Who: Roger and Mari When: Monday morning Where: Roger's place What: Kneazle Attack Rating: Low Status: Complete
Mari shouldn't be in Roger’s shower. Sunday had come and gone and she’d been with him just about every evening since… The last week… It was becoming a problem and something she seemed intent on stopping but never quite able to resist. He’d even purchased her at the auction and she didn’t know what to think about that.
Once the dam broke she seemed unable to get her emotions and desires under control. Running a hand through her wet hair, she turned the water off, ringing out her long locks before grabbing a towel and stepping onto the bath mat.
She picked up his comb, detangling the ends and studying herself in the mirror. With her hair off her forehead and the bathroom lighting, she stared at the faint scars across her forehead. Maybe they'd fade one day but she'd always feel branded.
Fresh faced and clean, she assumed Roger had gone for a run and she had to be at work in a couple hours. Turning to leave, she gasped, startled to see Meg staring at her in an extraordinarily predatory fashion. She was convinced that kneazle was going to murder her.
“Hi…”She said, warily. Her greeting was met with a his and claw swipe as the large cat walked towards her, causing Mari to walk backwards until the cat had managed to corner her in the shower.
Two hours later, Mari found herself cold and damp and unable to leave the shower. Roger wasn't home and her frustration was mounting.
“Come on Meg,” she murmured wearily. “Please let me by.” She reached out, again, only to receive a warning swipe across her hand, blood prickling over the scratch. She had two on her legs and her other arm hasn't fared much better.
“You- ,” she muttered, wiping the blood with her towel.
---
Meg didn't like Mari. That was an understatement to say the least; she had always been a bit territorial over Roger and really the only woman she ever liked had been Cho. She had picked up her friend's scent on Mari and with the red haired lady staying over so much Meg had put two and two together. She was not pleased; Jack didn't seem to mind but of course he was just a useless pile of fur in her opinion and not a very good guard kneezle. Of course Meg was always very careful to not show her displeasure to openly around her owner she didn't want him to become upset, but she had to make this lady know her presence was not welcome and she was not taking away her owner. When Roger had went for a run Meg was distressed that he had left his place so vulnerable to an outsider. When the lady moved into the bathroom she had managed to wiggle her paw under the door and stealthily slide it open. It was quite a task removing all the towels from the bathroom as well as her clothes but Meg manage to do so in rapid time and without notice. Perhaps the lady would simply drown in the water torture chamber the kneazle hoped, now entering back into the bathroom and sitting on the floor staring at the shower curtain. When Mari appeared Meg flattened her ears and gave a long hiss. Unfortunately she had made it through the water torture chamber. The woman had tried to address me as though they were equals. She simply would not tolerate this is scratched at Mari while puffing up and hoping to intimidate her. This exchange continued for a couple of hours as Mari would try to get past and then swipe at her hoping to drive her back into the water torture chamber so she could drown or at the very least stay there until her owner returned to remove Mari.
--
It was pretty obvious that Mari might die here. Roger knew she had to go to work and he might not be back for hours. He had other friends and obligations and just because they were having mind-blowing sex- he wouldn't expect her here.
Her stomach growled as Meg eyed her and Mari had no clue what she was supposed to do. She was cold, her hair had probably dried slightly frizzy with her natural wave doing something ridiculous. She was near tears when she heard the front door open, her heart speeding up.
It hadn't occurred to her that it might be someone OTHER than Roger...
---
Meg growled low once more, mistaking the rumbling in Mari's stomach as noise of aggression. Feeling braver than she had these past two hours the kneazle advanced on Mari, ready to take her down.
Roger had a last complicated day: he'd taken a long run then stopped to join his mother for lunch. Returning home he hadn't expected to be greeted by a very upset Jack who ran off in the direction of the bathroom. Towels were strewn through the hallway and something lumpy sat in the litter box. He rounded the corner and gave a muffled sort of yelp, looking between Mari and Meg. Meg turned her attention away from Mari and purred loudly while winding through her owner's legs.
"Mari?" He asked incredulously. "Merlin, what happened!?"
---
"Oh thank Merlin," she cried, standing up, her legs cramping from being curled in the shower. She wrapped her towel tightly around her, dried blood on her leg from the demon kneazle's claws.
"It's nothing," she managed, shaking a bit as she walked past him, ducking out of the way of Meg's claws as she got too close to Roger. "She- didn't want me to leave the shower."
---
Roger's eyes lingered on the rusted red streaks crossing Mari's legs and his stomach clenched uncomfortably. "Didn't want...?" Looking down at the purring kneazle the odd situation airport l suddenly clicked into place. "Oh Mari." He breathed, following in her wake. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think she'd behave this way." Meg ran ahead of them, careful to cross under Mari's legs in an effort to trip her.
---
Maria frustration was mounting and when Meg ran between her legs, she want expecting it and went crashing down, landing on her shoulder and losing her towel in the process. A hiss of pain escaped her as she laid there, momentarily stunned.
The tears came before she could stop them. Her legs were scratched, her arms were scratched and her shoulder hurt. She was cold and hungry and suddenly very exhausted. She hadn't cried in ages. It was so rare for her but she couldn't seem to stop. Pushing herself up, she sat there, trying to get the towel back around her with one hand.
"She hates me," she whimpered. "She likes Cho and- " she was being punished because she was sleeping with Roger.
---
Even with his reflexes honed from years of Quidditch, Mari's damp skin slipped through his fingers and she crashed to the floor. Roger knelt down and tried to assist the crumpled redhead, but she had sprung back to her feet with surprising swiftness. He stood next to her, helping to fix the towel and noticed the tears brimming in her eyes.
"She doesn't hate you," He said softly as Meg purred loudly, watching the scene unfold from her perch at the back of the couch and licking her paws smugly. "She is just not very good with strangers." It was true; Meg had always been standoffish with everyone except for Cho. Pushing this thought to the back of his mind, Roger pulled Mari into a tight hug. "Please don't cry." He felt so incredibly helpless.
---
Mari buried her head Rogers neck, letting him holds her while she got her emotions under control. Once she'd manage to quell the tears, she pulled back, wiping her cheeks and giving him a watery smile. "It's fine," she sighed, eyeing the kneazle as she stared at her as though she'd wait for her to be half dead and then start eating her.
"I need to owl work and I haven't eaten and I'm hungry and these scratches sting," she said, sitting on the edge of his bed. She looked around, brow furrowed.
"I left my knickers here," she said, slowly, glancing around for a pair of black lace cheekies and matching bra.
---
There was nothing Roger could do except hold the crying Mari until her sobbing quieted to a few sniffles and then a sad sort of smile. It wasn't fine; Meg had never behaved so severely toward another person. How could he make his kneazle understand? How could he reason with an animal? Mari moved into the bedroom and Meg shot a furious look after her. Roger snapped good fingers and with a firm 'no!' followed. "Mari let me make you something to eat, at the very least lunch to take with you." He'd rather she not go into the office but didn't suggest it. "I should have a potion for the scratches in the bathroom. Pretty sure I haven't used it all." Jack slopped into the bedroom, tail tucked between his legs and looking worried. Roger didn't notice his appearance and instead looked around the room. "You didn't leave them in the bathroom did you?"
---
Mari nodded, wanting to just curl up on the bed and sleep the rest of the afternoon. Instead, Meg's furious hiss had her pausing. Tired of being cold and wet and hungry, Mari picked up one of Roger's shirts and tugged it over her lithe frame, pleased it hit her thighs since she was currently sans knickers.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I left them on the bed. I'm sure of it." Jack wandered over to her, tail down, rubbing her legs reassuringly and she reached down, petting him gently before looking around once more. Her eyes narrowed as they landed on the almost smug look Meg was giving her. "You don't think Meg-" She didn't like accusing his pet of something but...
---
Usually Roger would have made a half joking, half flirtatious comment about Mari in his shirt (something about the way she looked while wearing them was incredibly arousing) but now was not the time. Jack's ears perked upward and he meowed loudly before heading to the door and looking over his shoulder purposefully. "Meg what?" Roger asked, on all fours and peering under the bed. There was a horrible silence, broken by Jack's insistent meow and Roger's stomach gave a lurch -- the odd shape in the litter box... But it couldn't have been... "No." He whispered, standing up and hurrying to the little closet in the hall where the kneezles did their business. Jack hurried after Roger, meowing once more. He pulled open the door to the closet and looked down, seeing something unmistakably black and lacy half buried in the litter and very wet. "I'm... So sorry." Roger's voice didn't seem to want to work properly. "I'll buy you a new one. Ten new ones." How could Meg, his sweet Meg, been so cunning and cruel?
---
Marietta followed Roger and Jack into the hall. When Roger opened the door, Marietta wished she could say she was surprised but she wasn't. At all. There was little shock and an almost manic bubble of laughter escaped her. It was hilarious and awful at the same time. . It was... like the universe was telling them exactly how wrong their little affair was.
"Well," she said, once the laughter had died down. "I guess I'll be making my walk of shame without underwear."
Leaning over, she brushed a kiss to Roger's cheek. "It's fine... It's just been a morning. I think I'll take the rest of the day off and recover from this little ordeal." She held her arm up for inspection. "Could we take care of these and then I really do need to get something to eat."
---
The laughter startled Roger and he looked sidelong at Mari at first convinced she was crying again then realizing she was laughing out of pure frustration. "Seriously I'll buy you more." Roger said with a note of plea in his voice. He felt so incredibly awful about the whole ordeal and deep down scared that Mari I wouldn't want to come back after this. The kiss didn't convince him fully though he said nothing in return but simply nodded and headed back to the bathroom bending down to collect the towels that lined the hallway. He stepped silently into the bathroom and dumped the load of towels onto the floor with a sigh; they'd have to be cleaned again. Roger rummaged around in the medicine cabinet, pushing aside glass vials of potions for his bubble baths and pulled out a thin, small blue bottle. "This is the one. Looks like there is enough left."
---
Mari followed Roger to the loo, sitting on the toilet as she watched him rummage through the cabinet. Her spirits were slightly defeated and she couldn't stop wondering if this was a bad idea. Realistically, she knew it was. She knew this wouldn't end well. Either Cho would end their friendship. She'd be mad at Roger and never speak to him. Or both. Or she'd try to get him back. Mari just didn't know. She'd played through all the scenarios in her head and none seemed to end well.
She just- couldn't seem to stay away from Roger. Once it started, it seemed unable to stop. "I suppose I could let you replace them," she smiled, eyes lighting up. "Though, Roger Davies seen knicker shopping with his ex's best friend will make terrible press."
---
He knelt before Mari and dabbed at the angry scratches on her legs with the moistened cotton ball. The red lines bubbled softly before disappearing with each downward stroke. Jack sat in the doorway, occasionally looking behind him as though he were guarding the two.
"Yeah, wouldn't that be a headline." A mirthless grin spread across his face. He'd been tempted to tell Mari that he didn't care if they were seen but instead quietly pushed that thought aside guiltily. She didn't need to be dragged into this; it would be bad enough if Cho found out but she didn't need the attention from the Weekly or any other nosy reporter. "Buy some new ones and I'll repay you."
---
She let out a low groan when his fingers gently dabbed her cuts. It always burned just a bit and she found her hand resting on his shoulder, seeking comfort through touch. Glancing at Jack, she smiled and shook her head. "At least he likes me?" she teased, trying to find humor in the situation.
He seemed really upset about the whole ordeal and when he was done fixing up her cuts, she stood up, and slid her arms around his neck. "Roger," she murmured. "It's fine. I'm over it." She kissed his cheek and pulled away, heading into the bedroom, eyeing the demon kneazle as she veered around her.
"How about I buy some new ones and you'll be the first person to see what you've replaced," she smiled.
---
It seemed like a small comfort that Jack approved of this relationship; though to be fair the male kneazle liked everyone. Roger paused, contemplating the reactions of his friends if anyone else found out about them. Would they be supportive and accepting like Jack or angry like Meg? With Mari's assurances, Roger nodded and walked silently after her. It was fine. They were fine.
"Hm? Oh yeah!" His face brightened. "I really like that idea!"
---
She had no idea what she was supposed to do for knickers. His shirt was long enough that she didn't mind wandering around without any but she was hungry and sitting naked at his kitchen table seemed utterly scandalous. She pulled on a pair of his sweats from last night, drawing the drawstring as tight as it'd go. They were still quite large but they'd work for now and they'd protect her from Meg's claws if it came to that.
Shooting him a smile, Mari paused as she walked by him, his quite reticence worrying her. "Are you okay?" she asked, resting a hand on his stomach, fingering the hem of his shirt.
---
Roger couldn't exactly put his finger on the source of his worry. Deep down a feeling of dread radiated from his core and there wasn't a way to stop it. He'd have to talk to Charlie first off and see if there was any way to reason with an animal...as wildly unrealistic as that seemed. Hitching the practiced smile he used for the public, Roger closed the distance between and plucked at the sagging hem of his sweatpants.
"They look good on you," He smirked, hooking his finger under the hem and yanking Mari closer. "Look even better off I'm sure." Knowing she was hungry, he released her from his grip and headed to the kitchen. "What do you want to eat?"
---
"That is not an answer to my question!" she pouted, following after him. "And they were just off and you didn't seem to want to take advantage."
She narrowed her gaze as she sat down in his kitchen. "Tell me what's wrong and I'll tell you what I want to eat. I believe that's fair." Though, it made little sense. Marietta's worry was beginning to spike. She was familiar enough with Roger's real smile. The one that lit his eyes and made his eyes crinkle just a bit at the corners. The one he'd just given her? That wasn't his real smile.
Standing up, she went to go stand in front of him, placing herself between him and the fridge, her hands resting on his hips. "Talk to me," she murmured, brushing a kiss to his lips.
---
She was right, he hadn't taken advantage of her recently nude form though he'd wanted to. "You said you were hungry." Roger shrugged, "and you've been through quite a lot today. I dunno about you but I wouldn't be in too much of a mood to shag." He turned his gaze to meet Mari's and the incredibly pale blue eyes held her gaze firmly before looking away as he went to the fridge. "I'm just stressed about Meg." It was partly true; how could he put into words this feeling of dread? Now Mari stood before him, lips to his. Roger kissed her gently and sighed. "Really. That's all."
---
She wasn't really in the mood for a shag but his stand off-ish behavior was sending making her worry. "Right," she said, pulling away. She knew something was wrong beside the cat but if he didn't want to talk to her about it...
Turning, her back to him, she pulled out their leftovers from last night. "I'll heat this up and be on my way," she murmured, ducking around him. She'd obviously worn out her welcome and she, of all people, understood the need to be alone with ones thoughts and brood if necessary.
---
Roger's head drooped with a tired jerk and his brows furrowed. He simply couldn't -- or wouldn't -- express this sudden sense of foreboding that had came over him. They were playing a very dangerous game and no matter what the outcome someone would get hurt. He stood motionless, watching her extract the leftovers and nodded. "Yeah." He wanted to touch her, to pull her into a tight hug and let her know everything would be alright but the moment passed. "See you later, right?"
---
"Yeah," Mari said, confused about the distance and the wall that had just shot up between them. Pressing her lips together, Mari's appetite was suddenly gone. "Actually... I think I'll just head home."
She was pretty sure something had just shifted and her worry spiked. She knew what they were doing was wrong and that they had to stop. Maybe this was his way of doing it. It'd just be easier if they ended it now and maybe in a few weeks they could just go back to being friends.
"I- bye..." she murmured, grabbing her work robes, leaning over to roll her sweats up so it at least looked like she was dressed for work and not like she'd spent the night with Roger. Suddenly, she just felt exhausted.