Hunter McLaggen (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} huntermc) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} 20somethings,@ 2022-04-18 01:04:00 |
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Who: Hunter, Molly
What: An anniversary trip to Barcelona
When: 17 April 2028
Warnings: Fluff
Completion status: Complete
It seemed like fate that their one-year anniversary had fallen during a break in the season. After round seven, the Magpies were sitting pretty at the top of the league and Hunter was able to relax. Spending time with Molly was always restorative and the fact that it was their anniversary made that time even sweeter.
With a bit of schedule wrangling, Hunter had managed to book portkeys and a night at a hotel in Barcelona. She needed a break after all the hard decisions she’d needed to make lately, Hunter thought, and he wanted to take her mind off it all even if only for a day or two. He was certain he’d made the right decision in holding off on asking if she wanted to move in with him, but he hoped to plant the seeds of the idea soon.
The boutique hotel had a small spa and after they were checked in they had a couples massage booked. For Hunter it was particularly welcome, stiff shoulders and back an occupational hazard for him. Those knots meant it wasn’t always the most relaxing experience for him, but when the masseurs left them at the end to redress it felt like a lot of effort to peel himself up from the table.
He smiled lazily over at Molly, lifting up a hand to run his fingers through his hair. Hunter knew it was sticking up in crazy directions and there was massage oil in it, but he felt damn good. “How are you feeling?”
The day had been the best she could remember in recent months. She’d been so stressed, and her life had suddenly changed so much, and this had been perfect. Hunter was truly perfect. She couldn’t believe they’d been seeing each other for a year, all from her flirty, silly messages on winsta, inviting him out to a night of debauchery with her and Cass. What if he had liked Cass instead? What if he had turned out to be dreadfully boring? But none of that had happened - he’d chosen her, one of the most eligible bachelors in the wizarding world had chosen her! All because of silly DMs.
She gave a big, happy sigh, “Like butter, melted all over,” and then she grinned at him. “You? Were they okay on your shoulders?” She knew him, she also knew that the wrong masseuse could wreck him for a week.
Hunter’s smile widened and he gave his shoulders a little wiggle. “Good.” She was the one whose experience really mattered here after a stressful couple of months. “I’m more than okay.” What he’d just experienced transcended any language barriers. To think they hadn’t used any magic at all.
Still shirtless, he eased himself off the table and crossed to her. “Happy anniversary,” he told her, dipping his head to kiss Molly softly. Hunter had probably told her that half a dozen times already today, but the thrill of saying it hadn’t worn off. One day soon he’d ask her to live with him but she had enough changes going on in her life that he didn’t want to add another complication or big decision.
“I thought we could go up to the room?” he suggested. “Relax a bit until we solidify again.” Melted butter was a good way to describe it. “Then we can go explore, play tourist.” Hunter had tried to do a bit of research before the trip and knew dinner might be later than they normally ate.
She hummed into his kiss, “And to you, too, love,” she gave him another big grin. “Ooooh,” she replied, lighting up, “does that mean we’ll be taking a totally Spanish siesta? Very local of us.” She shimmied to emphasise her point. Molly loved the thought of curling up with him right now, lazing away for a bit, feeling so relaxed and so close with him.
“I have heard Barcelona has the best beer, and whenever you order one, they bring you little plates of tapas to share and eat with your fingers as you drink,” she said with a little giggle. The thought of just eating and drinking their way through the beautiful city made her giddy. “Oh! And we have to see the Sagrada Familia! It’s like, thee tourist attraction and it’s supposed to be so beautiful. I might die.” She gushed, taking his hand, not bothering to change out of her robe.
The shimmy was adorable and Hunter laughed, every inch of him relaxed and grateful that he was here with Molly. “A siesta sounds like the perfect description.” If he could just lie down with his eyes closed without his muscles being pummelled, he would be a very happy man.
Hunter had tried to do a bit of research on things to see while they were in the city and the Sagrada Familia was at the top of the list. “Yeah, I’ve seen a few pictures. I have a feeling it looks even better in person.”
He squeezed her hand. “Let me make myself decent and we can go up to the room.”
Molly couldn’t help but give him a little pout at the thought of him putting a shirt back on. She saw him naked, a lot, of course, but he still just looked so delicious to her, even just shirtless. His body was smashing to her, even a year in.
She quickly smiled, though, and nodded in agreement, looking forward to their lazy nap.
“You know, I might get used to siestas...” she thought out loud, but that thought reminded her that she was looking at potentially the hardest professional time of her entire life. AND digging into her savings to pay her bills in the meantime. Her savings that had been for her starting her own fashion line, like, officially. She tried to hide the flash of thought, and put on another smile, hoping Hunter was busy righting his clothes and hadn’t noticed. After all, she could spend her weekends at the clubs making muggle money, and still add that to her savings, it was just going to be a lot of work, especially as she’d cut back on the appearance gigs and had really liked the extra time to do other things. Like making gowns and taking orders and spending time with Hunter.
“You know, napping can be really good for you,” Hunter mused, tugging his loose t-shirt straight. “There are studies on it and everything. I know a few players who swear by a power nap in the middle of the day.” He had never been able to train himself into falling asleep so quickly.
He turned back to Molly, catching a pensive look on her face. Hunter held out his hand to take hers. There was a lot going on in that brilliant mind of hers, he knew, but he didn’t want to let her think too much about everything else that was going on at the moment, especially this weekend.
“Maybe I’ll have to try and fit regular siestas into my day,” he joked, helping her stand. “But I don’t think it would be relaxing if you’re not there.” Hunter took another opportunity to kiss her. He’d distract her as much as he probably could this weekend.
She laughed, “Do they now? I bet it won’t be as relaxing as ours here.” And then he mirrored her thought and she giggled, grounding herself in the feel of her hand in his. “I bet I could live here, in Spain, they’re so relaxed and welcoming and the food is amazing,” the vibe of Barcelona, despite having never been, just seemed to flow to her. People were passionate and hard working and thoughtful and fun. It was delightful.
“Maybe someday we’ll retire here,” she said, thoughtless, and then her eyes popped wide as she realised what she’d said, and she laughed, blushing furiously and used her free hand to wave in the air as if to clear it of the words.
“Mm, they do.” Hunter could already see a difference in Molly, perhaps from the massage or just from putting some physical distance between herself and Lucy’s plans for the bed and breakfast. She looked radiant and he could barely take his eyes off her.
Hunter caught her other hand, turning her to face him before they left the treatment room. “Hey. Don’t do that,” he chided gently, easily recognising that she was trying to change the subject. “I happen to like when you say things like that. Planning for our future.” An easy smile lit up his face. “I really want this to be the first of many, many anniversaries.”
Her look turned worried at his ’hey, don’t do that’ and she looked down at their hands. It wasn’t that stupid an idea, right? Not that she’d ever seen herself settling down and growing old with anyone - she was a party kid, literally a paid pretty face, and while she’d always wanted more for herself, a husband and kids hadn’t necessarily been it, but then with Hunter... But then he continued, and she looked back up into his eyes.
“You do?” she asked, in almost a squeak. He was Hunter freaking McLaggen, one of the most eligible bachelors in the entire freaking magical world, and he liked thinking about a future with her? She wasn’t a dumb blonde by any means, but she’d been treated like one more than once in her life - no matter her grades, her business plans, her creative endeavors... And he still wanted silly old her? For more than the year they’d already been seeing each other?
Ugh. Self-confidence had never been Molly’s weakness - she was confident to the point of ego most of her life, and she’d never been insecure, really, and here she was with a million ridiculous thoughts flying through her mind like that.
Ugh, is this what stress did to you?
“I do,” Hunter said, the expression under his tousled blond hair one of complete earnestness. He pressed a kiss to her forehead right where a small worry line had appeared.
When he’d first prodded her into taking him out to the club, an attempt to escape the lingering effects of winter depression, Hunter really had just seen her as a party girl which was exactly what he’d needed in that moment. Only Molly had gone on to show him hidden depths and quirks that continued to surprise him.
He’d long believed in love at first sight and while that hadn’t been the case it hadn’t taken him all that long to know that this could be something real and long-lasting. He’d had good role models in that respect and knew a good thing when he saw it.
“Let’s go up to the room,” Hunter prompted, the key to their room weighing heavy in his pocket. He wanted to hold her for a while and soothe away that worry.
With a bit of schedule wrangling, Hunter had managed to book portkeys and a night at a hotel in Barcelona. She needed a break after all the hard decisions she’d needed to make lately, Hunter thought, and he wanted to take her mind off it all even if only for a day or two. He was certain he’d made the right decision in holding off on asking if she wanted to move in with him, but he hoped to plant the seeds of the idea soon.
The boutique hotel had a small spa and after they were checked in they had a couples massage booked. For Hunter it was particularly welcome, stiff shoulders and back an occupational hazard for him. Those knots meant it wasn’t always the most relaxing experience for him, but when the masseurs left them at the end to redress it felt like a lot of effort to peel himself up from the table.
He smiled lazily over at Molly, lifting up a hand to run his fingers through his hair. Hunter knew it was sticking up in crazy directions and there was massage oil in it, but he felt damn good. “How are you feeling?”
The day had been the best she could remember in recent months. She’d been so stressed, and her life had suddenly changed so much, and this had been perfect. Hunter was truly perfect. She couldn’t believe they’d been seeing each other for a year, all from her flirty, silly messages on winsta, inviting him out to a night of debauchery with her and Cass. What if he had liked Cass instead? What if he had turned out to be dreadfully boring? But none of that had happened - he’d chosen her, one of the most eligible bachelors in the wizarding world had chosen her! All because of silly DMs.
She gave a big, happy sigh, “Like butter, melted all over,” and then she grinned at him. “You? Were they okay on your shoulders?” She knew him, she also knew that the wrong masseuse could wreck him for a week.
Hunter’s smile widened and he gave his shoulders a little wiggle. “Good.” She was the one whose experience really mattered here after a stressful couple of months. “I’m more than okay.” What he’d just experienced transcended any language barriers. To think they hadn’t used any magic at all.
Still shirtless, he eased himself off the table and crossed to her. “Happy anniversary,” he told her, dipping his head to kiss Molly softly. Hunter had probably told her that half a dozen times already today, but the thrill of saying it hadn’t worn off. One day soon he’d ask her to live with him but she had enough changes going on in her life that he didn’t want to add another complication or big decision.
“I thought we could go up to the room?” he suggested. “Relax a bit until we solidify again.” Melted butter was a good way to describe it. “Then we can go explore, play tourist.” Hunter had tried to do a bit of research before the trip and knew dinner might be later than they normally ate.
She hummed into his kiss, “And to you, too, love,” she gave him another big grin. “Ooooh,” she replied, lighting up, “does that mean we’ll be taking a totally Spanish siesta? Very local of us.” She shimmied to emphasise her point. Molly loved the thought of curling up with him right now, lazing away for a bit, feeling so relaxed and so close with him.
“I have heard Barcelona has the best beer, and whenever you order one, they bring you little plates of tapas to share and eat with your fingers as you drink,” she said with a little giggle. The thought of just eating and drinking their way through the beautiful city made her giddy. “Oh! And we have to see the Sagrada Familia! It’s like, thee tourist attraction and it’s supposed to be so beautiful. I might die.” She gushed, taking his hand, not bothering to change out of her robe.
The shimmy was adorable and Hunter laughed, every inch of him relaxed and grateful that he was here with Molly. “A siesta sounds like the perfect description.” If he could just lie down with his eyes closed without his muscles being pummelled, he would be a very happy man.
Hunter had tried to do a bit of research on things to see while they were in the city and the Sagrada Familia was at the top of the list. “Yeah, I’ve seen a few pictures. I have a feeling it looks even better in person.”
He squeezed her hand. “Let me make myself decent and we can go up to the room.”
Molly couldn’t help but give him a little pout at the thought of him putting a shirt back on. She saw him naked, a lot, of course, but he still just looked so delicious to her, even just shirtless. His body was smashing to her, even a year in.
She quickly smiled, though, and nodded in agreement, looking forward to their lazy nap.
“You know, I might get used to siestas...” she thought out loud, but that thought reminded her that she was looking at potentially the hardest professional time of her entire life. AND digging into her savings to pay her bills in the meantime. Her savings that had been for her starting her own fashion line, like, officially. She tried to hide the flash of thought, and put on another smile, hoping Hunter was busy righting his clothes and hadn’t noticed. After all, she could spend her weekends at the clubs making muggle money, and still add that to her savings, it was just going to be a lot of work, especially as she’d cut back on the appearance gigs and had really liked the extra time to do other things. Like making gowns and taking orders and spending time with Hunter.
“You know, napping can be really good for you,” Hunter mused, tugging his loose t-shirt straight. “There are studies on it and everything. I know a few players who swear by a power nap in the middle of the day.” He had never been able to train himself into falling asleep so quickly.
He turned back to Molly, catching a pensive look on her face. Hunter held out his hand to take hers. There was a lot going on in that brilliant mind of hers, he knew, but he didn’t want to let her think too much about everything else that was going on at the moment, especially this weekend.
“Maybe I’ll have to try and fit regular siestas into my day,” he joked, helping her stand. “But I don’t think it would be relaxing if you’re not there.” Hunter took another opportunity to kiss her. He’d distract her as much as he probably could this weekend.
She laughed, “Do they now? I bet it won’t be as relaxing as ours here.” And then he mirrored her thought and she giggled, grounding herself in the feel of her hand in his. “I bet I could live here, in Spain, they’re so relaxed and welcoming and the food is amazing,” the vibe of Barcelona, despite having never been, just seemed to flow to her. People were passionate and hard working and thoughtful and fun. It was delightful.
“Maybe someday we’ll retire here,” she said, thoughtless, and then her eyes popped wide as she realised what she’d said, and she laughed, blushing furiously and used her free hand to wave in the air as if to clear it of the words.
“Mm, they do.” Hunter could already see a difference in Molly, perhaps from the massage or just from putting some physical distance between herself and Lucy’s plans for the bed and breakfast. She looked radiant and he could barely take his eyes off her.
Hunter caught her other hand, turning her to face him before they left the treatment room. “Hey. Don’t do that,” he chided gently, easily recognising that she was trying to change the subject. “I happen to like when you say things like that. Planning for our future.” An easy smile lit up his face. “I really want this to be the first of many, many anniversaries.”
Her look turned worried at his ’hey, don’t do that’ and she looked down at their hands. It wasn’t that stupid an idea, right? Not that she’d ever seen herself settling down and growing old with anyone - she was a party kid, literally a paid pretty face, and while she’d always wanted more for herself, a husband and kids hadn’t necessarily been it, but then with Hunter... But then he continued, and she looked back up into his eyes.
“You do?” she asked, in almost a squeak. He was Hunter freaking McLaggen, one of the most eligible bachelors in the entire freaking magical world, and he liked thinking about a future with her? She wasn’t a dumb blonde by any means, but she’d been treated like one more than once in her life - no matter her grades, her business plans, her creative endeavors... And he still wanted silly old her? For more than the year they’d already been seeing each other?
Ugh. Self-confidence had never been Molly’s weakness - she was confident to the point of ego most of her life, and she’d never been insecure, really, and here she was with a million ridiculous thoughts flying through her mind like that.
Ugh, is this what stress did to you?
“I do,” Hunter said, the expression under his tousled blond hair one of complete earnestness. He pressed a kiss to her forehead right where a small worry line had appeared.
When he’d first prodded her into taking him out to the club, an attempt to escape the lingering effects of winter depression, Hunter really had just seen her as a party girl which was exactly what he’d needed in that moment. Only Molly had gone on to show him hidden depths and quirks that continued to surprise him.
He’d long believed in love at first sight and while that hadn’t been the case it hadn’t taken him all that long to know that this could be something real and long-lasting. He’d had good role models in that respect and knew a good thing when he saw it.
“Let’s go up to the room,” Hunter prompted, the key to their room weighing heavy in his pocket. He wanted to hold her for a while and soothe away that worry.