She nearly dropped the glass gallon of pumpkin juice with a screech as the light turned on in her apartment and a man was lounging on her couch.
“Theseus? What are you doing here?” It had been years since she’d seen the wizard. Their farewell on the battle fields of the muggle war feeling like a lifetime ago. “Did you break into my-“ Margot paused as he remained silent to her line of questioning.
“I didn’t know where else to go. I thought of home. Thought of some place with warmth and comfort. Ended up here.” Her tiny apartment in New York. As far away from France as he could think to get.
“The funeral last week,” she sighed as she placed her juice in the kitchen and went to sit next to him.
“You weren’t there. I looked for you and you weren’t there.”
“I thought you’d want some space. Not a reminder of the aftermath.” She’d been in Paris at the time of the rally and Leta’s death. Had been hired to pose with makeup at Galeries Lafayette.
“Yet here I am. Seeking you out and all that brings with it.”
“Here you are,” she murmured back. “Hungry? Thirsty?” Breaking the trance of his gaze at the ceiling, he followed her form into the kitchen and listened to her rifling around.
“I should get going. Get back to London.”
“Already? You’ve only just gotten here.” Margot’s head poked out from the other room with a frown on her face. “At least stay for dinner.”
“I need to get back to normal.” He rose into a seated position, resting his elbows on the top of his thighs.
“You could find a new normal.” Theseus craned his neck to try and catch a glimpse of what was in the pots flying through the air. “Stay here and relax for a couple days and then decide.” She assumed he had come all this way for more than just a moment of respite. Assumed he was looking for a distraction. Someone to keep an eye on him during this period of healing. This is always how it was between them. They always said farewell then came back together when other was seeking a steady hand or a flutter in their heart. Looking for unconditional love.
“You paint anything new recently?” he rose slowly and made to glance down the short hall toward her spare room. A room he knew was filled with canvases and paints and a myriad of arts supplies. All her money went towards her passion for creation. The modeling wasn’t fun but a means to an end. It gave her enough coins to keep a roof over her head, canvas in her room and food for her Pygmy puff, Felix.
“A little. They’ve got me traveling more for photos. Doesn’t leave a lot of time.” The boiling and bubbling stopped and was replaced by plates clanging and silverware spriting to her tiny table and mismatched chairs.
“I thought the point was to fund your painting. Not let it take over.”
“My art doesn’t pay the bills.”
“You don’t put your art out there.” He was in the doorway now, Margot blinking at the way he filled it completely, looking at her like a lecture was brewing.
“And what if I did? No one wants to buy it-“
“Gogo-“ She flinched away from the old nickname. The name he’d called her the first time they’d shared a bed. And every time after.
“Let’s eat before the sausages get cold.” The plates followed her to the table and settled softly.
“You would tell me if money was tight?” He had tried to offer her assistance in the past. She never accepted it.
“No,” Margot answered as she bit into their dinner. They ate quietly. She was afraid he would disappear to London as soon as they finished. Her chews were as slow as possible.
It didn’t used to be this way between them. Before The Great War, they’d met at Hogwarts. Margot the only thing able to distract the perfect student that was Theseus Scamander. The years in between spent traveling and learning and experiencing. He’d settled at the Auror office and she’d struggled to find her way. He’d been the only one to encourage her to keep creating. The war…it had taken the color right out of her.
“Thank you for dinner.” Thought it had been different, it had been familiar. A reminder of the life they could have had together. The peace his life could have been.
“You’re welcome anytime.” She waved her hand and the dishes drifted to the sink. “Spend the night at least?” Don’t leave me alone. I can’t say goodbye to you again.
“Okay.” Ask me to stay more than just tonight. Ask me to be in your life again. Tell me we can be each other’s safety and security again.
Tell me I’m worthy of love. Worthy of you.
Tell me we’ll learn each our own language again. See color again.
Tell me one day I’ll be able to look in the mirror.
Look at you.
And not have to ever wonder if you see me.