“Hey, you up?”
“Yeah. Can’t sleep?”
There was a pause from the other side as he heard a winded sigh.
“Yeah, nothing to it. Did you just get back?”
“Yes. It was a hectic case but it is over now. Finally got a few days off too.”
“That’s nice. You deserve it, you’ve been running around non-stop. I haven’t seen you in so long.” The voice on the other side broke into a soft chuckle. “And to think that I’m the auror here.”
“Curse-breaking is just as hectic and you know it.” He chided softly as he sat up on his bed.
“All I’ve done is fill up paperwork for the past week and… I miss you.”
Blaise sat up straighter as his chest clenched tightly. He looked out his window and took note of the night lights of muggle Bristol. His apartment was comfortably big and cozy but it felt empty and cold. He knew somewhere of a better place just along the shore. It was small and weatherworn but it was all he longed for as he listened with bated breath to the voice on the phone. Even if he had to walk all the way to Cornwall, Blaise was half willing to try.
“Well, I’m back. But you already knew that.” He said smoothly never betraying his emotions.
“Yeah, I know. “
Blaise could hear the distant hum of waves from the other side and he could almost smell the salt in the air. A comfortable pause settled but Blaise wanted more.
“You know, if you wanted to, you can.”
He heard the other take a sharp inhale and he smiled. They fumbled on the other side for words but he knew this game. He’d played it so many times with so many others in the past it came to him naturally. Nevertheless, his heart skipped a beat as he heard them chuckling shyly.
“I don’t think I can. I’m too tired and I’m afraid I’ll get splinched. Again.”
Blaise was tired too. But never too tired for the other man. Just hearing his voice eased the coiled tension from his shoulders.
“Ask then.”
“Hmm?” The soft voice fluttered through the airwaves in sync with the butterflies in his stomach.
“You only need to ask me, cara mio. ” Blaise said hoping his words would ever so slightly push the other to a decision they both knew they wanted.
Another pause and he could hear the other’s breath hitch and even out. Even in the quiet that followed Blaise smiled, almost hearing the cogs turning in the other man’s head.
“I…I really miss you and you know, it’s been getting kind of cold these days. You know how I dislike the cold.”
“Probably coming from the sea.” Blaise teased but shrugged on his robes over his silk pyjamas and picked his wand up from his bedside table.
“Well, yeah. There’s that too but- nevermind, I’m sure it’s much more comfortable back there anyways.”
“My love, You know I love the sea.”
“So then…”
“Hmm?”
“So I was thinking…”
“Yes?”
“You’re such a wanker. You’re really going to make me say it?”
“Say what?”
“You know…”
m “Hmm?”
“Fine. I want you here with me. Please, Blaise? Will you come over?Now, preferably.” The other blurted nervously.
“You know I will. I’ll see you in a bit.” He smiled triumphantly.
Blaise smiled as he hung up and swiftly went down to the floo.
He was still smiling as he re-emerged from the relatively smaller floo. He instantly looked up at the staircase that led to the bedroom.
The silhouette that stood on the stairs with the soft light flooding from behind it was a sight to behold. The fiery tousled hair formed a halo that framed a freckled face full of anticipation. He looked deep into twin pools of true blue and his breath stuttered. In awed silence and yearning, Blaise reached for the boy at the top of the stairs. The boy opened his long lithe arms and practically jumped into Blaise’s arms halfway. Blaise chuckled softly and stroked the other’s unruly hair as they hugged tightly, both letting out satisfied sighs of relief.
“Hello, love.” Blaise whispered into the other’s ear unwilling to break the silence.
Ron lived alone in his little cottage a hill away from Bill and Fleur but to speak louder than in a whisper at that moment felt like a sin. Blaise looked up at Ron who smiled and watched him with the adoration of a thousand crups. He was wearing one of his fuzzy jumpers and his socks were mismatched but to Blaise, he looked beautiful. A fiery and loving image waiting for him and embracing him with the warmth of a familiar hearth.
“Blaise! You little tease. Making me say it when we both know you wanted to be here just as much.” Ron exclaimed in an equally hushed whisper as he giggled and rained small kisses over his buzzed hair and on his forehead. In a much softer tone, Ron looked through his lashes and whispered shyly: “I knew you’d come.”
“I’m here, vita mia.” Blaise smiled and when he saw the satisfied grin on Ron’s face, he was happy. He was content.