Fic: Who's Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf?
Jan. 10th, 2014 02:38 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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arctic_comet
Title: Who's Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf?
Rating & Warnings: PG-13 for some sensuality
Word Count or Art Format 1,346
Prompt: "The Big Bad Wolf" (#2 bysolochan)
Summary: It's the night before a full moon and Remus is feeling restless. When Tonks shows up to make him tea, he finds out in just how many ways she affects him. OOTP.
Notes: Unbeta'd, so my apologies for all the possible errors.
It was the night before full moon and as usual, he couldn't sleep. All of his senses were heightened, every sound in the house was magnified tenfold and all of his muscles ached in anticipation of what was to come in less than twenty-four hours.
He paced in the living room, trying not to bother anyone else and to possibly wear himself out so that he could get some much needed rest. They were out of Sleeping Draught so unless this worked, he doubted there would be any sleep to be had that night.
He turned to face the doorway; someone was coming. Tonks. It had to be her. Sure enough, the door was opened and a head full of pink hair peeked in.
"Hi Remus," she said.
"Hello," he replied quietly.
She frowned at him.
"Can't sleep?"
"I'm afraid Sirius must've drank the last of the Sleeping Draught we had."
"Sorry to hear that. Maybe you'd like to have a cup of tea with me? I was just about to make myself some."
He was supposed to decline politely, but instead he found himself nodding. She smiled.
"Great, come on down when you feel like it. I'll be in the kitchen."
What was he doing? He liked her company, which was exactly the problem. He liked it too much, she made him feel and think about things he had never thought about before. It was dangerous, he was dangerous. He was the Big Bad Wolf. But she was no Little Red Riding Hood, said his subconscious. She was something else entirely.
***
When she'd been little, her granny Tonks had read her stories featuring the Big Bad Wolf. In Auror training she'd been taught how to subdue werewolves. She had read files on Fenrir Greyback and his gang, but couldn't understand why all werewolves were treated as dangerous criminals. The official Ministry protocol demanded that all werewolves ought to be seen as potential threats until otherwise proven.
When she had brought it up with Moody, he had actually smiled and said she was smart enough to make her own calls in this case. Some werewolves were innocent people who had been brutally attacked and then saddled with a painful curse that left you an outcast in the society. Instead of trying to find ways to help, most people shunned them because they were afraid. But fear didn't get you far in life, which was why even before graduating from Auror training she had made the decision to treat every innocent person the same way, no matter what they were. Criminals were another thing altogether, and the man watching her from the doorway most definitely wasn't one. He was supposed to be the big bad wolf; cruel, cunning and wicked, but he was none of those things. Instead he was smart, funny and had absolutely no idea she fancied him. She liked feeling his eyes on her as she moved around. He probably thought she was unaware of him, but she had seen a reflection of him on one of the pots for only a second.
What was she going to do with him? She was hardly an expert when it came to men; ever since leaving Hogwarts she had been busy with her Auror studies and then later with her job, which she loved. She had had precious little spare time and even that she had rather spent with friends and family than chasing after blokes. In fact, she hadn't even put much thought into her romantic future until she had met Remus. Getting married, having kids and so on, all of that had seemed alien to her. Not that she had necessarily had anything against it, but she hadn't thought that sort of a future would be for her. Now she wasn't so sure anymore. She wanted to make him happy and she knew she could if only he gave her a chance to.
***
He looked on from the doorway as she prepared the tea. Her back was turned towards him and he was certain she had no idea he was there. She was muttering to herself, apparently having spilled some hot water on her fingers. Feeling like a predator stalking a prey, he knew he ought to make his presence known, but for some reason watching her calmed him down. Despite her usually clumsy ways, he found grace in her movements. She looked determined and strong as she focused on her task; much in the same way he had often watched her focus on Order work. All of these thoughts would have been fine in his mind if only he did not also find her feminine and attractive.
The tea would be ready soon, he could tell it from the scent, so it was time he come out of this silly reverie of his. However, his legs seemed to have a mind of their own and before he had had the chance to say anything, he found himself standing right behind her, his nose pressing lightly into her hair. Merlin, she smelled good. He had half expected her to jump up and push him away, but instead he felt her tense only a bit and then relax.
"Hi there," she whispered.
"Chamomile tea?" he asked.
"Yeah. You like it, right?"
"Sure. You're not exercising constant vigilance, you know," he whispered, pressing his mouth to her ear.
She grinned.
"I knew it was you. I knew you were watching me, too. I'm quite observant, you know," she replied, at last giving him a little push to carry their cups to the table.
He was taken aback, but once again impressed at the same time. That's my girl. No, wait. He shook his head. She was not his girl.
"Are you going to stand there all night staring at me?" she asked, already sitting at the table and sipping her tea.
He took a seat across her, tasting the tea. It was too strong for his taste and his overly sensitive taste buds told him to spit it out, but he resisted. Perhaps he could add some sugar and get through one cup of the tea that way.
"Is the tea good? I hope I didn't botch it up," she worried, frowning.
"No no, it's fine. I just think I need a little more sugar in it. I really appreciate you doing this for me," he answered, scooping three teaspoons of sugar into his cup.
She didn't look quite convinced, but let it go.
"Do you always feel like this right before the full moon?" she asked instead.
He nodded.
"Usually yes. I feel very restless, but usually I have the correct potions to keep me calm."
"Well, you look calmer now than you did up there, are you feeling better?"
"Yes," he admitted. Even he didn't understand why her presence had seemed to calm him down, because it would have been far more logical if it had made him feel even more restless.
She reached over the table and covered his hand with hers.
"Is it the tea or is it the company?" she whispered.
He swallowed, hesitating before answering.
"The company is certainly good. Friends always are," he replied.
***
Friends? Bollocks! She knew he fancied her, why couldn't he just admit it and they could go on from there?
She smiled at him in reply, not saying anything. If he wasn't ready to voice his feelings yet, maybe she just had to wait. Patience had never been one of her strong suits.
The way he had watched her only minutes earlier and then finally come up to her had been nothing short of exhilarating. He was different tonight and at least she had already gotten something good out of it. Despite wishing for more, for tonight she was going to pretend they were nothing but friends.
arctic_cometTitle: Who's Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf?
Rating & Warnings: PG-13 for some sensuality
Word Count or Art Format 1,346
Prompt: "The Big Bad Wolf" (#2 by
solochan)Summary: It's the night before a full moon and Remus is feeling restless. When Tonks shows up to make him tea, he finds out in just how many ways she affects him. OOTP.
Notes: Unbeta'd, so my apologies for all the possible errors.
It was the night before full moon and as usual, he couldn't sleep. All of his senses were heightened, every sound in the house was magnified tenfold and all of his muscles ached in anticipation of what was to come in less than twenty-four hours.
He paced in the living room, trying not to bother anyone else and to possibly wear himself out so that he could get some much needed rest. They were out of Sleeping Draught so unless this worked, he doubted there would be any sleep to be had that night.
He turned to face the doorway; someone was coming. Tonks. It had to be her. Sure enough, the door was opened and a head full of pink hair peeked in.
"Hi Remus," she said.
"Hello," he replied quietly.
She frowned at him.
"Can't sleep?"
"I'm afraid Sirius must've drank the last of the Sleeping Draught we had."
"Sorry to hear that. Maybe you'd like to have a cup of tea with me? I was just about to make myself some."
He was supposed to decline politely, but instead he found himself nodding. She smiled.
"Great, come on down when you feel like it. I'll be in the kitchen."
What was he doing? He liked her company, which was exactly the problem. He liked it too much, she made him feel and think about things he had never thought about before. It was dangerous, he was dangerous. He was the Big Bad Wolf. But she was no Little Red Riding Hood, said his subconscious. She was something else entirely.
When she'd been little, her granny Tonks had read her stories featuring the Big Bad Wolf. In Auror training she'd been taught how to subdue werewolves. She had read files on Fenrir Greyback and his gang, but couldn't understand why all werewolves were treated as dangerous criminals. The official Ministry protocol demanded that all werewolves ought to be seen as potential threats until otherwise proven.
When she had brought it up with Moody, he had actually smiled and said she was smart enough to make her own calls in this case. Some werewolves were innocent people who had been brutally attacked and then saddled with a painful curse that left you an outcast in the society. Instead of trying to find ways to help, most people shunned them because they were afraid. But fear didn't get you far in life, which was why even before graduating from Auror training she had made the decision to treat every innocent person the same way, no matter what they were. Criminals were another thing altogether, and the man watching her from the doorway most definitely wasn't one. He was supposed to be the big bad wolf; cruel, cunning and wicked, but he was none of those things. Instead he was smart, funny and had absolutely no idea she fancied him. She liked feeling his eyes on her as she moved around. He probably thought she was unaware of him, but she had seen a reflection of him on one of the pots for only a second.
What was she going to do with him? She was hardly an expert when it came to men; ever since leaving Hogwarts she had been busy with her Auror studies and then later with her job, which she loved. She had had precious little spare time and even that she had rather spent with friends and family than chasing after blokes. In fact, she hadn't even put much thought into her romantic future until she had met Remus. Getting married, having kids and so on, all of that had seemed alien to her. Not that she had necessarily had anything against it, but she hadn't thought that sort of a future would be for her. Now she wasn't so sure anymore. She wanted to make him happy and she knew she could if only he gave her a chance to.
He looked on from the doorway as she prepared the tea. Her back was turned towards him and he was certain she had no idea he was there. She was muttering to herself, apparently having spilled some hot water on her fingers. Feeling like a predator stalking a prey, he knew he ought to make his presence known, but for some reason watching her calmed him down. Despite her usually clumsy ways, he found grace in her movements. She looked determined and strong as she focused on her task; much in the same way he had often watched her focus on Order work. All of these thoughts would have been fine in his mind if only he did not also find her feminine and attractive.
The tea would be ready soon, he could tell it from the scent, so it was time he come out of this silly reverie of his. However, his legs seemed to have a mind of their own and before he had had the chance to say anything, he found himself standing right behind her, his nose pressing lightly into her hair. Merlin, she smelled good. He had half expected her to jump up and push him away, but instead he felt her tense only a bit and then relax.
"Hi there," she whispered.
"Chamomile tea?" he asked.
"Yeah. You like it, right?"
"Sure. You're not exercising constant vigilance, you know," he whispered, pressing his mouth to her ear.
She grinned.
"I knew it was you. I knew you were watching me, too. I'm quite observant, you know," she replied, at last giving him a little push to carry their cups to the table.
He was taken aback, but once again impressed at the same time. That's my girl. No, wait. He shook his head. She was not his girl.
"Are you going to stand there all night staring at me?" she asked, already sitting at the table and sipping her tea.
He took a seat across her, tasting the tea. It was too strong for his taste and his overly sensitive taste buds told him to spit it out, but he resisted. Perhaps he could add some sugar and get through one cup of the tea that way.
"Is the tea good? I hope I didn't botch it up," she worried, frowning.
"No no, it's fine. I just think I need a little more sugar in it. I really appreciate you doing this for me," he answered, scooping three teaspoons of sugar into his cup.
She didn't look quite convinced, but let it go.
"Do you always feel like this right before the full moon?" she asked instead.
He nodded.
"Usually yes. I feel very restless, but usually I have the correct potions to keep me calm."
"Well, you look calmer now than you did up there, are you feeling better?"
"Yes," he admitted. Even he didn't understand why her presence had seemed to calm him down, because it would have been far more logical if it had made him feel even more restless.
She reached over the table and covered his hand with hers.
"Is it the tea or is it the company?" she whispered.
He swallowed, hesitating before answering.
"The company is certainly good. Friends always are," he replied.
Friends? Bollocks! She knew he fancied her, why couldn't he just admit it and they could go on from there?
She smiled at him in reply, not saying anything. If he wasn't ready to voice his feelings yet, maybe she just had to wait. Patience had never been one of her strong suits.
The way he had watched her only minutes earlier and then finally come up to her had been nothing short of exhilarating. He was different tonight and at least she had already gotten something good out of it. Despite wishing for more, for tonight she was going to pretend they were nothing but friends.
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no subject
Date: 2014-01-11 04:18 am (UTC)I like the slice this shows of the relationship, with Tonks looking for ways to make things a little better for Remus (and having a hard time being patient), while Remus is drawn to Tonks against his better judgment but being with her makes him feel calmer and happier.
Remus is sweet (and clearly smitten) here, suffering from the overly strong chamomile tea but trying to drink it anyway because Tonks is the one that made it for him.
no subject
Date: 2014-01-11 06:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-11 10:55 pm (UTC)I like what you tell us of Tonks making a conscious choice to treat everyone the same; werewolf or not. Very in character for her. And it's very sweet the way Remus finds comfort in her presence.
My favourite lines:
"Is it the tea or is it the company?" she whispered.
He swallowed, hesitating before answering.
"The company is certainly good. Friends always are," he replied.
Very nice! It's perhaps best for Tonks that she doesn't know yet how long it'll take for him to change his mind...
no subject
Date: 2014-01-12 07:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-12 09:55 pm (UTC)I like the line "She was something else entirely" – I read that as underscoring that Tonks is not just the passive victim here – and that even Remus realizes that, even if he won't admit it ;-) I also like Tonks being more observant than Remus realizes!
Totally agree, Tonks questioning the Ministry line about werewolves seems very like her. I do think she would have thought that way even if she didn't know Remus.
Instead he was smart, funny and had absolutely no idea she fancied him.
That's our Remus! So fanciable and so oblivious :-)
no subject
Date: 2014-01-18 07:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-20 12:53 pm (UTC)Knowing that a painful transformation is due must be horrific, and I always wonder how Remus copes the night before. You've captured his restlessness and heightened awareness well; how apt that Tonks' company, despite his attraction to her (and vice versa), is calming to him. And I like what we learn about Tonks here, from Mad-Eye first telling her she was smart enough to make up her own mind about werewolves - and she was - to her knowing that she'd have to be patient with Remus and give him time, although it doesn't come easily to her.
And oblivious Remus is always a winner! :D
no subject
Date: 2014-01-25 08:31 pm (UTC)Thank you so much for reading and for the positive feedback! :)