“All I’m saying is, it would be nice if we could spend some time together.” Marcus sighed.
“Like you are around much. You work overtime at the ministry almost every night.” Oliver countered.
“Well, someone has to work to earn some money around here.”
“What? You’re saying I ain’t contributing enough?” Temper’s flaring.
“You’re a reserve and all the money you make you end up spending on firewhiskey with your mates.”
Oliver took a surprised step back, not expecting Marcus to cut so deep. Like he didn’t know that himself. He was aching for a chance at the real thing. And yeah, he didn’t make a lot of money now, but when he and Marcus decided to move in together, they talked about that and Marcus wanted Oliver to follow his dreams nonetheless.
It was late, Marcus had come home about an hour ago and Oliver had just walked in. He'd gotten more agitated waiting for his boyfriend with each passing minute. The two of them had had this kind of conversation before, many times. Marcus admitted that he spent a lot of time at the ministry, but he felt like it didn’t matter, because Oliver was never home anyway.
“Well if that’s what you think, maybe I should move out.” Oliver fumed.
“Maybe you should.” Marcus howled, turning his back to Oliver. Even he was surprised by what he just said. He took a couple of deep breaths and when he turned around to apologize for what he’d just said, Oliver disappeared after apparating.
“Fuck.” Marcus muttered, pulling at his hair in frustration. Why had he said that? He needed to cool down, that was sure. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat down on the couch. He roughly grabbed The Prophet and tried to read it, but his mind kept wandering back to Oliver. At last he just decided to go to bed, thinking Oliver would show up tomorrow anyway.
Oliver however, had apparated to the Burrow, seeking out comfort from his friend Percy.
“Oliver!” Molly shrieked as she opened the door. “How lovely to see you. I didn’t know you were stopping by.”
“I kinda didn’t ask if I could come, but I just had a big fight with Marcus and I could use a place to stay for the night.”
“Of course, dear. You can stay in Percy’s room, like always.” She said, ushering him into the house. He quickly thanked the Weasley’s generosity and made his way up to Percy’s room.
“Perce.” He asked, knocking on his door.
“Oliver?” Percy asked, confused. “What’s wrong?” He could see the tears brimming in Oliver’s eyes.
“I think we’re over.” Percy furrowed his brows together. “Marcus and I. We had a big fight and I don’t think we can make this work anymore.”
Percy walked Oliver to his bed, sitting down next to him.
“What happened?”
“He’s upset that I don’t earn enough money and that I spend most of it on drinks and my mates,” Percy nodded, recognizing Oliver’s pain. “but he doesn’t understand that he’s never home and not wanting to be on my own, I hang out with my friends more often.”
“You two will work it out. You always do. You’ve both just gotten to a boiling point and snapped. Tomorrow will be better.” Percy said, trying to be as best a friend as he could be. Oliver nodded, rubbing the tears from his eyes. Percy quickly made up an extra bed and Oliver climbed into it tiredly, exhausted from crying.
“Thank you, Percy.” He muttered before finally closing his eyes and falling in a restless sleep.
The following morning, he woke up early, laying in bed for a long time before Percy woke up. Oliver just thought of the fight they had. Maybe Marcus was right. Maybe he needed to earn more money and be more reasonable with his spending. He couldn’t just live off Marcus for the rest of their lives.
That settled it. He would find himself a second job. One he could have outside of his training schedule.
“You seem happier.” Percy stated. Oliver looked over at his friend.
“I figured out what I’m going to do.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. I’m going to see if I can get a job at Quality Quidditch Supplies and earn some extra money. Be more involved in this relationship.”
“Sounds like a good plan, Ollie.” Percy said proudly.
So after breakfast he thanked the Weasley’s for letting him stay the night and went over to Diagon Alley via Floo network. He made his way through the thick crowds towards the shop. He took a deep breath and walked in. Half an hour later he stepped outside the shop with a big smile on his face. It had worked, they needed an extra shopkeeper and he would start the following day, just after practice.
He made his way to the Leaky Cauldron and got himself a room. Just until he was back on his feet and could show his face at home. Home, Merlin, how badly he wanted to go there. But it would have to wait, he needed to go home proving that he could contribute to their small little family. The money he’d spent on the Leaky Cauldron would outweigh the money he would make at the shop.
Marcus woke up alone, reaching for Oliver’s side of the bed, alarmed not to find the other there. That was until realization set in. The fight. He’d totally forgotten about that. He quickly got out of bed and made his way towards the kitchen, hoping he’d find Oliver there, slurping coffee, but no such luck. His lover still wasn’t home and it irked him to not know where he was. If he was safe.
He’d been so harsh and he was annoyed with himself that he even dared say that to Oliver. Marcus was sure Oliver had talked to Percy, so as he got ready for his day he figured he could find Percy at the ministry and ask him how he was doing. Hoping to find out he had calmed down and was ready to speak to him again.
Marcus worked for the Department of magical games and sports in the ministry for magic and as much as he enjoyed his work, he felt jittery all day, wanting to know if Oliver was alright. He could only hope that Oliver talked to Percy and that Percy was willing to talk to him about it.
So at lunch time he navigated himself to the minister of magic, knowing Percy was a junior assistant to the minister.
“Weasley.” He started, as he entered the room. Percy looked up from his paperwork and scowled when he saw Marcus coming his way.
“I’m not going to tell you where Oliver is.”
“That’s fair. I just want to know if he’s okay.”
“Of course he’s not okay. He’s extremely upset about the fight. But he spent the night at the Burrow and seemed better this morning. I don’t know where he is right now though.”
“That’s fine. It’s just good to hear he slept in a warm bed last night. Thank you, Weasley.” He nodded at the man and returned to his own work. Happy with this information. Marcus and Percy almost never hung out together, only when Oliver had asked the guy over for a beer and they’d spent the night talking about anything and everything, while Marcus engulfed himself in a book.
Later that night, Marcus had hoped Oliver would have come home, but as the clock struck eleven he realized that would not happen. So he made his way to his bed alone yet again.
The following morning, Oliver woke up feeling good about himself. He was looking forward to start working at Quality Quidditch Supplies. He quickly got ready and made his way over to the shop. The owner of the shop, a man in his fifties, was waiting for him at the door.
“Right on time.” He clapped Oliver on his back as he made his way inside. “Well, you’re a reserve for Puddlemere United, so I assume you know your way around the shop by now. You can start by dusting the displays.”
The day went by in no time. He had enjoyed cleaning the store, helped set up displays and even found the right broom for a second year student who wanted to play for his house’s quidditch team.
As he walked back to the Leaky Cauldron that night, the pouch full of galleons deep in his pocket, he couldn’t feel more thrilled with himself and he hoped that when he would see Marcus again, he would be proud of him too.
As he settled into bed, that happiness that he felt before dwindled away a bit, not having Marcus’ arms around him in bed, made him feel naked. Like something big was missing. And it was! He missed his boyfriend, but he had to hold out just a while longer. Just to prove that he could do it.
It had taken all his willpower the next week to keep from seeking out Marcus, but he knew that Saturday, after practice, he would go home.
He hated how practice had gone that day. His mind clearly not been in the game as they raced around the field. All he could think about was if Marcus was still mad at him. So after he’d been yelled at by the coach for not paying attention, he started making his way back home.
Before he entered the apartment they shared, he took a deep breath. It was four o’clock and Marcus was supposed to be home today. Oliver could feel the nervous flutter in his stomach.
“Marcus,” He said softly, “Are you home?” Oliver could hear some rummaging in the bedroom and then his frame came into view.
“Ollie?” Marcus asked, almost hesitant to believe that he was here. “Am I glad to see you. Are you alright? I haven’t heard from you in days.”
“I know. I just… I needed to sort things through before coming home.”
“What I said, I’m so sorry, Ollie. I didn’t mean any of it.”
“Well, you were right though. I do spend a lot of time at the quidditch field and spend that money on the drink. You shouldn’t have to work overtime just because I can’t control my spending.”
“I’ll work overtime every day if it means I get to keep you.” Marcus spoke softly.
“But you won’t have to anymore. I got a job. At Quality Quidditch Supplies. Here." Oliver pulled the pouch from his pocket and dropped it on the table.
“It’s only a week's worth of galleons, but if I keep working there, you won’t have to work overtime anymore and we can spend more time together. That's how this all started, right? Us not spending enough time together. We can do that now.”
“Oliver, I want you to focus on your career, that’s what you want, right?”
“What I want is to be with you. I can do both things, okay. Let me help pay for rent and other shit.” Oliver had walked over to Marcus by now, holding him tight by the arms.
“We can make this work.”
“I love you.” Marcus blurted out. Oliver smiled brightly.
“I love you too, doofus. Now kiss me will you. It’s been a while.”
Marcus ducked his head down to meet Oliver’s lips. The two connected in a heated battle, both had missed the other tremendously. Marcus put his hands on Oliver’s cheeks and pulled him even closer.
“Merlin, I missed you.” He breathed against his lips.
“Let’s never fight about money and time ever again. Let’s always be there for each other.” Oliver stated. “I don’t ever want to spend that much time away from you again.” Marcus smiled and connected his lips once more with those of Oliver.