things have c h a n g e d (elliot)

[erikoliver]

Erik was absolutely exhausted. He'd cleaned the flat spotless, had arranged his array of instruments in their own corner of the living room, and had neatly rearranged his sheet music, compiling it all into a binder, rather than congealed on an endless pit on the floor. His room had been cleaned out, completely destroyed then pieced back together again. Truthfully, though the labor was incredibly time-consuming and his every fiber ached from the amount of progress made, Erik was happy. He couldn't recall a time where he had been more happy in his lifetime.

He'd done what he'd thought been impossible and got the dreadful Mrs. Castel to sign Natalia over to him as her legal guardian without going to court. Granted, the process of gaining the right amount of blackmail was painful and quite dangerous, he'd done it. While he looked down upon his own actions and hoped that Nat wouldn't learn from him, he was proud that he had found the strength to save such a precious little girl from harm's way, even if the method he had used had been completely crude and unorthodox.

His mother and father had taken the news famously, and good old Mom had gone on a shopping spree to dote on her new "daughter." Of course, it had been the perfect excuse to also redecorate her humble abode, as well as spoil little Leleti rotten with new clothes and toys, but, nonetheless, there had been plenty. New furniture, a desk and a bookcase, as well as a new bedframe (canopy - only the best for their new family member!), all new Hogwarts supplies purchased by him for Natalia. Mom had even splurged on an entire new wardrobe for the girl. The boxes to unpack were endless, and it had taken him even longer to get everything into the bare spare room he'd never used.

Erik had spent the entirity of the day with his father, setting up the room for Natalia's arrival in one short week. Sheets were laid down, comforter as well, pillows perfectly fluffed. All that was needed was to unpack the boxes of clothes and the rearrangement of the supplies inside. Erik plopped onto the couch, looking like he had aged a few years overnight, firewhiskey in hand. Closing his eyes, he allowed a groan to escape his lips when there came a knock. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, he called out, "it's open!"

[potter]

Elliot had had a hard day, probably one of the hardest she had in a long time. She felt drained and on the verge of tears, it had been an unfortunate thing and was blaming herself in spite of being told countless times that it wasn't her fault. She had been out with a coworker tracking down the escaped criminal from last week's hostage situation when the crook had cursed her partner. It had been just the right strength and hit him in just the right spot, the healers weren't sure if he was going to be able to make it, though they had urged her to go home and get some rest.

She had been just about to go in her own flat when Elliot came to the sudden decision that she didn't want to be alone. She recalled Erik's offer that she could go over to his place any time... She would probably be taking him up on it. As per her terms of employment she couldn't discuss the day's events just yet, so hopefully Erik would simply be able to take her mind off of what had happened. Elliot hesitated a moment outside the door, she had promised herself that she wasn't going to get involved with him again. But right now, he would be the person she needed. She knocked and was a bit surprised when he called back that the door was open.

Elliot let herself in and immediately bolted the door behind herself, eyes flickering to Erik once the door was secure. He looked like he had gone through a lot recently. "You, erm, shouldn't leave the door unlocked," said Elliot, her inner-Auror shining through a moment. But she didn't like the idea of anyone she knew just sitting around in their flat without the door being properly locked. It lead her to believe that Erik might not have any magical protection on the place either.

[erikoliver]

Erik couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Elliot showing up in his flat. Granted, it was a pleasant surprise, but her finicky, protective behavior was worrying him a little. Perhaps it was just the inner Auror in her shining through. However, what she said rang through his ears and he stood, cursing under his breath. Drink still in hand, he retrieved his wand from off the side table and redid all his protective charms. "Been in and out of the flat all day, constantly up and down the stairs, forgot to reapply the protection when I was done. Fatal mistake," he explained, frowning to himself.

Erik wasn't normally so careless, being an Order Member and knowing just how dangerous the world was. He was about to sit back down upon the sofa and offer Elliot a drink when he noticed the look upon her face. Concern for the beautiful ex-lover and cherished schoolhood friend took over and he ushered Elliot to the couch, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Elliot, what's wrong?" he asked, voice full of compassion and genuine worry. His eyes grew dark as he immediately jumped from the bad conclusions to the absolute worse, and he anxiously bit his lips as he awaited some sort of reply.

[potter]

Elliot felt her anxiety about Erik's safety go away entirely when he re-applied his charms, glad that he had done so. Of course, she was sure he was aware that the world wasn't exactly the safest place anymore. Despite the ministry trying its best to keep the public calm, the Auror office was being bombarded with tips about crimes, potentially dangerous persons, actually dangerous persons, and more. What she had not been expecting was for Erik to catch on to the fact that something was wrong so quickly. Though he did know her well, and remained to this day the only person Elliot had ever slept with.

His hand on her shoulder sent a sudden tingle down her spine, reigniting feelings that she had been suppressing ever since that day they had seen each other in the main square in Hogsmeade. At that point she wanted to start sobbing, but maintained her composure, she was used to hiding things. "Erm, work stuff," said Elliot, "I'm not allowed to talk about it." She hoped that he would understand, loyalty to her job was very important, if she wasn't allowed to share something she wouldn't. "I just didn't want to be alone, I hope it's all right that I came over," Elliot added, though it didn't look like she had interrupted anything important.

[erikoliver]

Erik nodded slowly, offering a smile. "Of course it's alright that you came. Like I told you already, you can come whenever you need or want to," he replied softly. Ignoring the small spurts of energy lightly twitching against his fingertips, he squeezed Elliot's shoulder lightly. "But, perhaps I should rephrase the question. Elliot, are you alright? I don't care about what secret Auror thing went down... well I do, but... ugh," he stumbled over his words, trying to find the right combination. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair.

"What I'm trying to say is that I care a lot about you, and you don't look fine. You look miserable, quite frankly," Erik finally said, looking up at Elliot and meeting her gaze. "You don't have to tell me what happened. But I just want to make sure that you're alright. And don't try to lie to me, please," he begged slightly, face contorting back to it's concerned expression. He wasn't stupid, he could tell when something was wrong, whether Elliot would openly admit it or not.

[potter]

Elliot at first wasn't sure what she should say, nobody had ever said anything like that to her before. The closest thing was when Seth had found out about her anorexia. She found that when she was upset it was best if the person she was talking to was straightforward and didn't give her the option to beat around the bush. She took a steadying breath, beginning to have mixed emotions about coming here. She hadn't known that Erik would be able to see straight through her like that. But he had said that he cared about her... She mentally told herself not to let it get to her, they were over.

"I've been better," Elliot finally said after a pause, it was a truthful statment, though perhaps not quite the most accurate one. She wasn't quite so much as miserable as she didn't know what to do with herself. It wasn't her fault her partner had gotten cursed, but she could have prevented it. She felt as if she should have been the one to take it, not him. He had a wife and children to support, she had only herself. "I'll be fine, I just need to... I don't know, take my mind off things," said Elliot.

[erikoliver]

Erik smiled comfortingly. "Excuse me, for just a moment. Lay down, relax," he instructed, standing up and entering the kitchen. He poured a glass of that raspberry wine that Elliot had first introduced to him. Reentering the living room, he handed her the glass. "I've been stocked on that since dinner," he explained, grinning slightly. Taking his wand from the table beside the couch, he muttered a charm, bringing the piano to life. "Classical practice, if you please," he called softly, and the piano began softly playing the music he used to practice a more classical style on his instruments.

Erik sat down next to Elliot. "Here," he said gently, lightly pulling her towards him. He gave her a small hug, then pulled away slightly, beginning to lightly rub her shoulders and back. Ignoring how close she was an how intoxicating her scent was, he quietly massaged her back. He needed to be there for her, as a friend. They were over, and he needed to accept that... even if his old feelings continued to resurface whenever the beautiful Potter was near. Still, he'd take what he could get, preferring to be friends than to not have Elliot in his life.

[potter]

Whatever Elliot had been expecting it was not a glass of her favourite grenache that she had introduced Erik to, let alone for him to charm his piano to play something softly in the background. She had been about to ask him if the spell had been of his own creation, but before she could even open her mouth he had hugged her. The gesture had taken her completely by surprise, but it had felt good. She hadn't ever thought herself a touchy-feely sort of person, but she had unknowingly been craving being held, and though she would never say it aloud, she had wanted most to be held by Erik.

Elliot was surprised even further when he began to massage her back and shoulders, though knew better than to ask him to stop. Deep down Elliot knew that Erik was a nuturing type, denying him that once he had decided on it would probably make him upset. She sipped the wine slowly, allowing the fruity flavour to linger on her tongue. Elliot was relaxing, however slowly, though her mind still never completely left her partner, but it was out of her hands now- though she couldn't help but worry.

[erikoliver]

Erik remained silent and was only going to talk if Elliot did. The light piano music hanging in the background was lovely, and he started to smile a little. Still, he couldn't help but noticed how skinny Elliot was. It wasn't any of his business, so he wasn't going to say anything, but she was all skin and bones. She'd always been skinny, but this was something new... Erik shoved those thoughts into the back of his mind, it didn't necessarily matter at that point. Accusing Elliot of anything wasn't smart at that point in time. Besides, he was probably wrong.

Erik continued to lightly rub the kinks out of her shoulders and back, deciding that venturing to her lower back would be a step too far. Although they weren't even close to being a couple, he was just happy she'd forgiven him. Though he didn't regret sleeping with her, he regretted that it had been the thing that had ended them. It really wasn't fair, but Erik knew it was going to be alright... even though Erik realized that he wanted Elliot back.

[potter]

There was some sort of quality to Erik's hands that seemed to magically work out the tension of the muscles in her shoulders and back. In all honesty she didn't really know how to relax all the way. She was always on guard, ready to whip out her wand in a split second should something go wrong. It was the Auror training that had done that to her (she was suddenly reminded of her father's stories of Alaster Moody, who would bark "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" to keep people on their toes). Or perhaps it was the overworking, so many hours spent at a desk reading files, filling out paperwork without much change in posture.

After a moment Elliot gently turned around so she was facing Erik instead, half-drunk glass of wine still in her hands. "Thank you," said Elliot, "I needed that." Worry had been reduced to only a dark shadowy corner in the back of her mind, she felt as close to relaxed as she had been in a long time. To her Erik had almost a calming presence, he balanced her in a way. She was always so high-strung, riddled with anxiety, whereas he seemed to be entirely level-headed.

[erikoliver]

Erik smiled gently at Elliot. Reaching over her shoulders, he grabbed his beer bottle from the side table and took a sip, laying back on the couch. "It's the very least I could do," he replied, nodding his head towards her and smiling a bit more. He was just happy he could make her even a little bit better, brighten her day just a tad more, even if he was only a candle in the darkness. Sometimes that was all anyone ever needed, just a simple spark to get them going through the rest of the day.

Erik closed his eyes for a moment, humming along to the piano accompaniment in the background. Opening his eyes, he glanced at Elliot. "If there's anything you need me to say or do, don't be afraid to ask. Alright?" he replied with a small smile, drinking in her form for a moment. Even after the little things he'd done, it looked as though her mood had improved greatly. Elliot was a lovely being, but she was even more so when lightened with a good, even a so-so, mood. Something about the way her eyes lit up had him transfixed.

((OOC: They're both so stubborn! Who's going to make the first move, do you think?))

[potter]

((OOC: Gah I know. How about Elliot does and, erm... Right now!))

Elliot found that all too familiar tingle go down her spine as Erik reached over her shoulder for his own drink. That was the closest they had been in years, she had been craving that... What was coming over her? She didn't understand it, she wanted to get up and leave, but at the same time she didn't want to move. Thankfully he leaned back quickly, and Elliot skimmed over her awkwardness with a long sip of wine that nearly drained the entire glass. She set the glass with the quarter inch of wine left back on the table, biting her lip. Wondering why she was tempted to say anything. What if he rejected her?

Elliot nodded when Erik told her that if she needed anything all she needed to do was ask. Perhaps that would be the opportunity that she needed. She took in a deep breath, desperately trying to talk herself out of it, though at that moment her heart had overridden her brain. "Can you tell me, honesty, what you think of me?" said Elliot, and as soon of the words came out of her mouth they didn't seem right. She took another breath. "I guess, what I mean to say... Do you have feelings for me?" Elliot finally said.

[erikoliver]

Erik had been taking a rather long swig of his beer when Elliot popped the question. Shock caused his throat to contract and he coughed, eyes widening rapidly. "I..." he sputtered, hitting his chest lightly to clear his airways. "I... uhm..." he started, mind reeling, unsure of how to answer the question. He wanted nothing mmore than to answer the question completely honestly. However, he was thoroughly terrified that Elliot wasn't going to reciprocate his feelings. But, she had asked the question, and Erik owed in to her, as a friend, to tell her the completely honest truth.

"Elliot, I..." Erik started, taking a deep breath. He gently laid a hand on her knee, ignoring the sparks igniting up his arm. Taking a deep breatth, he looked into Elliot's eyes. "I still feel for you, Elliot. It's like we were back in school, like nothing bad had ever happened... like I never messed everything up... but, it's... stronger, somehow... I want to know if you feel that way too. Do you?" he asked, heart racing as he awaited Elliot's reply, hoping and praying she felt the same.

[potter]

If she wasn't so desperately eager for an answer Elliot might have chuckled, or at the very least smiled with the way she had taken Erik off guard, making him sputter on his drink. But at the moment she felt that the conversation was too serious. Elliot had more of her emotion invested into it than what she cared to admit, but she cared deeply for Erik, and had never stopped doing so. When their relationship had ended it wasn't because her feelings had, but because she had been ashamed, felt taken advantage of. It had taken her until recently to realize it was her fault too.

Her nerves came to a peak as Erik struggled with words, her mind immediately jumping to the point that he had moved on, didn't see her that way anymore. Though she could hardly believe her ears when he said what she had secretly been hoping that he would say for a long time. Suddenly, she didn't feel quite so nervous anymore. "A little while after we broke up I regretted it," said Elliot, figuring she owed him the full explanation, "you haven't left my mind since. So, yes, I do." She exhaled slowly, unsure of what would happen next, but she was glad she had brought it up.

[erikoliver]

Erik smiled a little, breathing a rather large sigh of relief. She felt the same. His hand went from her knee to her cheek, brushing the hair from her face. He caressed her cheek for a moment, smiling softly. "Elliot, I missed you," he whispered, running his thumb along her cheekbone. It took him only a second to decide, but he leaned forward, planting a soft kiss upon her lips. The electricity flowing through his veins engorged, suddenly making his insides feel like they were going through an inferno.

The kiss only lasted a second, but that second was all Erik could have asked for. He pulled away and rested his forehead against Elliot's, smiling lovingly. His heart was racing, but his mind was surprisingly at peace for once in the past few months. It was a wonderful thing, and he hoped that things would stay that way. His hand dropped to his side once more as he reached back over Elliot's shoulder, placing his drink back upon the table. "So..." he started, running a hand through his hair. "What exactly does this mean, do you think?"