Invisible String [t. s]

Skyfall

"That's true, most likely." His hands landed on her waist and he was surprised when he realised how perfectly Amélie fits in him, his hands, his arms, the way her face fits the hollow of his neck. Élie's arms were placed around his neck. "I love you." She chuckled and she leaned in to kiss him. Her lips tasted salty, like blood and tears, but also sweet like cinnamon and strawberries.

Amélie's hands played with the ends of his hair as Theseus' traveled across her back. Rosier smiled into the kiss before pulling away, right after Theseus left a peck on those rosy lips.

"I love you, too." He smiled.

"You do? You don't hate me anymore?"

"No. I never could, no matter how much I tried to convince myself that I did. My heart always won the fight with my head, and it has your name written over it." He smiled at her so much his eyes narrowed. Theseus kissed Amélie again.

"Let's get you home." She nodded and they said 'goodbye, see you soon' to everybody. Then, he held her hand tightly as they walked downstairs. Eventually, they arrived back at the village and teleported to France. There, they made their way towards her place. "Where's Evan?" He asked once they had walked in. The house was arranged and it felt cold, only that it wasn't unbearable anymore.

"At Hogwarts, he's coming home for the holidays in a week." Theseus nodded as they made their way towards her bedroom. "He was sorted into Slytherin, did you know?" Theseus laughed, remembering the bickering they had as kids. "I've been thinking about moving out, you know?"

"Moving? Where?"

"London." She took off her coat slowly, for her whole body ached. Theseus stayed at the door, reclining his weight on the doorframe as she took off her boots. It was shocking to hear that, but it felt hopeful. "It's closer to Scotland." He nodded.

"Faster, cheaper." She nodded and sighed, relieved of being home.

"Indeed." He smiled at her and took off his coat and blazer, he left them on the coatrack she had stuck behind the door.

"I'll get the water running." He said as he rolled up his sleeves and she smiled, thanking him. When he walked out, Amélie got undressed. When her eyes landed on the mirror and she saw her reflection, she started to cry.

  One thing is feeling the punches someone gives you, the curses and hexes someone throws at you; but seeing them reflected on your body hits different, straight to the gut. She didn't expect to find cuts on her skin, scratches she had made to herself when she tried to release the growing pain inside her skin whenever Vinda said 'crucio' or the bruises and open cuts caused by Krafft's beating. She grabbed her bathrobe and threw it on, the comfort of the silk made her feel somewhat better. She walked out of her room and entered the bathroom, Theseus was sitting on the edge of the bathtub. His eyes met hers and he smiled.

"It's ready." Said Scamander, Élie smiled and nodded.

"Thank you." His turn to nod. Theseus stood up and pretended to wash his hands for her to 'have her privacy', as Amélie let the silk of the robe fall to the ground and stepped into the tub, he saw through the mirror the bruises and cuts on her back. They looked almost as badly as his own scars look. She got into the tub and the water, as well as the soap foam, covered her; the warmth made her release a breath.

"I'll be in the living room." Said Theseus.

"No. Please, stay." He blinked and, after a couple seconds, he nodded and sat down next to the tub on the ground. Eventually, her hand asked for his and he grabbed it to hold her tightly. They stayed like that until Amélie started washing her body with a sponge trying to remove the dirt and dried blood from her skin. She asked Theseus to help her wash her back. With gentle strokes, he cleaned the wounds and the bruises making sure not to add too much pressure as for her to feel any pain. The wounds were enough reminder of what had happened, she didn't need the pain to remember it. When he was done, he gave her the sponge and leaned down to kiss her shoulder. Amélie closed her eyes when his lips made contact with her skin.

"I won't let anything like this happen to you ever again. I promise you." He whispered against her skin.

"And I believe you." She smiled and turned to face him. "Thank you." He kissed her forehead. "I need a moment alone now, please." She said after a while and he nodded.

"Of course." He stood up and dried his hands with a towel near the sink. "I'll prepare us some food." She nodded and he walked out of the bathroom. Theseus arrived at the kitchen and released a breath he had been holding, letting out the frustration of not being able to avoid the harm from touching her through his tears. After a couple minutes, he got himself together and started cooking.

  Amélie likes pasta and wine, so that's what he cooked. When she walked out of the bathroom, she made her way towards her bedroom after complimenting the scent of the food. She got dressed with a nightgown and her silk robe before making her way towards the kitchen.

Theseus was pouring white wine into the cups when her arms wrapped themselves around his torso, her ear against his back. He smiled, left the glasses and the bottle down before taking her hands into his own, leaning a bit back as to be nearer to her. The pair stayed like that for a while and just enjoyed silence together until Amélie's stomach made a funny noise.

"You're hungry." He said, mockingly.

"Oh, you have no idea." She replied, she didn't tell him she was starving, though.

  They sat down and ate their food and drank their wine next to the Christmas tree she had set alongside Evan and watched snow falling from the sky onto the Parisian streets through the closed window. All of this in comfortable silence, some people say it's overrated, but it's actually not. At least not for them. When the night fell, Rosier asked Scamander to stay, something he didn't refuse to do.

"I have no clothes to sleep in, though." Thes commented as she got under the bedsheets gracefully.

"When has that ever been a problem?" Élie replied and Scamander laughed. It was true, so, he simply got rid of his clothes, placed them aside on the desk's chair, and slithered into her bed.

  They laid down in bed and simply embraced each other enjoying the silence and the comfort and peace of each other's presence, the soft echo of their breaths in synch.

"I've realised something." Élie whispered, sleepily.

"What thing?" Theseus asked gently and quietly.

"That I'd never be me without the security you provide me. Your loving arms, keeping me from harm." She smiled against his neck. "I believe that, with you beside me, the sky could crumble and fall, and yet, we'd stand tall. Facing it together." Theseus smiled.

"I share the feeling." He kissed her forehead. "I'll protect you until my dying breath." She chuckled, her laugher vibrating against his collarbone.

"I love you." He breathed out, knowing she'd be okay, knowing she was here in his arms, breathing with him. Alive. He had nothing to fear now.

"I love you, too." She smiled wildly.

  With that, they fell asleep. Surely, as it was expected, Amélie did have nightmares throughout the night; but Theseus was there to calm her fears or offer a cup of forest berries tea if she really couldn't sleep.

  He also told her she'd be fine, that she was safe, that he'd keep her safe, always. And Élie knew she was safe, for she was finally with him. She was finally home.

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author's note:
hi! happy love day to all those who celebrate! i love you and here's my gift to you before the day's over (where i'm at btw, it's currently 11:06 pm. i know it's over somewhere else, but...happy valentine's anyway)

hope you enjoyed this chapter, gotta say we're nearing the end of this story, but we'll keep on having fun until it happens.

take care, drink water, have a nice day/night/evening or whatever time it is wherever u are.

mare, xx