caught her mouth in a lazy and utterly languid kiss, a silent way of saying thank you for waiting. A promise that he would make it up to her.

Faye did her best to smile along with the others as Fane returned. But as much as the expression passed across her face, it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Not that anyone would notice. Fane slipped his arm around her, and she leaned into him, kissing him back just as slowly. Her hand raised to touch his face, and she looked him in the eye when they broke apart.

“I’m not feeling so well,” she told him quietly. “I think I’d like to go back to the room.” It was the first time she’d asked anything of the sort for the entire trip. Faye had been perfectly content to spend their nights trying any and everything that they could. Whatever felt good. Whatever tasted good. Whatever she hadn’t tried before. But right now… right now she just didn’t feel like it.

Fane’s return had eased Damien as well, and he turned to converse quietly with Cat. The two laughed at a private joke, and Damien turned to his friend. “So what’s on the agenda now that you’ve rejoined us?” he asked. “Should we sample something new? Or try one of these for ourselves?” He gestured around at the art gallery.

It was certainly uncommon to say the least for Faye to ask for anything of the sort, and so as she spoke in a soft sotto tone his head tilted. Quizzical and a little unsure what might be the matter. He knew his departure had been a little bit of a surprise but it hadn’t been anything he thought would worry her all that much. Fane’s thumb gently brushed over her chin and then her cheek as he studied her, but a small dip of his head was enough for her to know he’d heard what she’d asked.

Even if he’d been rather looking forward to sharing the evening with the others.

But they had a couple nights more he supposed. They could make up for it another night perhaps.

When Damien inquired about what their plans tonight were Fane’s smile was slightly smaller, seemingly more tired. “I’m feeling a little tired after everything tonight, bit overwhelmed with everything that’s happened… So, I think I’m going to call it an early one tonight...” Damien’s smile faltered a little replaced with a small frown of concern that Fane waved off. “Raincheck, we’ll make up for it I promise you can have some fun with me in any one of these you fancy… Have some fun with your lovely darling I think she deserves your undivided attention.”

Cat glanced between them at the exchange but she smiled, lightly placing a hand on Damien’s chest, “maybe we can try a few out, find out which ones are the best?”

Faye gave a minute shake of her head to Fane’s questioning look, saying that it wasn’t worth discussing here. Fane understood, as she was certain he would, and made his apologies to the others. Faye felt a bit bad for ruining the night, and started to tell him that she could go back to the room and he could stay if he wished. But she didn’t say anything just then. She truly didn’t feel all that well now that she thought about it. Fane’s mysterious meeting had only made the feeling more apparent. But for the time being she blamed it on the drink. Cat had said that not many people could handle it. Perhaps that’s all it was.

Either way, Faye wasn’t sure she could fully enjoy the rest of the night with the swirling feeling in her belly and chest. She caught the look that crossed Damien’s face, but pretended not to notice. Cat seemed to notice too - her observational skills coming in very handy it seemed - and made quick work of distracting her date with more pleasant ideas.

“Well… since you twisted my arm…” he said, the grin returning to his face. Though he gave Fane one more look that said he wasn’t far if Fane or Faye needed anything.

Faye bid the couple goodnight as well, embracing them both before she and Fane headed home.

Once there, she moved off to the bathroom, taking off the gown and taking the time to hang it up before pulling her hair down and wetting a rag with cold water to press over her face. “I’m sorry,” she said out into the bedroom. “If you wanna go back… I’m fine, really.” She wasn’t, but she had to give him the option anyway. Not that he would take it.

Fane would never leave her alone, especially not after what he’d been discussing with Sokolov but neither would he complain about it. So when Damien gave him a look Fane understood fully Fane smiled and brushed Faye’s back before the pair of them started to wander back to the villa. Fane was quiet on the journey, and while he hadn’t been planning on coming back his main concern was Faye.

Explaining why when they stepped into the villa and Faye headed for the bathroom Fane looked over at her, a frown of concern for her apparent on his features. He took a moment to pull off his jacket and hang it up, prior to moving to sit down on the edge of the bed, though grimaced a little in discomfort at the pressure between his legs but he pushed the thought away. Focussing instead on her. “Bull,” he said plainly to her insistence that she was fine “don’t lie to me love. What’s wrong?” He couldn’t stand to sit there, and so a moment later was stood and loosening off his belt.

“Actually-- first-- Can you get this thing off me?” Fane asked regarding the cage he was still wearing because there was no real point in wearing it if there wasn’t to be any sort of reward for the effort he’d gone all day with. Not that he minded, though his frustrations had been notching through the day and some relief would be more than welcome. It also would mean he could focus entirely on her. Once it was gone he sighed, leaving his belt unhooked he leaned on the door “so… are you okay?”

Faye felt slightly guilty about putting him through so much torture all evening and then it not coming to anything. No pun intended. The look on her face as she freed him said that well enough. But it couldn’t be helped for the moment. At least he wasn’t the type - usually - to have petty grievances. Especially when there was a larger issue at hand.

She leaned her hip against the counter, watching him after she’d relieved him of his confinement. She was stood in her underwear and nothing but. Her hair was over her shoulders, covering her chest, and her arms were crossed beneath. “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I feel… ill. I think it was the drink.” Faye searched his face, looking for any sign that something had happened while he was away from their group. There was nothing but his usual look of concern for her.

“What did that man want? Really?” Because that was where the unsettling feeling had started. And if it could all be played up to having too much of a hallucinogen, which may or may not have made her slightly paranoid as a side-effect, then so be it. But she needed to hear it from Fane.

Fane said nothing as Faye spelled the device away, there was no need to make a scene or cause a fuss. It was hardly a massive inconvenience in his life and certainly something that was manageable. It would hardly be the first time he’d endured something of the sort so her concerns and offers to make it up were waved off without any thought for himself.

He didn’t bother to conceal how his eyes moved over her in the mirror, undressed as she was Fane would always admire her unabashedly. Why shouldn’t he? She was the love of his life and the woman he wanted to spend his life with. Not to mention she was stunning, but his frown remained and the expression pinched his forehead in a few thin lines along with his eyes as he stepped up behind her. “You feel sick?” he asked moving to wrap his arms around her until his own settled over her hands crossed over her stomach.

Her question was hardly unsurprising or unanticipated. You could take the person out of the role, but not the role out of the person it seemed. “To talk, about our reputations mostly, apparently he doesn’t use the gloves to cheat he uses them to stop jinxes and spells that might be on the cards affecting him-- go figure.” Fane knew he was leaving out details, but if she truly wasn’t feeling well then Fane didn’t want to flatten her with heavy information. It could wait until she was feeling better and they did only have a few days left. A few days wouldn’t hurt.

Faye’s expression softened just a bit as he looked her over. His gaze, directed at her in such a manner, was like a warm blanket; a comfort when she was feeling out of sorts. She didn’t hide from him, as always. And when he came over, wrapping her up, she leaned back into him. “A little,” she said. “I think that drink didn’t settle too well with me is all.”

It was to Faye’s credit that until tonight she hadn’t let anything affect their holiday. Not work, not the outside world, not her occupation. She was here to be with Fane, because they deserved it. Because Fane deserved it. For all the sacrifices he’d made for her. For her job. For the case that was waiting for them when they returned. But tonight she had to speak, feeling unsettled enough to do so. Fane’s answer settled her some, however. He wouldn’t lie to her, she knew. “Huh. I would’ve figured him a cheat,” Faye huffed, leaning her head back on Fane’s shoulder. “But I can admit when I’m wrong.” A small smile moved over her face, and she looked at their reflection in the mirror. Fane’s taller form nearly engulfing her shorter one. His dark features contrasting her lighter ones. They were quite handsome together, she thought. Though she was a bit biased about the man she planned to spend her life with.

Fane would never look on her with anything other than pure and undivided adoration, she deserved nothing less than that in its entirety. So having her wrapped up in his arms, her back pressed to his chest left him feeling secure that at least for now everything was good with the world. His mouth pressed to her head, an open mouth kiss, once, twice, three times before it lingered there. “Then why don’t we get a bath and have an early night?” his hand left where it was wrapped around her midriff to trail up and cup one of her breasts in his palm. Nothing enticing just savouring being able to touch and cradle her close like this.

“Appearances can be deceiving,” he mumbled in her ear smiling as he nuzzled against her affectionately. He met her gaze in the mirror and smiled though it was half hidden by her hair. “I love you, so much.”

Faye’s eyes closed finally as he kissed her head. Fane was always affectionate no matter where they were (other than the places they’d agreed not to be, like the Ministry or in public while working). Faye hated having to impose limits. She hated telling him no. Hated not being able to give him everything and anything he wanted. For that was all she wanted in this world: Fane’s happiness. Her own was irrelevent. Because when he was happy, so was she. He deserved everything. Deserved to stop running, stop looking over his shoulder, stop worrying about who was whispering behind his back.

“That sounds perfect.” She hummed her approval of his caress, threading the fingers of her other hand with the one that remained on her belly. He was warm, and the weight of him against her settled the sick feeling that had risen up earlier. It was mostly gone now, and she laughed a bit as he nuzzled her ear. “They can be,” she said. Her laugh sobered a bit as he spoke again, and she watched him intently in their reflection. “I love you, too. More than anything.”

Fane had been deprived of so much in his lifetime, sometimes it felt like he had to do his best to make up for it. So moments like these, shared with Faye where he could show her his appreciation for everything she was and everything she did were seized without hesitation. He couldn’t ever let one pass him by, and he didn’t want to. Faye deserved everything he could give to her and it was one of the many reasons he was often so frustrated in having to adhere to her rules. Because he wanted to hold her hand in public, wanted to kiss her without the worry of who might be worrying and judging.

Because for as wonderful as things were, as much as he managed their lives back in London that concern was an ever-present constant. Coming to this island had only made him all the more aware of how happy he was to simply be able to live a life with her where there were no worries other than their respective happiness. To appreciate her as fully as he wanted. This was the life he wanted when they went home, wanted normalcy, wanted to settle down, maybe have a family one who - who knows? But how could they ever have that sort of life when they could barely even allow themselves to hold hands in public because of how it might be interpreted. What he wanted and where things seemed to be stuck at seemed like such a world apart Fane was partly resigning himself to the fact that maybe those things were just meant to be dreams.

Faye cared too much for her job to need to be worrying about anything other than that right now, he would make do. He always would. Taking her hand and pulling her over to the large bathtub he started filling it with hot water. After a long soak they both dried off and fell into bed Fane’s arms lazily wrapped around her and cradling her close as they chatted idly and listened to the quietness of the island. Fane lay awake, pondering what might await them and everything he was going to have to do.

The truth was, Faye thought about leaving her job all the time. She’d made it her life for nearly twenty years. Since she was barely out of school. Since she’d thought Fane had died. She had done all of it, become who she was, for him. Because the pain she’d felt when she’d lost him had been nearly too much to bear.

She’d done it all for him, and now… now he was here, warm and real and just as in love with her as she was with him. She’d started along this path because she’d thought he was dead. So now that he was very much alive, now that they wanted to build a life together, why not let it end? Let it end, and let the new chapter of their lives begin? Faye was certain that’s what she wanted. She saw the toll it took on Fane. How he held back because she asked him too. Because it wasn’t safe. Faye wanted more than anything to announce to the world that she was his. That she was his and he was hers. And dare anyone to say otherwise. But they couldn’t. Not yet. Not until this case was done. Not until the danger it posed to them was gone. Because that was Faye’s main concern. That someone would come after them. Come after Fane. Did she want anyone else to get hurt? Did she want anyone else to die? No, of course not. But in the end, if came down to them or Fane? Faye would let the world burn to keep him safe.

Fane wasn’t sure in all honesty how much longer he could keep doing this, but also knew that no matter what that would hold out for as long as it to Faye to say the words herself and not just because he wanted her to. Despite the toll her job took she enjoyed the good she did and impact on the world her work had no matter how small it might be. But what was it all for if she gave her all only to sacrifice her own life, their life together for it? This trip was just an indicator of how much he wanted this, and Fane knew going back to the secrets and deceptions would be harder with the taste of could have been.

#hp au #au #roulette #scene

[savinscripts]

❝ Spread kindness, caring, and compassion and create your own paradise. Infuse it with joy and you’ve created heaven on earth. ❞

TW: NSFW

Two sets of dark eyes moved over Faye’s body as she reclined on the plush chaise lounge that sat in the middle of the private room Fane had secured for the evening in one of the island’s many venues. She had come to realize that if you had a particular taste, or a particular want - a kink even - the island would provide. Just as it did everything else. This particular place was smaller than their bedroom at the villa - which they’d agreed to keep to themselves, hence why they were here instead. It was strung with lanterns that threw patterned candlelight over the dark floor and walls. There was a fireplace on one wall, also full of candles, a large selection of wine and spirits on another; a decadent but tastefully appointed bed; and even a spelled armoire that provided… other entertainment. Of many varieties. Should they so wish. And yet another side of the private room was open to a balcony, which contained a softly bubbling spa pool.

Their stay on the island was one that Faye was quickly learning to love. She’d never felt more relaxed, more at ease, or closer to Fane than she did now. It was a good place. A safe place. And Faye wondered from time to time whether they would be able to go back to the real world once their stay was over. Whether she would be able to. Because if life could be like this? Full of pleasure and fun, without any true responsibility, or having to worry about watching your back, or about someone hurting the ones you loved? Faye found herself growing more and more fond of the idea every day.

Currently, Faye was only interested in watching Fane - though it was another set of eyes that watched them both so intently - as he secured a torniquet around her arm before drawing up a clear, shining substance out of a vial. Her eyes didn’t leave him as he found her vein and slowly injected the dose of whatever it was he had ordered for the night into her bloodstream. He loosened the band, placed the needle back on the tray, and watched her face intently. His own eyes were already blown dark. His skin flushed beneath the shirt that hung open to the waist.

Faye herself wore a sheer top that left little to the imagination. The dark, hard buds of her nipples pressed against the fabric, which rubbed against them with each breath she took. She had grown quite fond of dressing as such while they were here, though not always to such a degree. The attention was addictive though, and Faye found she liked it very much. Just as she did the euphoria that so suddenly washed over her and made her eyes roll back in her head. Her mouth fell slack, and her entire body felt heavy and pliant, yet utterly aware of everything around her.

Christ where had this been all her life?

Long fingers traced her jaw from behind the sofa, and Faye hummed in contentment. Down her neck, stroking over her collarbones before moving back up. “Not many would allow such liberties. Even from a lover,” a deep, masculine voice said. Damien looked up from where his thumb traced the lax corner of Faye’s mouth, and met Fane’s eyes. His desire was as plain as anything. “Her trust in you is exemplary, old friend.”

Faye had fast come to realise the details and nature of this place were truly and simply to serve client’s desires and slowly they had begun to broaden the horizons of the things that they had begun to explore together. Tonight was another branch of that, the syringe he carefully wielded with a confident precision to ensure she got absolutely everything she needed to reach the highest throes he could ever try to take her to. Once he was finished, his thumb smoothing softly over the bead of blood from where he had injected her mesmerised by the softness of her skin for a moment before sitting back on his heels where he knelt at her thigh his eyes scanning her features, waiting for the rush of the drug to start to kick in. She lounged, settling down already very intimately familiar with his tendency to like looking at her.

When he was in this particular headspace he noticed more, little things that made all the difference, like the curve of her earlobe or the dark eyeshadow she used to highlight those striking amethyst hues he often got so lost in. The more he could focus on her, the less it truly felt like the real world mattered or even existed. The only thing that mattered was how with every moment she let him gaze at her the universe shrank down until she became the epicentre, a bright star that only he could truly touch and know so intimately without being burned. His hand rested on her thigh, rubbing a very slow arc back and forth into her skin, entranced in simple being able to touch her like this. Her clothes did nothing to hide her arousal and he watched the rise and fall of her chest, mind already starting to consider the things he could do to her. He knew she did it purposefully, to provoke and tease him because she knew it worked. After all, just as intimately as he knew her mind and body she too knew his own,

As the rush began to take her he dipped his head, grazing his lips over the skin he’d been stroking just a moment before as her body grew lax on the chaise, her legs spreading just so as he nosed her skin. He already felt the deep-seated need to claim her, she looked so beautiful poised here and he could’ve taken her just like this but he wanted to take the time to truly appreciate this moment. To pay the respect due to the sheer amount of solace that she found in him, in his arms and presence. It moved him in a profound way that he had never experienced before, one he was sure he never would with anyone else. Being needed was one of the best things about this, understanding and reciprocating her need and trust in him to bring them both a sense of satisfaction that no other would ever be capable of giving.

Because her happiness was his happiness. A warm joy expanded in his chest as he kissed her thigh once more. He loved her. So very much.

“Oh you have no idea” he purred against her skin, tilting his head to look up at the other man behind the chaise Faye lounged indolently on. “Think we should show him baby?” Kneeling up he thumbed the button to her scrap of fabric that barely passed as a shirt open, his hands smoothing up and back down her ribs over the luscious curve of her waist. Meeting her eye he leaned in slowly dragging his tongue over the hard tip of her straining nipple, soft teasing strokes until her hips started to twitch. There always was a certain pleasure to warming her up like this, slowly, savouring each and every moment. He switched then, moving to her other breast and repeated the action his beard scratching against the sensitive nub smiling into her skin “hm?”

The level of trust Faye showed in Fane might have seemed foolhardy to some. Perhaps even sycophantic to others. Because it was the sort of trust that most adults had no concept of. That they were utterly incapable of having in another person. Maybe it was the past they shared, the things that had brought them together as children. War, fear, death. Maybe it was the things they’d been through as adults - unrequited love, loneliness, death again, demons that needed slaying - that had rekindling a relationship after so many years apart.

Whatever it was, it existed between them as naturally as breathing, and Faye didn’t question it. Even now, as the rush of drugs overtook her, she trusted Fane completely. She didn’t ask what it was he was putting into her body. Didn’t ask what it would do. She had told him that she was completely his for this month. And she’d meant it. In every way possible.

The intensity of Fane’s gaze was something Faye could physically feel. Like a warm blanket being wrapped around her body. She felt the brush of his hands over the soft skin of her thigh, waiting, anticipating. Watching her yield to the effects of what Fane had given her. In that moment, the world existed only in the space between them. In the knowledge they held of each other. Of each other’s bodies. Their needs and wants. Their worst fears and their darkest desires. And in her own headspace, Faye wanted nothing more than to fulfill those desires for Fane. To make their audience of one desperate to join. To touch. To experience what it was like to be in their place, in Fane’s place, even though it was impossible. Because Faye would only submit fully to Fane. Only allow Fane full control of her body and her mind.

She needed him. More than she needed air. More than she needed anything. She needed him to survive. And felt no shame for it. Because she loved him too. More than anything.

Faye heard the other man’s voice. Damien. An old friend of Fane’s. Then she heard Fane’s voice in answer. Felt the touch of his finger over her sensitive skin. Asking her if she was willing to show their new friend just how good she could be. Just how much she truly trusted him. His hand was replaced by the warm cavern of his mouth, the scratch of his stubble drawing a groan from her throat. “Yes… but do you think he can handle it?” Faye purred, raising her hand to card in Fane’s hair. The tone of the night was slowly being laid out, but as of right now, Faye was still free to speak her mind and do as she wished. They could read each other so well, that the mere brush of a hand or a look shared across the room could speak volumes.

There was a fine line that they walked with one another, trusting one another to understand the lengths and limitations each could withstand. While Fane would never get off on truly hurting her to any degree, fulfilling her needs and desires? That fuelled him in an entirely different way and if he was honest, which he made a point of doing his best to be, he also found seeing her satisfied and spent after he had thoroughly used her body for everything it was worth pretty fucking hot. Faye knew this, as she knew almost all his thoughts on the matter when it came to her he made no point in hiding them. Why should he? There was no ounce of shame in him unwilling to let her know how much he truly treasured her.

Faye’s fingers dragged through his hair as he laved and nipped her breast until her skin shone wetly from his attentions, building her anticipation ever so slowly higher because this was as much a game as ever. He stayed like that, suckling her skin and paying lazy respect to her body until he was personally satisfied knowing rather well that she likely wasn’t. “I guess we’ll just have to see won’t we?” he murmured sinking his teeth into the supple curve of her breast knowing full well where the line between her pleasure and pain rested and how much she could take so that it would blossom into her own satisfaction.

Eventually, Fane pushed himself back looking at her spread open and knowing if he touched her under the few garments she wore he’d find her already wet and needy. But no attention was paid to this. Instead, he let his gaze drag over her thoughtfully before he gripped her breasts hard, letting them fill his hands hearing the groan from Damien who was observing the display closely but Fane chose to ignore him. Looking at Faye instead he spoke calmly but with an air of authority, “I’m going to bind these hm? Cut off your circulation until you start to get real sensitive.” With nothing more said, Fane pushed himself up to his feet “get rid of your clothes then prepare yourself on the bed” he instructed moving over to the charmed armoire starting to rummage through some of the items it offered until he found what he wanted. Tucking a box into his pocket he brought out a wound length of rope folding it over and back on his hand as he returned stopping at the end of the chaise. “Hands over your head.”

Faye was content to lie beneath the worship of his hands and mouth for as long as he wished to taste and touch her. There would be no true harm that came to her, no matter how violent their encounters may seem to outsiders. Not that they had entered that particular realm until today. Regardless, true pain, true hurt, would never happen willingly. For either of them.

Faye’s hips rolled slowly against the pressure of his body against her, seeking some sort of relief as he took his slow time at her breast. She could come just from the attention alone, and had in the past. Though tonight this was merely a precursor. A warmup. A bit of a pre-show for both them and their guest. His teeth sank into her eager flesh, and Faye moaned, arching into his mouth. Her hands tightened in his hair, and her heavy body thrummed with eagerness to please him. To see him reach his own heights as a results of hers. Of her obedience.

Finally he pulled back, and Faye opened her eyes to watch him. They were dilated to nearly black, with only a hint of violet around the edge. She barely moved as he reached for her, though her mouth opened slightly at the pressure to her breasts. At the promise Fane made to bind her. The moment his instructions were spoken Faye was putting herself in the headspace of being completely submissive to him. She rose from the chaise as he moved off, and slipped slowly from her clothes, ignoring the other man in the room just as Fane had. He hadn’t given her permission to acknowledge Damien, after all.

Stepping out of her garments, she left them on the floor and moved slowly towards the opulently appointed bed. Climbing up, she did as she was instructed and laid herself out as he normally liked her. She raised her hands above her head. She didn’t look at Fane as he approached, didn’t speak, didn’t move. She merely did as she was told, and waited.

“Beautiful…” Damien said to himself as he watched Faye display herself for Fane. His eyes moved to his old friend, watching him as he wound the rope around his hands. “Does she always go so quietly?”

Fane busied himself with the bits and pieces he’d need while Damien observed Faye, “does she look like the sort who always goes quietly?” He didn’t look at Faye, or even acknowledge her presence for the time being merely speaking of her as if she wasn’t even here or worthy of recognition right in this moment. She hadn’t done anything to truly please him yet after all. “No, she’s the sort who needs handling good and proper otherwise she starts misbehaving.” Winding the rope around his hand he walked slowly towards the bed, confidence in his step that silently commanded attention and he knew Damien’s eyes were on him too and it sent a rush of power through him.

Moving to kneel beside where she had obediently presented herself it was torture to not just have her right there and then. But he attuned himself to the show they were crafting between them, first a meticulously crafted pair of handcuffs one clicked around her wrist and threaded through the headboard of the bead a look was all that was required for her other wrist to be presented. As the second cuff clicked in place a thrum of magic radiated from them and a devilish smirk cut across his mouth, she would be able to feel her magic but there would be no accessing it right now. No way to fight back against anything he wished to do to her and she would know it. Would endure it for as long as he said so.

With her secure he started to wind the rope around her back, knotting and tensioning the ropes around both her breasts ensuring the coarse material constricted her torso just as he wanted, before winding it back around again. The contrast of her sun-kissed skin, black rope and dark nipples that would only get harder as he played with her, used her to his will not to mention the scent of her arousal already filling the room were all an exquisite artwork by themselves. There was nothing more beautiful than this. Finishing up he admired the ropework, fingering the rope pressing her tits together accenting them and trying to judge how tight they’d get. Plus, what had was about to put on her was harsh enough on their own. A groan momentarily distracted him and he looked aside, noting that Damien had divested himself of his shirt and sat down near the bed palming his obvious arousal and idly Fane thought about how good it would feel-- But no, no for now Faye was his to use as he pleased though he supposed there was something exquisite in leaving her bound and forcing her to watch without a measure of control as he sought out his own pleasure. Perhaps if she misbehaved.

For now though, Fane took the box he’d placed in his pocket easing the lid open and setting it on the mattress he pulled out some silver chains; tweezer clamps on two ends and a smaller one designed for her clit. They hadn’t used them before, but he was curious to see how she’d respond to them. The silver was real, as were the diamonds hanging from each clamp; small bursts of light that glittered like stars in the low light of the room as he lightly dragged them over her stomach the cold metal making her twitch just a fraction. “What do you think? I got these especially for you.” What he didn’t mention was how the nipple clamps were also charmed to deliver little zaps of energy when they were tensioned she’d find out soon enough.

Faye could hear what Fane and Damien were saying, but it was more like a buzzing on the edge of everything. They weren’t speaking directly to her, so there was no need for her to listen too closely. When Fane wanted her to speak, he would ask her a direct question. Until then, she was - for the moment - being a good girl. Though it was true what Fane said: she didn’t always go so quietly. There were nights when she was deliberately disobedient and obstinate. And she paid for it in spades. Though sometimes the punishment was nearly as good as the reward, though Fane knew when she was misbehaving so he would punish her. And often times the punishment was simply… nothing. Or well, lack of everything. Making her wait.

It was all dependant on their moods however. And right now Faye was content to make their guest wait. Make him start to squirm in his trousers. So she would be good. For now.

Fane knew her well, knew that the rules of engagement had to be laid down from the start, lest she try and break them if left unsaid. Silent communication was something they excelled at, so it wasn’t as if she didn’t know. But she simply used it to her advantage when she wanted to. She was still a Slytherin, after all.

The bed dipped as he knelt beside her, and she didn’t react as first one wrist and then the other were presented and cuffed. She felt the thrum of magic wash over her, and a small sound crept from her throat. But still she didn’t speak, closing her eyes as he started to wrap her body in the ropes. The bite of the coarse material and the tension it placed on her ribs and breasts as Fane wound her up expertly was maddening. But she kept as still as she could, though her arousal was utterly obvious. Even without the bindings, her nipples were hard and swollen, begging to be touched. And her thighs shone wetly in the candlelight, already slick with arousal.

Faye opened her eyes at the sound of the moan, glancing over at the figure of Damien lounging nearby, stroking his hardening cock through his trousers. An image - filthy and debauched - fluttered through Faye’s mind. But it fluttered out as Fane pulled something that sparkled out of a small box, asking her what she thought of them. Faye wasn’t quite sure what they were at first, but they were cold against skin. And very, very beautiful.

Which is exactly what she told him. “Beautiful.”

Faye had grown used to Fane’s extravagence. Mostly. Not because she was one that liked to be given gifts all the time, or required things like diamonds and expensive cars and the like. But because it was simply who he was. And he knew that she didn’t require such things. So on the occasion when he presented her with something, she was happy to receive it. Just as she was now.

“Only decoration to the true beauty here,” he remarked thoughtfully as he dragged the chains over her rope-bound torso his eyes thoughtful and provoking as he looked down at her bound. “Don’t you think Damien?” he asked not looking away from her as he knelt just close enough but not enough to physically be touching her beyond through the cold drag of metal over her body.

“She’s a true specimen of divinity,” the other man agreed his eyes fixated on the sight of the couple on the bed “you know, perhaps next time I’ll bring dear Cat along. I think she would like you both-- a great deal.”

Fane grinned toothily at the thought of a larger audience, “hear that baby? More people to watch you do whatever I want. Maybe let them do things to you while I watch.” He licked his lips before taking one clamp and thumbing it open before applying it to her straining nipple before moving on to trap the other until both were tightly secured and the diamonds left to glitter against her skin, during the process he watched her expression letting her adjust to the feeling and coaxing her into accepting the constant pressure. Once the second one was placed, he leaned forwards and licked the straining bud holding the chain in his palm loosely for the time being not tensioning it. He wanted to surprise her with what happened whenever he did that a little while later. Unable to help himself he leaned over her, an arm shifting to support himself on the far side of her body so he could slot his mouth over her own licking into her mouth hungrily never able to quite get enough of her.

Faye tilted her head back as Fane complemented her, a gesture that pushed her breasts forward a bit. She looked over at Damien as Fane addressed the other man, but still didn’t speak. He was quite obviously enjoying what he saw, and the compliment made Faye’s mouth tip to the side in a small smile. After a moment of watching the other man, she turned her eyes back to Fane, who was already grinning at her.

“Would you like that? Someone else’s hands on me? Someone else touching me? Kissing me? Fucking me?” She watched the diamonds as they glittered in the candlelight, hissing as the pressure of the clamps bit into her flesh. One side, then the other. It took her breath, and desire throbbed low in her belly as Fane closed his mouth over the throbbing bud. The soft slide of his tongue was a stark contrast to the stinging pressure of the clamp. And when he moved up to find her mouth, Faye couldn’t help the moan of approval, or the ways her hands tugged on the cuffs. They clicked sharply, echoing in the warm air of the room.

Another audible moan came from Damien, though Faye barely registered it, her entire focus on Fane’s mouth against hers.

“Baby I’d love watching anyone do anything to you, because it’s you I’d be watching” and she knew that in any situation like that he would only ever have eyes for her. “Would you do the same?” he mock-whispered a devious little glint in his eyes, “watch another person touching me, doing the same things to me? Would you touch yourself as you watched?” He was musing, it was a curious thought and with Damien here well the possibilities truly were endless.

For now his interest was on her mouth and her body stretched out under him as his mouth crushed against her own, slanting his lips over hers. His mouth firm and damp, open and strong confident in how well he knew her that he knew just the right way to kiss her. No introduction here, just pure, unfiltered hunger and need. As they kissed his tongue sought hers, tangled with it while he pressed his body a little into hers though by comparison to her starkly nude body he was still almost entirely dressed save for the open-material of his shirt from earlier in the night. But still enough to burn her warmth onto his every nerve.

While she was distracted by his kiss, Fane shifted his weight just so to free up his hands. Seeking the third dangling chain that had momentarily been lost between them; attached to the other two by a silver ring studded with glimmering pavé diamonds. He deliberately bit down on her lower lip hard as his fingers slicked through her arousal, fingers spreading her so he could seek her clit with the other. The sensitive nub was already hard, and after grazing his thumb over it it meant it was easy enough to slip the third and final clamp in place. There was no hesitation, between fixing the clamp in place and roughly burying two fingers into her eager cunt forcing it to yield to the no doubt familiar intrusion the sounds that resulted bringing a pleased smile to his lips.

Faye sighed into his mouth. “I would. I would watch, and I would touch myself. God I could probably come just from watching someone come undone for you. Or you for them.” Filthy images moved through Faye’s mind, slowly and in great detail. The heavy swell of Fane’s cock hitting his belly over and over, leaving a trail of slick precum across his taut skin as Damien fucked him from behind. His own cock thick and hard and oozing with want. Another image of Damien on his back, Faye working her mouth over him as Fane watched. More and more things flashed through her head, each more debauched than the last.

Though again, all that fell away as he kissed her. Faye ached to touch him, but her hands were bound fast. The muscles of her arms strained, and she spread her legs and his fingers dipped between them. The hard bud of her clit stood out from the slick flesh like a beacon, and she moaned as Fane teased her. The moan turned to an outcry of pleasure mixed with pain as the third clamp closed over her. But the force of Fane’s teeth in the soft flesh of her lip kept her from moving much. An act that was both agonizing and extraordinary all at once. The intrusion of his fingers inside her made her hips jerk, seeking more even as her clit throbbed and quivered above them.

Down from the foot of the bed, there was a rustle of fabric as Damien eased the tension on his straining cock, freeing it from his trousers. It hung hard and swollen between his spread legs, and he palmed it before giving it a tug. His mouth fell open just so. But he kept silent, content to watch for now.

If there was one thing he always struggled to fight it was the urge to simply have her, especially when she was bound up like this, so easy for the taking. But he also knew the pleasure it brought them both when he did hold off, so he took the time and as the third clamp was twisted into place he let her arch, pressing herself closer and baring herself to his hungry gaze. He grinned at the way she moved; lips parted in pleasure and eyes closed until she cried out in that way that told him she was riding the fine line between pleasure and pain. Releasing her lip he sat back on his heels, moving now to settle between her legs.

Slipping his hands under her ass he pulled her down just enough to put a strain on the cuffs which clinked against the rails while he admired the sight of her bound nipples and clit all linked with delicate chains that glimmered in the low light of the room. “Look at me,” he ordered, his fingers still buried inside her waiting until she did as he said and also so that he could gauge her reaction as his fingers curled and stroked, pulling and pushing in arcs before the other sought out the ring binding all three chains together. He could feel the throb of his own cock, but for now the ache was ignored, the pace of his fingers starting to increase and on one deliberate curl of his fingers he finally tensioned the clamps holding her nipples a ripple of magic thrumming through the chains and discharging a few bolts of energy into the sensitive peaks as he slid a third finger into her.

He would have made a comment about Damien’s cock had he been aware of the fact he’d all but stripped, but Fane was mesmerised by the display of Faye’s body and playing it like the masterful musician he was. She was so wet, enough that with a slow coaxing eventually all his fingers were buried inside of her to the knuckle. “You see how hungry her cunt is?” he asked Damien finally on one deliberate moment where his fingers curled and gripped her inside the silken warmth his palm nudging to tweak the clamp on her clit while another tension of the chains sent another pulse of energy into her body. “She could take a fisting if I told her to and enjoy it all the same,” he still didn’t release her “wouldn’t you babygirl?” She was close, he could feel it in the tremor of her body but she knew his rules. She wasn’t allowed to come until she had his permission.

Faye’s willpower had never been what Fane’s was. She knew it, and so did he. And more often than not, she ended up giving in to her urges and getting punished accordingly. Which for someone like Faye, punishment was often the lack of things. Lack of touch, lack of sensation, lack of anything. She remembered one particular time when Fane had made her kneel in the middle of the bed, and told her to stay there, unmoving, until he returned. He would know if she moved, and it would only be longer that she would have to kneel there. He had left, and come back an hour later. Needless to say, Faye didn’t misbehave again for a long time.

Because Faye hated deprivation. She craved sensation. And right now she had that in spades. There was no reason for her to go against what Fane was telling her to do. And she didn’t want to besides. Whatever it was that was running through her veins made her pliant and - while not complacent - willing to do anything he asked. While still retaining her free will to make that choice. It took away every remaining inhibition, and replaced it with a readiness to be seen. To be touched and appreciated.To be used.

Her eyes met his as he commanded her to do so, and Faye’s belly tightened as she watched him pumping his fingers inside her. She groaned, the sight nearly more than she could take as he combined it with the sensations of the clamps tight around her nipples. They were slowly losing that edge of pain and heading towards pleasure, and she pulled again on her restraints as his finger hooked through the hoop connected the diamond chains to each other. And when he tugged, and the charge shot through her, radiating to every nerve ending in her body from the points of her swollen clit and nipples, Faye nearly came undone.

She cried out, pulling hard on the cuffs as her body arched beneath the chains. Her cunt tightened around the welcome pressure of Fane’s fingers, and her clit throbbed like mad. It was hard as Fane’s cock, and stood out beneath the clamp like a glistening pink bud. Fane worked her open, and Faye’s legs fell to the side, putting her on display for their audience of one. She rolled her hips to the cadence of Fane’s fingers inside her, unable to help the obscene sounds that worked their way up her throat, or the way she was wetter than she’d ever been. Or so it seemed. Maybe it was drugs. Maybe it was the audience. Or maybe it was just Fane and the fact that they had been so unpressured and relaxed for over a week now.

“Yes…” was all Faye could manage. Another shock went through her, and she cried out again, her vision blacking out a bit at the edge. Her cry was a trembling sound that matched the way her body shook around his fingers as he curled them inside her, close to giving her the fisting that she heard him mention to Damien. She would take it. She would take anything he gave her. Right now she was his to use as he saw fit. A show for himself and their guest, who’s cock now stood hard against his belly, though Faye couldn’t see him. It all felt so good...so fucking good… and she was trying to hold back, Christ she was trying… but she was so close.

If she shocked her again there was no way she wouldn’t come all over his hand, permission or not.

Damien rubbed his cock idly, slow strokes that only increased his arousal. Clear fluid leaked from the tip, and he thumbed it over the head, all the while watching his old friend fingerfuck his beautiful partner until she was on the edge of coming undone. Damien’s own fingers itched to touch flesh that wasn’t his. Whether Fane’s of Faye’s, he didn’t care either way. “She takes more than most could,” Damien commented, readjusting himself on the chaise, legs spread indolently as he eyed the both of them hungrily.

His bunched fingers continued their steady assault, even as her legs splayed open. Still holding onto the ring connecting the chains to one another as he knelt between her legs feeling how her her muscles were pushed and forced to accommodate the intrusion. A slight slicking charm helped ease the way just enough to take most of the pain away though not enough that she wouldn’t still get the sting of it as his knuckles pressed that little bit deeper. His eyes drifted to the glint of diamond over the swollen bud of her clit and his mouth practically watered at the thought of getting a taste of her but the overarching desire to watch her come undone. To force her to entirely yield and break his one rule, drove him to continue the steady rhythm he’d built up until now.

Fane did lean down to kiss the corner of her mouth, distractingly while he continued to mercilessly work her body open. “You’re not going to come yet are you babygirl,” he breathed the words so softly as he drew back, “promise me,” he cooed under his breath “go on, promise me you won’t come until I tell you to. You’re gonna let me bury my fist in you ‘til you feel me rearranging your insides aren’t you, my darling little slut?” His voice had dropped by now to a low rumble, a rasp in his voice that growled on a couple of the words and a timbre that only tended to show itself when he was decidedly in the mood to push her beyond their typical limits. Perhaps it was having her so willing, so pliant and accepting or the audience captivated by the display of her letting him debauch her in the precise fashion that he wished with no real say so about what he did to her body. He couldn’t say, other than he felt almost high off of the power he held in this situation. “You’ve never taken anything this big have you? Never let someone do this to you… Only me,” another kiss was pressed to the corner of her mouth “only me.”

As her arms yanked on the chains once more and her head fell back under another rather brutal assault of his fingers he nosed and licked at her jaw, “that’s a good girl.” The praise was murmured between little nips and kisses “such a good girl,” his cock twitched hard in the confines of his trousers and he was oh so tempted to touch himself, but he was driven by a singular purpose. It was hard to be distracted by conversation with his fingers practically taken by her body every moment but to his credit Fane looked over at Damien, and the heavy swell of his cock had Fane eyeing it hungrily and an idea came to mind. Not yet, but shortly he would make very good use of his friend. “Oh you have no idea what she takes, but you will soon enough.”

The comment was enough to have Damien groan low, his fingers flexing and dragging over the thick shaft of his leaking cock slowly. “That better be a promise.”

“Oh-- it is,” tucking his thumb in, slowly pressing his knuckles against Faye’s slick warmth he pushed his hand against the resistance of her muscles until they yielded and her body was forced to accept his hand up to his wrist. “Fuck-- Look at you babygirl,” he groaned curling his fingers inside of her into a fist as he fed her a little more of his arm “you’re like honey ‘n’ silk baby, cunt’s so desperate to be fucked it’ll take anything it can get.” For a moment his other hand pressed flat on the low arch of her pelvis, the chain temporarily forgotten under the press of his palm. “M’gonna pound you open baby, s’gonna hurt but you’re gonna let me do it because you trust me, and you know I’m doing it because I love you. Because you’re mine to love and cherish and defile however I fucking well please. You remember what I told you, no coming ‘til I say so. Yeah?” It was cruel, but it was also the most delicious torture he could devise for her.

Faye could’ve sworn that she’d never been this open, this accepting of him inside her. And that wasn’t in terms of want or need… she always wanted him, always needed him. She meant simply in terms of the physical. In how much her body could take. They were always pushing limits. They’d reach one, stay there for a bit, and then try another. It took work and patience, and a hell of a lot of willpower sometimes, but the ends justify the means. And right now Faye knew that whatever happened would be worth it. The pressure of his hand inside her was almost painful… was painful from time to time… but she tried to relax her body, even though the only thing it seemed intent on was clamping down around him, holding him inside her. Her legs were splayed wide, boneless and indolent as he worked between them. Each firm push of his hand pulling a lewd sound from her chest, and the random swear word mixed with encouragement to do more.

Deep down, Faye knew what he was doing. Under the high, under the sheer overwhelming sensations of being used like nothing more than a plaything for his amusement, under the press of his wicked mouth and the words he said… Faye knew that he knew she couldn’t hold out. That she would try, but she would fail. “Only you, baby…” she breathed, back arching as she tried to pull him deeper. As his filthy words only drove her closer to the edge. Closer to breaking the promise she’d gasped into his mouth only moments before.

His words here muffled and slightly out of focus when she spoke to anyone but her, so Faye didnt hear what he said as he turned to Damien. The other man’s words were even more muffled, and Faye idly wondered if he still had his cock out, and if he was still watching. She supposed he was, since Fane was speaking to him. These were all idle side-thoughts that slipped through her pliant, foggy mind. Pushed aside by the steady stretch of her cunt around Fane’s hand. He did something then, something Faye couldn’t see, and pushed forwards mercilessly.

“Fuuckkk…” The word came out as a low growl, tightening her entire body once more even as she tried to relax and take him in. She did take him in, her body accepting the entirety of his fist into it’s warm, vice-like heat, but through no help of her own. It was sheer force of will on Fane’s part. Her hips rocked against him, and by now she was rapidly losing control of what little willpower she had left. She was close to begging, which was unlike her this early on, but there were so many new things happening here that she was on overload.

Fane’s hand pressed her down so she couldn’t move, and she feel the roll of his hand pressing against her belly and bladder and against everything inside her. “Hurt me… please… hurt me and make beg… please, baby… ahhf uckk… I pro-... I... I can’t… I can’t… pleaseahhh….” After that Faye’s words descended into a line of gibberish as her body tightened against her will, and she came hard. Her release gushed over Fane’s fist still buried inside her. Her arms strained against the cuffs harder than ever, muscles standing out as they tightened along with the rest of her body. And while it felt… it felt like fucking heaven and hell and everything in between, and she rode it out until the end, nearly blacking out at the peak, as she came back down, panting and sweating and gasping for air, Faye knew she hadn’t had permission.

And as good as it felt, Faye looked up at Fane, her submissive exterior breaking for the flash of a second, long enough for her to look at him in a way that said she was both sorry for not keeping her promise, and yet she knew what he’d done. It lasted barely a blink, before Faye closed her eyes again and tried to slow her breathing. Because regardless of whether or not Fane had made her come on purpose - which he had - she hadn’t had permission.

And that meant punishment.

Fane was sure these were moments he lived for, these moments constructed entirely upon the foundation of trust they had built up from such a young age. The dependency they held for one another so completely, but to reduce her to such a state where she was so overcome by her pleasure that coherency simply was no longer an option for her. God there was no holding back the moan the sight brought about at the sheer wanton beauty of her falling apart all for him. And as her entire body trembled and shook before he’d even done a single thing to her that he’d planned. But he let her ride it out, watching with a slanted little smile as her arms and muscles straining and any words she might’ve had for him turned into an incoherent garble just from the pressure of his palm on her pelvis.

But just as fast as it had occurred, Fane slowly eased his hand from the crushing molten grasp of her body’s clutch. Freeing his hand he took a moment to admire the work he’d started to make of her and the mess that had occurred as a consequence of how hard she’d come. On any other night he would have told her how god damned impressed he was with her, but she had broken his rules.

Even if they both knew he’d set her up ultimately to fail his little test any way she had tried. He left her on the bed then, still clamped and cuffed shifting his weight off of it to finally walk over to their guest where he lounged on the chaise. With his free hand he gripped Damien’s jaw, before he could even say a word greedily stole a kiss from the other man who leaned up eagerly desperate by now for any sort of attention he could get and Fane obliged him quite happily before pulling away sharply. The dark glimmer still present in his eyes as his wet hand wrapped around Damien’s heavy cock the shaft silken steel in his grasp as he gave a few generous rubs. “You know what she needs now?” he spoke knowing he had Damian’s full attention in the very deliberately slow twist of his grip not to mention the fact that Faye could hear his every word “she needs to suffer for not obeying the rules… Now I’ve split her cunt open rather nicely, but the best way to punish that dirty little whore? I think she needs a proper shafting…” Damian’s mouth grew slack, his muscles tightening under the slow pump of Fane’s hand but he nodded his consent.

“I’ll teach her a lesson.”

“Mm, good don’t be nice she needs to know she isn’t allowed to break the rules” with that another softer kiss was pressed to Damian’s mouth before Fane left to the bar to fetch himself a refreshment while he watched. Damian, now given permission walked over to the bed his prick swollen and bobbing against his belly as he approached the bed placing a large hand on Faye’s hip. A wave of his hands had the cuffs gone before he roughly used a rather formidable amount of strength to flip her over onto her stomach gripping her hips with large hands and hoisting her ass up into the air. He palmed the round curve of her body before delivering three successive hard slaps, smirking at the bounce of reddening flesh that followed.

Fane disappeared from Faye’s line of sight, and she let herself sag against the cuffs. Her hands were gone numb from all the pulling, and her body still tremored from her climax. But she knew this wasn’t over. She would have to suffer a punishment now, and what that would be, Faye had no idea. Fane always kept her guessing. Though the worst would be to leave her here and perhaps even make her listen as he had his way with Damien, or vice versa.

So for a brief moment, Faye relaxed into the soft covers, listening with only a slightly clearer head as the two men spoke near the foot of the bed. The bed was wet beneath her, from her arousal and the way she had come so hard. Christ she still felt the spread of her body where he’d worked her open, where she’d taken half his forearm like a needy slut. Which she was. Even now, she could feel her desire returning where it had only ebbed a bit in the fallout. She squeezed her legs together, the drugs still rushing through her veins not letting her libido die down. Faye wondered if it was like those red pills Fane had taken that night, that kept him hard as a rock for hours. She’d barely been able to walk the next day.

Her thoughts were brought back to the here and now as she heard Fane talking about her. She lifted her head, seeing Damien standing there, heard him promise to teach her a lesson before moving towards the bed. Faye barely had time to think about what was going to happen before she was flipped over and hoisted to her knees. Damien’s hands were broader than Fane’s, and gripped her effortlessly. She trusted Damien, but only because

she trusted Fane implicitly. And he trusted his old friend. Though there were things that Faye knew weren’t allowed by anyone else. Fane would have told Damien this, so as he positioned her as he wanted, she grew complacent, fisting her hands in the covers. They tightened, and Faye cried out, hissing as Damien’s hand met her flesh three times in a row. It stung, but he soothed it with another rub of his large palm before repeating the gesture on the other side. Faye cried out again, though this one ended in a small moan. She swayed her hips back and forth, unable to help herself. Damien’s hand stilled her. The other palmed his cock, giving it a few slow tugs, his eyes closing at the sensation before opening again. The hand slipped between Faye’s legs, cupping her swollen, slick, still slightly gaping flesh. Faye moaned.

Damien slicked his hand back through the dripping wetness, coating his fingers slowly before drawing back and giving her cunt a slap. Three times, just like each now reddened cheek. The sound was wet and slick and Faye’s cry this time was tremulous and higher pitched, though she still didn’t move. Damien’s cock twitched at the sound, and he pulled her back a bit, slicking two fingers inside her up to the knuckle. He looked back at Fane, the desire clear on his face, wanting to make sure he was watching before taking his cock in hand and without any preperation, fucked into Faye’s body with one sharp movement. He groaned, gripping her hips hard with both hands before starting to move slowly. A flip of his hands, and Faye’s arms were bound behind her back. Damien started moving faster, doing just as he said he would and making sure Faye was well and truly punished like she deserved.

The sounds of flesh on flesh, relentless and determined, filled the room, as did Damien’s harsh grunts of pleasure and Faye’s stunted, sharp ones that spoke of pain and pleasure mixed.

Much like Damien had done earlier, Fane had sought out a drink shucking off his shirt in the process before returning to the same spot his friend had occupied bare a few minutes prior. With a crystal glass filled with top shelf whiskey in one hand he flicked open the button to his trousers working them loose from where they hung about his waist. He’d forgone underwear as he had done for the majority of this trip considering it another unnecessary hinderance considering he spent more time with his clothes off than he did with them on. The material was snug and it took a little bit of work to loosen it off and down his legs before they were kicked away to the depths of the room.

The length of his own cock swung heavily as he took a seat, reclining rather gracefully on the chaise and keeping one leg poised to rest his elbow on lazily between sips. His other hand trailed down his stomach, taking the weight of himself in hand and with a familiar and well-versed motion pumped the shaft in time with Damien’s thrusts his eyes fluttering closed as he thumbed the swollen head of his leaking prick slicking his hand and easing the way for him to pleasure himself while watching Faye be given what for by his old friend. Not particularly wanting to come however, instead of continuing Fane eventually let go the curve of his cock resting on his belly as his arm folded behind his head indolently spread and sipping his drink as he watched the pair on the bed the sight causing his cock to twitch eagerly every now and then.

“You know, if you really want to punish her you should take her ass” Fane remarked swirling his glass so that the ice cubes clinked and Damien’s fast punishing movements slowed. Looking over at Fane and then to Faye his wet palm smoothing up the curve of her back.

“You think so?” his voice was a low growl, as his fingers tangled in Faye’s hair.

“Oh I know so,” Fane assured giving Damian and Faye a very knowing look, the words given with the absolute experienced knowledge of only a person well versed in the way of Faye’s body could say.

Faye loved admiring Fane’s body, the figure he struck both dressed and as he was now. Especially as he was now. He was unashamed, and knew how he looked to her, scars and tattoos and all. And that she loved every bit of him, even the parts that might not seem so beautiful or elegant. To Faye, he was exquisite. And she knew every part of his body, ever scar, every freckle, every dip of muscle and curve of bone. Every way to touch him that made his cock hard, that made him want her.

So it was too bad that she couldn’t see him now, lounging indolently on the chaise that Faye had occupied earlier. But she was a bit preoccupied as Damien bottomed out inside her willing wet heat over and over again. His cock was shiny and slick with arousal, his own and Faye’s, and everytime he pulled out of Faye’s body, more of the thick viscous liquid would ooze out of her and down her thighs. She was literally dripping as Damien thrust his cock back inside her, pausing briefly to enjoy the sensation of such a willing body clutching around him.

Faye had drifted into the headspace of being punished. Of being used and degraded and seen as nothing more than a whore… a warm body and a slick, willing cunt that would take whatever punishment she deserved. Her arms were still bound behind her back, crossed over at the wrists, and her eyes were closed as she’d descended into the place she needed to be to accept such treatment.

Damien’s fingers twisted in her hair, pulling her head back a bit. It hurt, the strain on her neck making breathing a bit difficult, but she relaxed, mouth falling open as his large hand stroked the curve of her back. She could hear herself making small grunting noises, noises of discomfort, noises of the opposite, noises that meant she knew what a slut she was and how she deserved to be used like one. Punished like one. How she wanted to be. Such a level of submission could be very, very dangerous with the wrong partner. One had to know limits, and how far past those limits a person could be pushed. Fane knew how far Faye could go,and he was willing to stretch the edges of those limits on this holiday. And Faye was willing to let him, and do the same in return.

Right now though, it was Faye on her knees being fucked within an inch of her life. She felt the slow drag of Damien’s heavy hand back up and then between her legs. He slid out, his leaking cock hanging heavily against her thigh, and pressed three fingers deep inside her once, twice, three times… before moving to circle the tight bud of her ass, slicking her up until he started to work a finger inside her. Faye moaned, but didn’t open her eyes or try to move away. Another finger followed the first soon after, and Damien’s cock twitched in anticipation.

“Christ, she’s tight…” he commented, sliding his fingers in to the knuckle. Once he was satisfied, Damien pushed Faye flat on the bed and pushed her legs apart. Leaning over her, he stroked the head of his cock through oil-slick wetness of her cunt before pressing it against her tight bud. He pushed forwards once, twice…. On the fourth cant of his hips he let out a muffled string of curses, pushing past the slight resistance and burying himself to the hilt.

The sound that came from Faye was obscene. Low and gutteral and nearly animalistic, it was muffled by the way Damien’s hand held her face partly to the bed, hand twisted back in her hair.

Damien only took a moment to pull himself back together, to not come right then and there, before he pulled back and rammed home again. And again. Soon enough he had released Faye’s hair and was pulling her up to her knees again. Grabbing her hips, he lined up his cock again and pushed forwards, resuming the near-brutal pace that was fast sending him towards pumping her full of his spend. The sounds of flesh on flesh, slick and wet with an ever increasing tempo, filled the room beneath Faye’s own sounds of what could be pain or pleasure, but was a mix of both.

“You’ll be so beautiful with my cum leaking out of you… won’t you?” Damien panted. “You’ll like it, won’t you? Being pumped so full that you’ll still feel it oozing out of you tomorrow? God… fuckk….” His movements started to grow erratic, and his pace increased even more as his words died in his throat. A few moments later, he came with a sound that was more growl than anything, his cock pumping into Faye as Damien’s movements slowed. He pumped his hips a few more times, wrapping his hand around the base of his cock and easing it almost all the way out of Faye’s body. The swollen tip remained, thick streams of cum oozing out around it and down Faye’s legs as he stroked himself through the last of his climax.

He shuddered, and finally let himself pull out. Damien released himself, and his cock hung halfhard between his legs as he reached up to trail a finger through the mess he’d made, soothing the slightly gaping flesh with soft strokes of his hand. Faye mewled quietly from the bed, eyes still closed and hands still bound as she waited on what came next.

It was a rare sight and opportunity they had been presented with, tonight and for the rest of the time they had here on this island and Fane wished to explore the realms of things that had only been a theoretical back home. They had, of course, experimented between themselves to find and test the things they both enjoyed and so arriving here he was armed with a certain specific knowledge of what limits could be tested. Though it might’ve appeared that he was simply lounging indolently, sipping his drink as Faye was practically railed within an inch of all sanity there was a very specific point of observation. A watchfulness over Damien’s behaviour and Faye’s own responsiveness that he maintained, it was partly why he had chosen not to take anything tonight. So that he might be able to observe and intervene if things went too far.

Thankfully it didn’t seem to be the case, and he could see Faye sinking ever deeper into the headspace she required to accept such base degradation and almost forced subservience. It was a curious thing, how with the right treatment she could be pushed so far beyond her usual stubbornly independent self into such a version of herself that was barely even recognisable. The thing about it was, where most people might’ve called them freaks or mad for the things they both dabbled in it was the ultimate trust that existed between them that permitted them to even broach this and each moment like this they shared was just another display of that ever-strengthening trust. But it didn’t mean there weren’t limits, and it didn’t mean Fane was about to stop watching in case something did happen as Damian’s body language and movements grew increasingly erratic until finally with a few final cants of his hips he spilled himself entirely pumping Faye full just as he promised before pulling out leaving her a sweaty, debauched mess on the bed panting hard himself his own skin glistening in the warm evening heat that flooded through the balcony doors.

Giving them both a moment to regain some degree of composure, Fane tipped his glass back emptying it and setting it aside. Pushing himself off the chaise his cock still throbbing from the few attentions he’d given himself during the spectacular show they had put on on his behalf. A wave of his hands had the bindings loosen and fall off, and where Damien had settled aside on his back Fane softly placed a hand on Faye’s head. Sitting down on the mattress before he slipped an arm under her shoulders and rolled her, gently pulling her up the bed so that he could cradle her into his chest for the time being. Just to give her a little reprieve from the rather brutal way her body had been pushed and used this evening. Not to say either of them were done with her but it was a necessity to check in and make sure that she was okay. “You’re so beautiful baby, you know you deserved that but god you look so beautiful” he cooed pressing a few successive kisses to her head as he held her close feeling how she was so warm he might’ve thought she was running a fever had he not just seen what she’d been through. “How are you feeling?” Fane took one of her wrists, which between the cuffs and the ropes were chafed raw raising it to inspect it before bringing it to his mouth and kissing each one softly a vast contrast to how she had been treated barely a few moments prior. But this was all part and parcel of the evening, the times the check in and ensure that she was okay with everything that had happened tonight.

Faye knew going in that Fane was going to stay sober tonight. He might have a drink or two, but he would have his faculties about him in case something untoward happened. Neither of them expected it to, but one never knew. And they weren’t willing to take that risk, old friend or not. Later, when it was just the two of them, they would most likely experiment together with some of the substances available, but not tonight. Tonight it was Faye’s turn, and she was deeply inside her head, deep-down the consensual rabbit hole of subservience and willing degradation. It had been a relief for her, in the most fundamental way possible, when they’d first started down this road. Her life, her job, her… everything was decision after decision after decision. Without anyone to give up control to. And once she could, once Fane was in her life again and they had broached to topic, Faye was more than willing to let him dominate her from time to time.

It was cathartic. As so many things between them were.

So Faye took her punishment, willing her body to accept the girth and stretch of Damien’s cock. Willing herself to know this was punishment, no matter how good it might feel, and that she wouldn’t come again until ordered. Damien didn’t have that sort of power over her, as good as the fucking he was giving her felt. Faye closed that part of her mind off, the part that enjoyed it, the part that wanted it, and focused on the part that said she had been bad. She had disobeyed. She had been an awful, awful slut and taken her pleasure without permission. And now her penance was another man’s cock filling her up like the whore she was, while Fane looked on.

The warmth spread inside her as Damien climaxed, and she moaned. Her arms were nearly numb by now, and she ached from where she hadn’t been properly prepared. But still she didn’t move. Not until she felt Damien pull out of her and then Fane was there, unbinding her and pulling her up against him, cradling her and praising her even as he reminded her it had been necessary. Faye hummed against his chest, burying her face against him as he soothed the sting on her wrists. “‘M okay,” she told him, her voice nothing more than a soft murmur. She didn’t acknowledge the other man in the room. He was inconsequential to her in her current state. Especially at this moment. This was her and Fane. Touching base. Making sure all was well.

“Little sore. But ‘sfine.” Faye felt so sleepy now. Not that she was ready for the night to be over. Hardly that. But her body had been put through the ringer over the last hour. Though whether or not she’d be allowed a brief respite wasn’t up to her. She could feel the warmth of Fane’s body stretched out with hers. His cock brushed her hip as Faye shifted, but she didn’t reach for it yet. There would be time. Fane was patient beyond belief. If he wanted something, he would ask. Or in this case tell. So Faye just enjoyed the small respite, and listened to his heart beating under her ear.

Damien had moved off, giving the two a bit of time to themselves. He hadn’t dressed, but simply cleaned himself off and poured a drink, moving to stand at the window looking out onto the sea.

It had become an exercise of control and a cathartic release of their respective energies after long hard days that required incredibly difficult decisions to be made. Fane understand Faye’s desire to escape out of the mindspace she existed in on a daily basis, a mindset she had created entirely for herself to help her make those choices. It was what made her such a top-notch auror, maybe even the best in the department, but it also meant the necessary counterbalance was required to bring her back to even. Something she’d sought elsewhere before he’d returned, but now that he was here Fane did everything necessary to try and fulfill whatever needs or wants she had.

And just with every punishment she received for disobeying, there came the required reward, the touchstone moment they spent afterwards ensuring that nothing had gone too far. That time was now, and Fane was happy enough to cradle her into his chest after he took the time to remove the chains from her body dropping them off the side of the bed prior to scooping her up securely and let her doze as was necessary even if he ached to have his own true fill of her or just to have anything to push him that last distance until he also was finally satisfied. Whether it was Faye or Damien it really didn’t matter, he knew what he needed but he also knew Faye’s well-being was paramount. So he let her arms slip around his waist and let her bury her face into his chest his fingers softly brushing over her skin random lazy patterns that were nothing and everything at the same time. “You’re so pretty, you know that hm?” he petted her head softly between little kisses to her crown noting that she said she was sore considering she hadn’t truly been prepared properly and it would more than likely ache in the morning “you took that so well. Do you want a drink or anything?”

Faye deserved a bit of a respite, and after a little while during which Damien departed and he made sure that anything she needed or wanted was seen to Fane settled with Faye wrapped up in his arms. However, he was starting to feel uncomfortable achy as a consequence of his own neglect and his cock had started to soften slightly while his balls just felt heavy he nosed against her head pressing a few kisses there. “Roll over baby, on your back hm? Gonna let me taste you, yeah?” He was well aware of how sensitive she was right now, and for the moment he was content to take care of her slower, to build her pleasure at a more comfortable pace than had been forced out of her over the last hour between Damien and himself. She deserved a treat in his mind and once he was sure that she felt better he’d finally take what he wanted. Lazily rolling her over he chased her lips in a languid kiss, softly stroking her body with his hands.

Faye was so spent that she barely felt the release of the chains. She knew Fane would take care of her. Now and always. They’d promised. And neither of them made promises lightly. So Faye relaxed into his embrace, humming softly as she did when she really didn’t have all that much to say, but wanted to acknowledge him. “Water?” she asked at the offer of a drink. She had no want for alcohol at the moment. The substance in her blood was keeping her sufficiently languid and euphoric. To add anything else to it right now might ruin the feeling.

Fane took care of her for a bit, bringing her a drink and letting her doze against him for a bit. After awhile, Faye could feel him start to grow slightly restless. Shifting himself beneath her, his mouth was warm against her hair as he finally spoke again. Faye’s eyes opened, and while they were still blown dark, they were mostly recovered from the previous ordeals. She curled a hand around his neck as his mouth slipped over hers. The kiss was slow and patient, the polar opposite of the way he’d kissed her at the beginning of the night. They often fell into this sort of pattern. Control and denial and rough treatment followed by soft touches and giving back in reward. Faye often did the same when it was Fane in her place. When he was the one on his knees, being used like a whore. It was all about give and take, in every aspect of their lives. Not just this part. Back home too, in their job. Fane hated the Ministry, and was only there because of Faye. Because she needed him there. And Faye knew that. Which is why she rarely denied him anything he truly, truly wanted. Because he gave up so much already to help her, simply because the case was important.

That was how they’d ended up here, after all. Because Fane deserved it. And because if Faye were honest, she had needed to get away too. Before the case consumed everything. And going with Fane was something she’d wanted to do anyway, she just hadn’t been able to find a stopping point at the time.

But now they were here, and Fane’s hands trailed her aching body, knowing just where to touch to get a response. She arched gently beneath his hands, moaning quietly into his mouth as he touched sensitive flesh. Her scars were kept glamoured unless it was just them, but she could still feel the sensations as he brushed over them. “Let me make you happy…” Faye sighed into his mouth. “Let me make you cum…”

The drug in her system would take a while yet to wear off, but Faye had let herself be used well and truly in a short span of time that he was willing to be lenient. There were times where he would tell her that no, she would have to endure more but this holiday was about them both having a chance to relax not about pushing their boundaries to the absolute limits. So for now he was content to let her be, and he settled as she curled up against him; her body-heat sinking into him where their skin was pressed together. Not to mention the warmth filtering in through the open door and crash of the ocean beyond. If he could describe the perfect moment, it would have been exactly this.

After all, what could be better than having the person you loved wrapped up in your arms in such a way you knew they would never leave. Never be parted from you, or if you were, that eventually no matter the odds you would find your way back to one another. Because what they shared was something he would never experience with another person. Being with Faye was like finding a missing half he’d never even known he’d needed to truly feel finally balanced in his life, the push and the pull was all a part of that balancing act. To give what the other needed and take what was required in return, but in such a measure that it would never truly tip the scales this way or that because between them they would always keep it level. So he was content to lose himself in the warmth of her presence, the sweet taste of their drinks from earlier and the gentle slide of her hands that drifted in such a fashion his skin pebbled, sensitised and attuned entirely to her will.

His fingers brushed over the roughened skin of her hip, which he often sought out in the knowledge of its existence as a silent reminder that even if he couldn’t see it he would cherish all of her, would love all of her. No matter what happened that would always be true for a fact. While he typically would have insisted she let him take care of her, the prolonged abstinence he’d endured up until now was growing relatively uncomfortable. Fane sighed, long and slow “you do make me happy,” because she didn’t need to do anything to make him happy but that wasn’t the point to be made here and after a few more kisses he let her push him over onto his back blinking up at her with a slanted smile gracing his lips. “Very well love,” his fingers danced over her ribcage feather-light and admiring the sight of her “have your way with me.”

If he had chosen to deny her request, Faye would have complied. Just as she would have complied with anything else he’d asked of her, or ordered her to do. But she’d apparently done well. Pleased him with her utter obedience and acceptance of the punishment he had set out for her. When he pulled her in, Faye curled close, finding just the right way so that they were pressed as close as possible. He was warm, like a furnace. And Faye was too, all things considered, even though her body temperature was normally much cooler than his own.

His heart beat beneath her, and she could swear that her own started to beat in tandem. The ocean was a soft rush outside, and while the room was warm the breeze was just a tad less so. It moved over them, ruffling Faye’s hair and bringing with it the smell of the sea air. But Faye was only interested in the way Fane’s skin smelled. The way his skin was soft and slightly sweat-slick beneath her fingers and where they were pressed so close.

It was perfect. More perfect than Faye could ever have thought possible. A moment between two people that had lost each other as children, and found one other again as adults. Just when they had needed each other most. Faye was a firm believer in Fate. In souls that were meant to be together. That would find each other no matter what obstacle lay in their path. No matter how far apart they ended up. No matter what might seem to come between them. They were attached at the very core of themselves. Fane completed Faye in ways no other person ever could. He saw her light as well as her darkness. Her good and her evil. Her kind heart and her vengeful spirit. He saw all of it and more. And he loved her. He loved every single bit of her. Just as she did him. Just as she always had. Just as she always would. Now and forever.

As she was reminded when his hand brushed over her hip. Over the scars she guarded so closely around everyone else. Her eyes opened briefly as he spoke, his chest dipping beneath her as he sighed. She stroked along his jaw, leaning up to press her mouth to the corner of his as he consented to her wishes to make him happy. And she knew she did. She knew that while life wasn’t perfect, especially with the job back home taking up so much of their lives and their time, Fane was happy with her. As she was him.

So as he rolled over beneath her, the motion bringing her to lay half on top of him, she smiled. Again, she leaned down, pressing one more slow kiss to his lips. Her back arched beneath the brush of his fingers. “As you wish…” Faye moved slowly, laying warm, open-mouthed kisses to each pulse point on his neck, down his chest, laving her tongue over each hard nipple before moving down his midline. She couldn’t help but bury her nose in the soft skin of his lower belly, where it dipped between the arch of his hips. Inhaling the warm, clean scent of him, she traced a finger over the curve of one iliac crest and down to the junction of his thigh. There she paused, content to stroke his long, lean muscles and taste the warm skin just above his hardening cock for a bit before going any further.

He was happy with her, very much so and it was because of that and the combination of reasons that he hadn’t yet allowed himself his own satisfaction that he relented his control. Let her request to please him in the ways only she could manage. Settling down on his back his legs straightened out as her weight settled over him comfortably familiar and warm. His eyes were dark and hooded as they slowly dragged over the gleam of her skin, and he couldn’t help but reach up to pinch and cup the curve of her breasts always content to toy and play with her in moments like these.

But then she was leaving the slow pass of their lips, slinking down lower and lower each kiss and nip or stroke of her tongue drawing a contented sigh and flood of warmth through his body. His eyes fluttered shut, hand falling to rest on her shoulder partially tangled in the loose hang of her hair. She moved lower then, and he was hard pressed not to lift his hips up to tilt them and encourage her further.

His breath came shallowly as her nail scraped down the junction of his thigh and pelvis goosebumps erupting across his skin and he didn’t even try to stop the pleasant shiver of satisfaction she brought about. “How are you going to do it baby? Suck me off and then bury me in you? Or just make me come in your mouth?” his words were quiet, genuinely interested in what she planned to do.

Faye hummed low in her throat as he cupped her sensitive flesh. Still tender and slightly raw from being bound and clamped and used, the sensation was a soft one compared to what had come before. Her nipples drug across the planes of his stomach, her mouth following, sucking gently over the flesh that moved and quivered with tight control beneath her. She didn’t see his face when his eyes closed, but she felt the touch on her shoulder. Many times she’d seen the way his face turned lax and pliant as he found pleasure in what she was doing. Gods how she loved to watch him come undone.

Though there was no rush in what she was doing tonight. There was no quick taking of what she wanted, no instant satisfaction. Only slow, steady movements, calculated and precise. Most likely helped along by the humming in her veins. But either way, she didn’t take him in her mouth yet. She kissed all around him, eyes flicking up to his as he questioned her. Faye wanted to do all of it. She wanted him inside her, filling her up. She wanted him in her mouth, slick and hard, the taste of salt on her tongue. So she didn’t answer, even as she smiled at him. They would just see what happened.

Her tongue flicked against him, over the swollen head, and her nails drug over the soft skin of his thighs. She teased him until there was a sticky trail down her chin, and only then did she take him in her warm, wet mouth, sinking all the way to the base.

This particular treat was something resolved only for him, she’d told him that in the past guys had tried to get her to go down on them but she’d refused making a point of walking out if they got too pissy about it. So whenever he was given the absolute heavenly privilege of her mouth he made the effort full well to ensure she knew that he was enjoying it and there was absolutely no faking involved. Why would he with her anyway? There was no point. Though unlike some guys who seemed to think giving head wasn’t fun he was almost certain it was one of his favourite things, Fane was a linguist and he loved to show Faye exactly how cunning his own tongue could be given the chance. He never made a point to rush her though, instead enjoying the torturous build up as she left a trail of wet marks and kisses down his body.

The initial flick of her tongue caused a shiver to roll through him and Fane drew in a breath, holding it as Faye wrapped her lips around his cock, drawing the shaft into her warm wet mouth. He shuddered, unable to stop himself as he watched his cock disappear between her lips, feeling like a large piece of heaven was presently wrapped around his dick, or maybe the fires of hell. He couldn’t quite be sure and in all honesty he didn’t even care. All he did know was that it felt damn good to feel the swirl of her tongue before she swallowed his cock to the hilt. His head fell back into the sheets of the expansive bed, balls throbbing hard as he fought to keep himself from thrusting as hard as he could into the soft cavern of her throat. Instead, he eased in and out, head lifting once more to watch her cheeks hollow as she took him deep the sight sending a jolt of heady pleasure through him.

He let out a low groan, already wound up from everything that had come before. This was just the icing on the cake. “You’re gonna make me come if you’re not careful,” he warned not telling her to stop but also warning her that if she wanted to make this last she’d have to take her time.

Faye loved doing this to Fane. He was the first she’d ever done it for, or allowed to return the favor. It was simply… too intimate. Like kissing. She could kiss him for hours. But she’d rarely kissed anyone else. Because fucking was one thing. Being so close, so intimate, was something else entirely.

So Faye took her time, knowing that even though her role tonight had been one of submission, this allowance of choice was a reward for earlier. She took him down, slicking him with her tongue as her fingers kneaded his thighs. He tasted like salt and sweat and that bit that was simply him. The gentle, controlled roll of his hips was met with a warm hum of approval. Deft fingers traced over the tight softness of his balls. Even in her current headspace, she knew he was close.

His eyes burned through her. Without even looking up, Faye knew he was watching. That made her ache for him. The already slick, swollen flesh between her legs wanting more. Wanting him. So as much as she wanted to feel the hot rush of him down her throat, taste the salt and the tang as she swallowed it, Faye wanted to feel him inside her more. So she was careful, working him over with slow drags of her tongue before moving to suck his balls into her mouth one by one. “Do you want me yet?” she asked, stroking a finger down between his legs to tease him. “Or can you hold out?”

Fane felt dizzy, rather overcome entirely by her. It really didn’t take much for Faye to reduce him to something that she could manipulate just as skillfully as he could with her. The warm press of her body, the hot trail of her mouth and her hands pressing and kneading in such an encouraging fashion that he could do nothing but sink into that encouragement and let her take whatever control she wanted, completely focussed and open to anything. After how good she’d been it was only fair that he return the favour to her with his own body and mind, at least in whatever capacity it was presently stalling in.

There was nothing like the artful skill with which she matched perfect raw talent with a physical control in almost anything she put her mind to. It was something he loved to admire, she was wild and dangerous in her own right and one that so many underestimated. But he saw beyond what she let others see, what she presented outwardly and took pleasure in the intimate details that only he could notice whether it was in her magic or in the subtle tells of her body. Like now, how his magic felt like it was being called from the very marrow of his bones by her? Or her own, he couldn’t very rightly say but the low heady hum of power contrasted far too sweetly to the position of mercy he was presently very much enjoying.

As she finally left the stiff length of his cock with a slurp he took a second to draw air considering he only realised in that brief respite that he’d been holding his breath, his chest and body tight in admiration and sheer anticipation. Proof of what she did to him with barely any thought. The lave of her tongue now on his achingly hard and drawn balls made him want to protest, but all that fell from his mouth was a low rough grunt that turned into a sound of strained pleasure at the lazy exploration of her finger. He struggled to answer verbally but managed a slight nod as his abdomen flexed tight in an effort to push off the inclination to give in to the blissful rush he could feel building eyes closing as he forced himself to suck in some air and breath it out through the clench of his teeth in the hopes of helping his body to relax once again as she’d asked for him to. “Yeah--” he rasped shallowly “for-- you, I can try--”

Faye’s focus was something she’d always been proud of. Whether it be here, or at her job, or anywhere. Once she set her mind to something, she was going to do it. No matter what it was. Right now, she’d set her mind - foggy and lax and compliant though it still was - to turning Fane into a quivering mess beneath her. And where some might have lost control, or let themselves give their lover a lackluster experience, Faye would do nothing of the sort. Fane’s magic already hummed beneath her hands. The power already tight and drawn as his balls. It pulled at her own, and she felt the compulsion to reach out, to let it flow over him… connect… absorb. Feel every single part of him, inside and out.

Her tongue laved the soft, rounded flesh pulled so tightly to his body. Were this a different night, she might have bound them that way, bound his cock too. Denying him relief until he was leaking and swollen and begging her to let him cum. But that was for another night. Perhaps later she’d explore the room’s cabinet - it was theirs for the duration, the decor changing from night to night based on their preferences - to see if it held anything… noteworthy. She could cage his cock and let him walk around with it on display. Let others see that it was only for her, and for those she let enjoy it’s many pleasures. The thought made her moan, and her finger dipped lower between his legs, her saliva slicking the way for her to tease him.

“I love you…” she breathed in response, pressing more insistently with her finger. The warm slide of her tongue moved to the base of his cock, and she wrapped a hand tightly around it before licking a trail back to the tip. “You’re so good, baby…” Faye praised, squeezing the slick base of him before sliding her finger slowly inside him. This time, she did let a bit of magic follow. It hummed, moving deeper, but going slowly. If he could hold out through this, he could hold out through anything. Her hand moved, and the magic did too, swelling inside him as Faye watched his face. “I should let you fuck my mouth while I do this, shouldn’t I?”

It wasn’t just the physical contact that was making Fane’s head spin, it was the intimacy of it all. Fane knew that for anyone else Faye wasn’t one to kiss when it wasn’t a precursor to sex, or one to cuddle. In fact, he was almost certain of the fact he’d barely seen her share next to no intimacy with anyone else. It was a testament to what they shared between themselves. Although Fane rarely admitted it, physical intimacy apart from sex was something he craved but rarely asked for because he didn’t want to assume or come off as needy. But it didn’t change how goddamn good it felt in those moments she did give it to him even if it was just a hand to hold for no other reason than just because.

If caging him was what she was so inclined to do then Fane would have gladly let her, would have worn it proudly without a care for who saw him that way because if it pleased Faye then of course he’d fucking do it. His thighs fell open, splayed wide and wanton as Faye left the hard length of his cock to tend to his aching balls he wanted to watch but all he could do was get lost in the sensation, lost in the woman that knew exactly what was required to build him up and take him apart. The drip of wetness between his legs caused him to suck in a breath just as she took the time to tease and work him with one hand while just as easily trapping him at her mercy with the other. The drag of her tongue and occasional squeeze of her strong fingers pulling low needy noises of absolute approval from the pit of his chest.

The intrusion of her finger and the magic accompanying it was enough to make him buck involuntarily groaning as his head fell back onto the mattress and mouth gaped as he panted for air. The hum of her magic drew his own naturally and his body practically reverberated with it as he fought with all his might to fend off the edge each slide of her magic and finger pushed him towards, fighting so much so that the muscles in his stomach quivered and ached from the effort. “Fuck-- I’m so close, I can’t--” he shook his head weakly barely even able to utter the words another brush of her magic making his jaw fall open and lax “please anything-- I’ll do anything.” Just give me permission.

Faye rarely kissed anyone but Fane. And post-coital affection was reserved only for him. Perhaps if she’d been drunk enough. Or lonely enough. But it was too close, too intimate. Sharing a body was one thing, but sharing breath, sharing the softness of ‘after’... those were his and his alone. As were certain other proclivities, including those outside their bedroom. They were both tactile people, and Faye wished they could be more so in public back home. But things were dangerous. People were dying. She wasn’t willing to risk Fane’s life - or her own, though that came second - even for the pleasure of holding his hand where others could see. Because she was proud of him. Proud to be his. Proud that he was hers.

Tomorrow was a new day. With a menagerie of new things to explore. New friends to make. New people to show each other off for. Perhaps Faye would cage him tomorrow. Perhaps she would do it later tonight, while he slept. So that he would wake up with his morning erection bound to the confines that she controlled. Perhaps. But right now she wanted him to fall apart. She wanted him to be completely and utterly satisfied. Because he deserved it. He deserved everything. And Faye wanted to give it to him. For the rest of her life.

He grew indolent and lax beneath her, letting her do as she would, though his belly tightened in a pleasing contrast as he fought to control himself. When he arched off the bed, Faye exhaled a breath of excitement. He was close. Gods he was close. But she didn’t rush. She didn’t surge forward. She continued her slow, steady pace, but drove deeper. Her hand tightened around the base of his cock, slick with precum. “I’m gonna fuck you now,” she whispered, flicking her tongue over the oozing tip. “And you’re going to fill me full up, aren’t you?”

She took her hands away, though the magic remained, and climbed over him. Only a moment was spent teasing him before she sank down over him and started moving her hips. “Cum for me, baby… come on… show me how much you love me…”

He was as much hers to do with as she pleased as she was his own, whatever Faye did he wouldn’t complain, in fact, he would more than likely wholeheartedly enjoy the experience himself. Or at least, he’d enjoy the aftermath and reward of behaving (or at least trying to). For now though his mind was only one one singular thing and that was working his damned hardest to push off the inevitable that he could feel her driving him towards. They both knew what she was doing, so very deliberately and with the familiar precision that only intimate knowledge of each other’s bodies and minds that only years of exposure and understanding could provide.

Fane could only groan in answer to her question, whatever she wanted was hers for the taking especially when she had him entirely in hand (quite literally) as she did presently. “‘Course,” he breathed out unable to think of anything other than agreeing with her if only to get what he needed considering he felt like he was teetering on the edge ready to explode.

She braced herself on his chest as she sank down and the combined stimulation of her magic and the grip of her body meant it only took a few firm rolls of her hips for him to grab at her hips for something to ground himself in. His muscles grew taut, head thrown back as he came with an almost animalistic noise ripping its way from his throat his hips stuttering and jerking as he pumped her full of his spend until he sank down into the mattress his eyes rolling shut, breaths coming in short laboured pants. A warm sated feeling washed over him and the indolent fuzzy post-coital haze drifted over him reaching for her lazily wanting to hold her, feel her after what they’d just shared brief as it was tonight.

Faye watched him crest beneath her, and gods it was beautiful. He was never more beautiful than in moments like this, when he let go completely. When he surrendered to her fully, trusted her with one of the most private and intimate parts of himself. The part he shared with no one else. Not like this. She felt the warmth spread inside her, the hot spurt of his climax as he did what he’d promised and filled her up until it was slipping between their joined bodies. His body was taut and lithe beneath her, godlike in the crimson light of the lanterns strung around them. Faye had no thoughts for anyone else. No one at all. Just Fane, spread beneath her, an offering of himself to her body.

He fell, sated and blissful, eyes closed in his exhaustion. But he reached for her, and Faye went gladly into his arms. He slipped free of her body as she came to lay against him. Her mouth found his in a slow, brief kiss, and she whispered words of praise and love in the quiet space between them. Faye curled against him, petting his damp skin in slow, almost reverant strokes of her hands. The familiar press of his body against her was a comfort, and soon enough she felt her own eyes starting to slip shut.

They murmured more words in the quiet, beneath the red lantern light until soon enough, sleep took them. Safe in each other’s arms. Content. Blissfully happy and in love. And not sorry for it.

Not for one single moment.

#hp au #nsfw #scene #au

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What do you call a beginner bee keeper? A newbee

#iann #XD

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— I’ve no life, but you.

#hdm au #I CRY

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Detective?

#heS SO SO FT

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I’m so sorry, Sabrina. You did everything you could. 

#witch au #faye x fane #LOOK AT THE BABIES

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#witch au #i@M DYING BYE

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Well, The Old Haunt just reminded me of how vital tavern culture is in this town. I thought, why not open up a little tavern of my own?

#faye x fane #u: cyberpunk

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3x13 // 3x17 // 3x24

#faye x fane #u: cyberpunk

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Everybody looks like a killer to me, Castle. Job requirement.

#faye x fane #u: cyberpunk #OMfg #i'm done #lmao

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#faye x fane #u: cyberpunk

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requested by @imwithyoualways

#faye x fane #u: cyberpunk #lMAOOOO

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This is the plot

#that's me #ooc things

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#faye x fane #u: cyberpunk