Who: Elektra Yaxley & Micah Savage What: Discussing going public When: After the Urquart party Where: Their cottage Warnings: Cousins kissing. (PG/PG13)
The Urquharts party had been the typical affair - lots of boozing and schmoozing. The sort of thing her sister was great and that Lex tended to avoid in general. But this at least had quidditch. And listening to the game had been fun, even if the seekers needed their eyes checked. Dancing was different though, and Lex was self-conscious about every touch they shared. When they got back to the cottage, it was a relief and Lex took a bottle of whiskey from the cupboard and poured two glasses, handing one to Micah as she sagged against the counter.
"We need to tell coach," she said after a long sip.
“We do.” He replied, pouring a few fingers into his own glass, a serious, concentrated expression on his features. It was the face Micah had before they were going against a difficult team, and needed to bring home a W. “How do you want to play this?” Micah went on to ask before knocking back most of the glass’ contents.
"Fuck, I don't know," she said as she tossed back the whiskey. She ran a hand over her curls. "My sister thinks we ought to take control of the situation, control the story and what not. Be seen in public doing family friendly things - like taking my nephews to the park and making sure the media sees us. We have to talk to MG and Shona before we do anything and they have some ideas. I don't know. I just want to go back to how things were."
Micah made a face at the suggestions Aureliana had given them, and exhaled like he was completing a meditation exercise. “I don’t understand why taking Aureliana’s kids to the park to feed ducks is going to do shite, but okay.” He slung an arm around Lex’s shoulders, and finished his first glass. “I know, love. Me too. It was easier.”
"Something about controlling the narrative and not coming off as 'tawdry'," Lex said, repeating the word both Aureliana and Mel had used. She refilled their glasses and leaned against Micah, closing her eyes. "But tonight.. I want to be able to dance with you in public like I want to.. To kiss you at the family Christmas party.. Or wherever…"
“We can’t change who we are,” he snorted. “Though I don’t know if I’d’ve chosen the word tawdry.” But still. Being able to do normal couple things without worrying about anyone finding out did have its appeal. The simplicity of being able to live their lives. “That would be nice, too,” agreed Micah in a quieter tone, swirling the whiskey in his glass.
"Maybe MG will have a better idea. Or Shona." She wrapped an arm around Micah's waist. The whole thing was turning out to be more complicated than she thought. "At least Aureliana managed to placate my mother a bit. Though she still wants to have you over for Sunday dinner."
Lex raised an eyebrow at Micah. "Have you told your mum yet?"
Micah leaned his head against Lex’s. “I did. She...didn’t take it well. Well, actually, I think she was in shock and still hasn’t totally recovered.” He raised his eyebrows, though Lex couldn’t see. “I’ll come over for dinner.”
"Right." She reached up on her toes and brushed her lips against Micah's. "Why is this such a thing to everyone else?" Her fists clenched and she wanted to punch something, but that probably wasn't an option.
“Probably because we’re cousins, for one.” He gently covered her hands with his own. “And because people pay attention to our lives because we play professional Quidditch. I don’t know.” Micah rolled his eyes, and loosely looped his arms around her waist. “It’s going to be okay, babe.” He had to believe that. He had to.
"I know, but wizards have been doing this for centuries," Lex said in exasperation, tugging her hands through her hair before fisting them in Micah's shirt. "People should just bugger off and let us play."
She closed her eyes as she leaned against him. "Should we owl MG or just corner him after practice?"
“That can be our slogan.” Micah grinned, and tucked her head under his chin. “We’re going to have to corner him - he’d be even more pissed if we just tried to owl him, and you know he would be.”
"Before the team bbq. I don't want to spend another social event second guessing what I do with you.." She managed a smile. "Besides, MG has that nice pool…"
Micah snorted a laugh. “He does. And if you think I’m not going to shamelessly ogle you, you don’t know me at all.”
"You have my permission to oogle whoever you like, love," she said, wrapping her arms around him.
He leaned back to give Lex a smile, and tenderly brushed a few strands of hair away from her face. “Everything’s going to be fine, babe. We can do this.”