Who: Adrian Battye and Jackson London When: September 30, late evening Where: Random hall to RoR What: Boggarts Rating/Warnings: A little bit of boggart sadness, FTB on sexual contact Status: Closed/Complete
Jackson knew things were hard for the Hufflepuffs right now and so he had no problem picking up a bit more time roaming and doing checks as a prefect. It didn't hurt that he had Adrian to walk with him and keep him company. It hadn't been a good few days but things seemed to have settled at least, if nothing else, and the pair of them were walking in mostly companionable silence, with the occasional comment on something going on or Quidditch rivalry. They seemed to have found an easy place since the attack, the tension Jackson had felt brushed aside for now.
A strange sound came to his ears when they turned a corner and he looked to his friend, confused. "Did you hear that?" Because they had to be wary lately, he knew.
Adrian was not entirely fond of the new protocols that resulted from the Deatheater attack on the school. He was glad for some of them, but knew that his sister needed water to restore her mood, and she kept running into the boggart. He liked though having a partner on rounds - especially when that partner was Jackson. It gave them a chance to hang out again, and a purpose that kept them from… arguing about nonsensical things.
There was a reason now for the prefect patrols, and Adrian tensed when Jackson looked to him. "Maybe?" He strained to try to hear it again, to work out what the sound meant.
Jackson understood the importance, though he had managed to sneak off on his own for a few earlier in the day to send off an owl. It had seemed like an important thing to do, though it wasn't something he wanted to talk about at the moment. He too enjoyed having Adrian on his rounds with him, since it gave them time to just wander around together. It was peaceful honestly.
Jackson paused in walking, trying too to understand what the sound was. It wasn't something he recognized at first, sort of a strange scraping maybe, and he glanced to his friend curiously, trying to see if he could identify it any better.
Adrian frowned, pulling his wand. It didn't sound right, whatever it was. Usually what they caught were students walking back to their dorms after curfew, or once in awhile making out in the halls (after hours) when it was quiet. "Something," he whispered.
Jackson nodded slightly. Obviously it was something and it didn't sound like something human. A person would have heard them and would either have attempted to escape or hide much more quietly. He took a few more steps, wand raising as well. He knew Adrian could protect himself but this wasn't an individual thing right now. If something was there they had to look after each other. He froze stock still though when he saw... Jess? No, that couldn't be right and he dropped to his knees, reaching a hand out and flinching back when the lifeless form seemed to take on life, his eyes wide.
Adrian recognized Jackson's sister, though he'd only met her a few times. She was dead, though clearly now before then. "Boggart, Jackson" Adrian warned him - in case he was caught in the moment and didn't recognize it for what it was. The creature turned to look at him, debating, Adrian thought, whether to try to cause him fear.
Jackson knew that Adrian was right. His sister had been gone long enough that he had at least accepted the fact, but it had been so long since he'd seen her and for a moment he couldn't think of anything but the fact that she was there. And then her voice cut through him like ice- blaming him for what had happened, telling him he had killed her, and he couldn't think of how to make that funny. His eyes closed, wand still in hand, and he whispered "ridikkulus," hoping that somehow the spell would work.
Adrian didn't wait as long as Jackson - casting "Ridikkulus" - as soon as the creature began to speak. When Jackson closed his eyes - the creature focused on Adrian, which made it easier to dismiss as it tried to gain the shape of his fears, but Adrian could picture himself in Wallace's clothes to go with her bottles and other extremes that sent the creature of the dark scampering back to the dark shadows again.
Jackson knew it hadn't been his spell, and he opened his eyes to look at Adrian, trying to hold himself together still. He tried to offer a joke, but he was pretty sure it would fall flat. "That's why you're the one that's better in class..." Though really, how could he make what he had just seen funny? It was one of the more difficult spells as it was, but at least when it was him losing the ability to play, there were ways around it that made him laugh. This? Not so much.
"You have lived it." Adrian pointed out. "It is not something that is ridiculous as me as drunk and stoned as Wallace gets." He feared being her, but at the same time it was silly and stupid. Adrian wasn't going to risk indulging - he didn't even take pain potions for Quidditch injuries. It made it far easier therefore for Adrian to banish the Boggart.
Jackson nodded slightly, pushing himself back up to his feet as Adrian continued to speak. It made sense that his friend feared becoming his mother, and he moved to hug him for a moment, tightly. "The fact that you're the most dependable person I know probably makes it harder to imagine too, honestly." Because he knew that Adrian tended to overcompensate, behaving in a manner that made him seem much more mature than his 17 years.
Adrian wrapped himself around Jackson as soon as he'd gotten up, knowing Jackson had not actually faced a Boggart but his own haunted memories and self-doubts. "Or that I am naturally just ridiculous." Adrian offered gently.
A small smile was offered and he shrugged, holding Adrian tightly. It was nice to have him close, especially after all of the things that had happened that week. Part of him was a little shocked that the boggart hadn't become Adrian harmed, after all of it, but at the same time he knew deep down that his friend could protect himself. "You're not ridiculous."
Adrian wasn't sure he believed Jackson that he wasn't ridiculous, but it wasn't an argument to be started. He brushed the hair from Jackson's face, searching for signs he was okay - or not - after the reminder of his tragedy.
Jackson didn't want to be studied or inspected. He wanted to curl up and hide. The best he could manage now though was pulling Adrian back close into a hug, hiding his face against the other boy. It was a good position and he was grateful that it was typically one he could get away with.
Adrian knew what Jackson was doing and why, but he didn't fight his friend on it. The motion - the hiding - confirmed what Adrian had been seeking to confirm about Jackson anyway. Adrian let him hide his face, threading his fingers through Jackson's hair, and pressing a kiss against it. The loss of his sister was not some trivial thing so easily dismissed.
Jackson was oddly soothed by the motion, the touch pleasing to him in a way that very few things were at this point. Adrian knew him best, had been one of the very few that had known Jess, and so he was safer to a degree here. It wasn't being pushed, and he simply tightened his arms around his friend, trying still to not entirely lose control.
Adrian wouldn't be surprised if Jackson returned to the bottle; Jackson was justified in wanting - needing that kind of escape. But Adrian would offer what comfort he could, what Jackson would take from him. And they could stand there all night if Jackson needed that. His arms tightening, mimicking a little Jackson's grip around him, hoping to help him feel connected at least for the moment.
After a few moments Jackson pulled back, looking at Adrian's face with reddened eyes for a second before sighing. "Upstairs." Because he wanted to actually hide someplace and he wanted his friend with him. The seventh floor room was a safe place where most people wouldn't find them and so that was a level of security in hiding there.
"Okay." Adrian nodded. He didn't entirely let go of Jackson, only loosening enough that Jackson could - did pull back. He moved to take Jackson's hand - not wanting to entirely let him go. He could try to be what Jackson needed - to give him the comfort he wanted. It didn't take long to get to the seventh floor, though Adrian tried to keep his mind blank - or focused on Jackson's needs so the room could respond to his friend.
Jackson walked back and forth before the wall, focused on his need for a piano. Nothing else in the room mattered. He didn't let go of Adrian's hand, needing his friend close to him. Things felt better when he was with Adrian, typically, and he knew that he would be most able to settle with just his friend with him. When he opened the door for them he noted that there was a chair and couch to go with the piano and bench. Interesting, though he didn't dwell on it, seating himself - still holding onto Adrian so that the other boy would stay close.
Adrian was always willing to say close to Jackson, and sat on the bench beside Jackson since the other boy was still holding him. Only when they were both settled - Adrian trying to stay close but not get in the way of Jackson's playing - did he let go of his friend's hand. Jackson couldn't play while holding hands. He placed his hand on Jackson's thigh instead - out of the way of the playing, but still touching him so Jackson could feel his closeness.
Jackson's hands moved to the keys as soon as Adrian let go of the one, his fingers running through scales a few times before segueing into actual music. The feel of Adrian by his side though had his brain in two places. The music and the boy next to him. They soon started to combine more thoroughly in his mind as the song changed, a slower and calmer piece that evoked to him the feeling the warmth and closeness was allowing into him.
Adrian listened, hearing Jackson reveal himself entirely in the music. He relaxed a little when the music slowed, calming. Adrian knew that meant Jackson had himself calmed and was glad. His friend had found the solace in the music again, and Adrian waited another while before starting to shift, giving Jackson more space and considered getting up entirely so Jackson could properly play.
While he was mostly caught up in the music, the moment he felt Adrian shift away slightly the hand closer to the other boy shot off the keys, grabbing his hand to prevent him from moving away. He wasn't usually this dependent- he preferred typically to do things by himself, but right now he didn't want to be anything even remotely close to alone.
Adrian stopped when Jackson pulled one hand from the keys. "Okay." Adrian would stay. He shifted back to his earlier position, returning his hand to Jackson's thigh. "I wasn't going to go far," he whispered, seeking to reassure without interrupting. "Or leave."
Jackson allowed a glance to his side, his hand returning to the keys when Adrian settled back again next to him. "Good." Because he didn't want Adrian to leave. After what he'd seen he didn't want Adrian anywhere out of his reach. He didn't deserve the other boy and he knew it - Jess had pretty much told him that - but it still hurt being without him.
Adrian would stay then… until Jackson had played himself out. Until he didn't want him anymore. He could do that at least for Jackson, if the other boy wanted him there, then he could be there. Adrian would still work to stay out of the way or the hands and arms - knowing normally Jackson tended to forget about everything except for the music when he played.
It took some time for Jackson to start winding down, and he turned to Adrian, leaning to brush his lips over the other boy's, pulling him close with one arm. "Thank you," he murmured softly, his forehead resting against Adrian's, needing the shared closeness they had at the moment. He needed to know that he was wanted, at least for that moment.
"Are you feeling better?" Adrian knew jackson would never not be affected by it, but at least in this moment he could try to make sure Jackson had what he needed. But if Jackson needed to play more, then they could stay like they were. They were in no rush and were safe here.
"A little." It would probably take some time for him to get it all out of his head but at least he was calmer now. That was a good thing. He touched Adrian's face lightly, brushing another kiss over his cheek and offering a faint, weak smile.
Adrian had already made one mistake with Jackson in the aftermath, so he opted to let Jackson set the pace now and have the control. "A little is something." He reassured his friend, hoping it was true, wanting it to be.
"It is." Because he would probably never be completely back to the carefree and happy young man he'd been before the accident, but at least he could take steps. One big one right now was staying here and hidden away rather than trying to drown the pain he felt underneath everything else.
It was a sign of optimism by Jackson, Adrian noted. A rare one, but one that was present none-the-less. "You can keep playing if you want. It's fine." In case Jackson was worried about Adrian being bored or something.
Jackson lightly shook his head. "I just want to stay up here a bit longer." He shifted and wrapped his arms around Adrian, holding him closer. Playing was nice, yes, but it was also nice to hold Adrian like this.
"We can do that too," Adrian agreed, hugging Jackson and holding him. There was no rush. And he wanted to be here for his friend. Normally Jackson was not any sort of social after… but it had been over a year, so maybe he was starting to heal.
Jackson didn't see much need to talk anymore at the moment. He lightly pressed his lips against Adrian's neck, trailing kisses along the flesh. He needed to take his mind away from what had happened, and feeling something - anything- else would help with that. Knowing Adrian was always there even though the other boy deserved better was enough to draw him at the moment.
He shouldn't, knowing Jackson wasn't completely himself, but Adrian shifted so Jackson could kiss him more easily and drew him over to the couch where they could be more comfortable. He pulled Jackson in for a proper kiss after they were settled. They could take as long as they wanted…