She snuggled closer to him, enjoying the benefits of having an almost half-giant as boyfriend. Ok, she had seen wizards taller than him, like that strange MacCullen, but Sid Dervish was her own half-giant she can cuddle on. And he smelled so nice, and his body was so warm; after two months she had found the perfect fit in his arms to stay like that after a heavenly dinner and some glasses of wine. Oh, c’mom, as if that was any hard. Loving Sid was the easiest thing in the world, the most natural feeling to feel, though by “loving” Una meant… that extremely good thing he provoked on her. She wasn’t really ready to conclude that was love… two months is too soon, right?

And dating him wasn’t so totally free of complications. Like learning how to deal with his Muggle devices he loved so much and understanding what was those… videogames about. Not to mention the hard time she was living right at the moment, for as much as she wanted to ignore that and focus on the good things. But no. Someone screamed, and then blood gushed all over the place and argh… frightful and disgusting at the same time. It took some time for Una to get used to that strange habit. A little more time to understand that wasn’t even remotely real. She hoped. Sci-Fi movies were great; some of them filled her head with some great metaphysical ideas that Sid lovingly had the patience to hear every time. That’s why she thought she should show the same patience with his scary movies. Argh, more blood. How could someone even think of making that kind of “art” on the first place?

Una couldn't help but grab Sid a little stronger sometimes, thanks to her impressionable nature. Wine made her more vulnerable, languid, almost asleep but not just yet. Spontaneous, definitely, as she could find out when the words she was bravely trying to refrain escaped as a whisper from her mouth suddenly on a moment of low guard: “...this movie will never end?” Ops! “I mean... I'm a little worried about the time, it's late...” she murmured sweeter right after, trying to fix up. Not that she thought Sid would be happier with her going home. Once again. But that was the better excuse she could find so quickly. And besides, that wasn’t any far from the truth, it was getting late.

This was heaven, Sid was sure of it. Screw having a perfect body and endless joy, he would take an evening of good food, wine and holding his beautiful girlfriend while watching his favorite horror movie any day. Okay, perhaps that was an exaggeration. It wasn't his favorite movie, but it was scary enough to warrant her squeezing him more than usual, which garnered a few extra points in its favor. Unfortunately for Sid, and Una for that matter, he was too dense to realize when her squeezes and squeals went from 'playfully scared' to 'genuinely terrified/disgusted'. He was so happy where he was that he almost didn't even catch the pleading in her tone.

“...this movie will never end? I mean... I'm a little worried about the time, it's late...”

"Yeah... yeah it is almost done... There is an awesome scene coming up..." He paused as the screen flashed and a girl screamed "... Aha there it is... Wasn't that awe--" He stopped mid-word when he realized her flinch wasn't one of enjoyment. It dawned on him with a sickening drop of his stomach that, perhaps, she didn't enjoy horror movies as much as he did. Horrified that he had forced her to watch something that made her look so ill, Sid bolted forward and grabbed the remote, flipping the movie off as quickly as possible. "Well that was the interesting part... Movie's done now!" He clapped his hands together and exclaimed sheepishly, his voice a bit louder than it needed to be.

"You don't have to leave yet, do you?" His voice got softer and bit sadder at the prospect of losing the comfortable closeness he was feeling with her in his arms and he most definitely didn't want her to leave because of his selfishness. "I mean.. if you have to, that's cool... I just... enjoy spending time with you..." Failing completely at being suave, Sid settled for looking pathetically cute and crinkled his brow, his dark brown eyes begging her not to leave just yet.

Una was almost giving up and accepting that she would have to see more of that girl suffering on the hands of fake abominations when Sid reached the special wand full of buttons, making the movie end suddenly. Her hero. She knew he did turn the TV off because of her not-so-discrete complaint, and even feeling a little guilty about that – blame the wine –, she was really thankful for having a so considerate boyfriend. That’s why the real guilty came next.

"You don't have to leave yet, do you? I mean... if you have to, that's cool... I just... enjoy spending time with you..."

He looked so sad and lost and vulnerable with the perspective of saying goodbye for the night that Una bit her lips, lost in his bright eyes, tempted to stay and cuddle him for a change. She was aware some women would find that behavior of him not even remotely attractive. But she was different, he was different, everything was.  Having him so sweetly begging her not to leave made her feel so special she flushed a little. Or she should blame the wine for that too?

“I love spending time with you, Sid…” she murmured, sighing a little and feeling his smell better with that. That would be hard. Una was spending most of her time working, sometimes so enthralled with her Alchemy that she almost forgot to give him some attention. But every time she did, it was hurtful to say goodbye at the end of the day. And getting worst and worst. It always felt like she was missing something when she got home without him. And still she didn’t actually have to leave. She was an adult, and for as much as her father was protective, he was the one who taught her to love, care, respect and let everything go with its own flow. He wouldn’t control her, nor give her a time limit to be home. So why she was making that to herself; why couldn’t she let it follow its own flow?

Una sweetly kissed the tip of his nose and sat straight at the couch, soon leaving his arms and getting on her feet. “…but I have to go, sorry. I, ah… have to wake up early tomorrow. And so do you.” She stated, bending over him and passing her arms gently around his shoulders. “Sleep well mein lieber.” That and a kiss on his lips meaning goodbye, and as soon as she could get her bag, she would be home. But Una wasn’t able to walk away yet. When their lips parted she felt his unique, and for some very strange reason delicious breath against hers, warming her chest, causing her a violent flush. Definitely blaming the wine, Una kissed Sid one more time, deeper, so hopelessly… unable to go home. Not at that moment.

“…but I have to go, sorry. I, ah… have to wake up early tomorrow. And so do you.”

As warm as her lips were on his nose, it could not stop the rush of cold air that followed her departure, partnered with a sense of overwhelming emptiness, as though her very presence completed him. A very faint whimper sounded in his throat as he reluctantly releasing her. He wasn't sure what to do. Pull her back down like a caveman and show her what she is missing? Or be sensitive to her rights? Despite having dated for a month or so, Sid was still uncertain what kind of man he should be for her. He opted in the end to respect her wishes, since that was how he was raised. His mother would have flooed all the way from Scotland to smack him upside the head if he hadn't.

“Sleep well mein lieber.”

"Si, amore mio..." He responded, admitting defeat gracefully and leaning up to accept her farewell kiss. However, the moment their lips met, he felt the urge to act more like a caveman than a gentleman, wanting nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and to crush her against him so that he could cling to her for eternity. His hands found her hips and rested there, pulling her towards him. It seemed that the same urge was upon over her as well because, instead of resisting his embrace, she reciprocated it. As their lips met again, this time in a more impassioned kiss, he drew her closer, down onto his lap. Their lips parted, teeth clinked and tongues touched as his fingers brushed the soft skin under the hem of her blouse. He didn't stray farther north, out of respect, despite the fact his fingers ached to feel the warm, soft skin of the figure hidden under those layers of silks and wool. Puling back from the kiss, he whispered against her lips "Are you sure you have to go?"

"Are you sure you have to go?"
 
Gooseflesh pimpled under his hands as he whispered it so close to her mouth. Una was breathless, taking some moments just looking into his eyes, enraptured, so magnetically bond to him that her only movement was to draw herself even closer – arms holding tighter him by his shoulders, legs moving onto his lap, into his embrace, her body already so petite shrinking against his. When she was able to answer, all she did at first was slightly shaking her head on a negative hard to be spoken. She wasn’t sure, no; she was actually getting less sure each passing second.
 
“I…” her voice finally came out, on an insecure, reticent whisper. Her bare left hand – because having that wonderful dinner with both gloves was unpractical, and that glove was actually needless in general – caressed his nape as she still was trying to find the right words in his eyes. Wrong place to search for it. In his eyes she was only finding the reasons not to say any word, but just kiss him, touch him, go ahead and discover all his true tastes and sounds and colors and textures. What kind of nature he had deep within, which element was his, how it would react to her on a conjunctio, what they could create together. The thought suddenly made her giggle, a little drunkenly though not from wine. “I am sure I want you,” she whispered securer, and without giving time for a blink she crushed her lips against his again, on a moist, deep kiss.
 
She was the one who decreed a kind of taboo over the prophecy Cillian made to them. She didn’t want to panic; either wanted Sid desperate over an uncertain future. And for some time she succeeded in forget about that, since nothing happened, everything and everyone was in peace. But, oddly enough, that came to her mind suddenly during the kiss. Not as something to send her home – it seemed like nothing more could send her home. But as something to make her want Sid even more. What if Cillian was right? What if their lives turn hell from one time to another? What if she let all the chances pass until she bitterly regret never follow that flow? How could she risk to lose a paradise they have without ever know it deeply? Maybe she was getting a little desperate now, though Sid could even enjoy the way she was incessantly kissing him, her left hand mimicking his and sliding through his chest to the hem of his shirt, getting inside it while the right hand just shamelessly kept pressing his nape.
 
But suddenly a moan made her stop. “Wait…” she whispered. It wasn’t hers or his that moan. It was from an ignored dog that didn’t understand what was happening, why nobody was giving him attention for so long time. Una gently parted from Sid, looking at Kirk secretly hoping that look to be enough for him to go sleep elsewhere. No, no, that wasn’t right. Poor dog. But if she was really doing that with Sid, it couldn’t be in front of Kirk’s eyes.

During the kiss, Sid's mind was a beehive of buzzing thoughts. There were a few nice thoughts, like how soft and warm she was and how pleasant she smelled. Then there were the more abundant worried ones, like whether or not his breath was alright (Italian dinners tended to do that to you) or if his kissing was too sloppy. The most prevalent thoughts, however, was their meeting with Cillian earlier in the week and the horrible future that was doomed to befall the youngest Dervish. Una had forbidden him to worry about it but Sid couldn't get it out of his head. He threw himself into busy work at the ministry just to keep himself from tracking down Cil and begging him to recant what he saw and at home he filled his head with video games and movies in hopes to drown it out. Nothing worked.

But when Una pressed against him and murmured that she wanted him, Sid's worries all but went out the window. Suddenly he was content with being cursed or doomed, or whatever the prophecy really meant, as long as Una was by his side, preferably kissing him. He lost himself in her lips as his hand tugging the bottom buttons of her shirt loose. This was finally happening and he wasn't going to let his worries and insecurities ruin what would probably be the most blissful moment of his life in the past couple years. The bottom of her blouse was undone now, revealing the creamy skin of her abdomen, and his fingers couldn't help but trace designs slowly along her spine as it inched towards the clasp of her bra. Una seemed to like it because she let out a deep... throaty... awfully masculine moan.

Wait. Sid's eyes opened mid kiss as he realized they were being watched. Una seemed to sense the same disturbance in the force because she also put a abrupt halt to the kiss and pulled back, looking for the peeping perv. A cursory glance revealed that it was none other than Kirk, staring pathetically up at them with large, watery eyes, bemoaning his lack of attention. When both of them gave him the attention he wanted, he immediately sat up and cocked his head to the side, acting as though he had no idea why they would stop what they were doing to pay little ol' him any mind. "It's just Kirk... he won't bother us..." Sid turned back to her, preparing to reattach himself to her like a pair of lip-conjoined twins. She didn't reciprocate this time and Sid realized with a sigh that she didn't want to do it in front of a dog. He supposed he could understand.

"Look..." He pressed his lips against the little hollow spot where her neck met her shoulder and murmured into it "Just... go to the room and I will get him a bone to keep him busy...." Gently dislodging her from his lap, the sudden gust of cold air on his lap leaving him gasping a little, Sid went into the kitchen and opened 'The Cupboard'. The sound of the sacred door opening had its desired effect with Kirk skittering into the room with butt wagging and slobber flying. Sid pulled out a large beef leg bone, one of the special 'rare' bones that usually only came out on holidays, and put it in front of Kirk, who immediately pounced on it and begin to knaw with gusto. Crouching down, he patted the wrinkly head and whispered to him. "I know this is your holiday bone but this is a big day and I need you to stay in here like a good boy. I mean... I don't get in your way when you go and mack on all the pretty girl dogs when we are on our walks, do I?" Kirks enthusiastic chewing and slobbering was his only response, but Sid deemed it satisfactory. "Good boy."

Before he entered his room, Sid slipped into the bathroom to freshen up. A quick brushing of his teeth and a splash of after shave would do the job. He barely gave the latter a chance to dry before rushing out of the room, determined to get back to Una before her willingness wore off. A few seconds later he was back, digging through the cabinet drawers for a condom. Had to be safe. Finding one left in a forgotten box stuffed forlornly in the bottom drawer, Sid thanked the gods of lost things and contraception and rushed towards the bedroom. Forgetting to turn the knob, he slammed into it and slumped against it in pain, the door naturally swinging open afterwards. He tried to act like it was on purpose as he slid into the room seductively "Well... gave the dog a bone... Now to give you one..."

Oh merlins bloody knuckles, why the hell did he just say that?



((Do not worry, this will not become a M rated thread...))

"Look...  Just... go to the room and I will get him a bone to keep him busy...."

“Yes… sure… sure, yes!” She stated a little confused, before nod in confirmation and get up from his lap, timidly pulling the shirt to cover her belly and clearing her throat with all her dignity to pass through Kirk, as though she owed him any explanation. When she entered Sid’s room and closed the door behind her, she looked around and immediately covered her face with both hands, spreading fingers to look through them. What was she doing? She had probably lost her mind somewhere in his couch to be so bold.  Not that Una never imagined she would do that with Sid someday, but she never thought it would be like this. Spontaneously, with no doubts, no thoughts, only the certainty of how good his touch felt over her skin, and how wonderful it was to have a myriad of new sensations caused by the warmth of his mouth on hers.

The blonde giggled alone, enjoying such unique moment in his room. The place was his sanctuary, all his and his alone – she felt like an intruder. A welcome intruder, but still someone who wasn’t supposed to be there. Still she walked slowly, glancing at his bookshelf, his books, his Muggle devices, everything under the soft light of a lampshade. She turned to his bed and got caught by a strong sudden will to jump on it and get lost between his sheets. They must be inebriated with his smell, and she never would mind get a little intoxicated by that. Sid’s smell was one of the best in the whole world, and she was a scents connoisseur. The sound of water running from an open faucet in the bathroom was a sign that it was safe for her to go ahead and do it – jump shamelessly, press the soft fabric against her skin, make herself comfortable on his pillow. Una could definitely get used to this, so good, even better than her own bed.

Lazily she opened her eyes to the weak light of the lampshade and wondered for a second if that should remain on or if she should turn it off. Her hair was a mess, her big beige bra was completely unsexy and she would like to hide some adverse effects of two months in a gastronomic paradise. Yes, turn it off was a great decision, and so she stretched her hand to try to find the damn button. Why every Muggle thing had to have buttons? But it wasn’t a button what she found over his nightstand. Feeling that odd, hard and cold little object beneath her hand Una frowned. That couldn’t be… Why would it be…? She took it delicately between her fingers and lifted it up to her eyes. Pendant in a chain, a ring of gold and shining little stone. A woman’s ring. A woman’s engagement ring.

The sound of an abrupt slam against the door made her wake up from her confusion, and as soon as she saw Sid appearing behind the ring she was staring, acting so… weirdly… she tried to inquire, “Why do you…” maybe a little too softly, though, 'cause he interrupted her as he didn't listened to anything.

"Well... gave the dog a bone... Now to give you one..."

“...to WHAT?” This time her voice sounded loud and clear. She wasn’t sure what this meant, maybe it was just a Muggle expression or something harmless, but to her it sounded rather offensive. Now, why would Sid be offensive at her? Or why wouldn’t he be? Suddenly she felt like she knew nothing about him - what a crazy idea, just two months and she was already calling him boyfriend and laying on his bed and getting addicted to his smell. Every time she tried to talk with him about his personal life, his past, his family, all she got was changing of subjects. She thought it was obviously because of his insecurities, now she wasn’t so sure anymore. In front of that ring it sounded to her that he was so obviously still in love with his ex-fiancé it made her sick. Maybe she wasn’t an ex-fiancé, and Una was just a pastime or something, no need to talk about feelings after all, about his life, no… no need to say something that sounded good to her ears when she was about to give herself to him… Ok, now she was going too far with her thoughts and her silence. “Nevermind…” she murmured while sitting on his bed, before getting up still holding the ring on her hand, unable to look at him directly. What he said didn’t bother her as much as finding his room wasn’t so his and his alone as she thought. Even being an ex-fiancé, she still seemed to make him great company.

Without finding words to try to inquire him once again, without even knowing she still wanted that, Una walked towards him slowly, taking his hand – and taking the Muggle plastic thing he was carrying, not finding any button it, but concluding on a really quick analysis she could indifferently throw it over his bed without causing any damage – and handing him his precious jewelry still not looking in his eyes. “I’m going home… ” she said with her head down, but loud enough to cut off anything he could try to say. “I shouldn’t be here after all.” That, and she was quickly trying to pass through him, get in living room to catch her things and apparate miles away from him and his untold, but ever present history with that woman - who should clearly be way better and more important than tiny little tasteless Una.

“...to WHAT?”

Her reaction caused Sid to stop dead in his tracks, his grin faltering and his cheeks paling considerably. That was not the reaction he had expected. A titter or an eye roll, sure, but the sheer force of her voice left him speechless in surprise. "It... It was... I was joking..." Sid managed to stutter after a moment, his heavy brows furrowing in befuddlement as his eyes pleaded for understanding. What happened while he was in the bathroom? It had only been a couple of minutes... He supposed he could chalk it up to her 'monthly visit' but somehow he knew that was just a bullshit cop-out that men made up when they didn't want to feel guilty. He did something, he knew it,... but what?

Was it the prophecy giving her cold feet? Why? She had been the one who had put a 'no worrying or discussing' taboo on the subject, so it was hard to believe that she would suddenly become distressed over it. Besides, as much as he respected Cillians gift, he knew that prophetic visions were vague and easily misinterpreted at best. Surely so did she... so what made her turn into an Ice Queen so suddenly.

It was then that he realized she had taken the foil packet from his hand and tossed it away, only to replace it with something cold, metallic and terribly, terribly familiar. He didn't have to look at it to know what it was, having handled it enough over the years to become intimately familiar with every fine detail, but he still licked his lips nervously and opened his hand slowly. Its single, crystalline eye stared up at him in condemning silence, as if saying 'You should have thrown me away a long time ago. This is your punishment...'. Swallowing with a great deal of difficulty, Sid finally tore his eyes from the damnable trinket and looked at Una. Her eyes didn't meet his, which somehow made her anger so very much worse and Sid felt despondent. What could he tell her to make her understand why he had kept the ring?

 “I’m going home… I shouldn’t be here after all.”

"N... no!" Sid interjected pathetically, still stunned by the sudden turn of events. As she tried to push past him, he reached out to grab her arm in as firm of a grip as he could without hurting her "Wait... please... Let me explain... I..." Suddenly, he was cut short as a stab of pain radiated from the back of his neck to his eyes. He had been having these silly little bouts of headaches for a week or so now, but had tried to attribute them to being on his computer too much at night. This one was stronger, though, and kept sending waves of what felt like electricity down his extremities and left his fingers and toes tingling. Releasing her, he gripped his forehead and winced in pain.

Her eyes went straight to the point where his hand pressed her arm, unharming, but strong enough to make her stop. Annoying enough to make her cheeks flush brightly with anger. Her father had never grabbed her arm. Abigail had never grabbed her arm. Not even Septima had ever grabbed her arm. And Una had always been used to literally running away from stressful situations, not a good habit, but one all her family could respect. Why Sid couldn’t? She didn’t even considered the possibilities involving that act before hating it.

"Wait... please... Let me explain... I..."

“No! Keep your words to yourself! Keep your history and ring and fiancé to yourself!” She stated annoyed, pulling her arm from his grip stronger than needed – he released her suddenly – causing her to unbalance, almost fall. Now she really wanted to run away, disappear; never look into his eyes again. She wasn’t sure anymore if this all was his or her fault; she wasn’t thinking much really, before start moving towards the living room to grab her stuff and go, as she first intended. Una didn’t even look back, afraid of crying for such a pathetic series of events, too confuse to notice her eyes were dry despite of the pain stuck in her throat.

But when she was ready to apparate – and God knows she was no prodigy with a wand, but Apparation was something she could perform greatly, especially in situations like that – Sid’s sudden lack of efforts to explain himself to her and try to stop her from going came strangely to her senses. Why did he decide to respect her so completely in the last minute? Without bothering being contradictory, Una walked back silently, with her bag on her shoulder, her wand on her hand and her blouse still pathetically half-open, unsure about what she was going to tell him before leaving.

But being certain would have been useless on that situation, she knew it when she looked at him. “SID!” Una ran to him, holding his face between her hands gently. “Sid, what are you feeling? Oh Gott…” There was a note of urgency on her voice, desperation, an irrational fear rising inside of her while watching him in pain like that. Fear of being the one responsible for that. Did she lose control of something while she was angry with him?