InsaneJournal

Lucas was grateful for the next few days off. After working ten days straight, the prospect of having the next forty-eight hours to himself was exhilarating. Well, not completely to himself, as he was fully intending to meet Prim up for the afternoon, but since he was choosing to do that, Lucas was pretty sure that counted as being ‘to himself’ and since he was making up these definitions…. Well, he wasn’t going to spend too much time analyzing it.

Since it seemed to be a recurring theme with them to meet over food, they had both agreed to a picnic, Prim providing the food and Lucas providing everything else. The blanket at least and a bottle of butterbeer, the temperature charmed to hover somewhere around ‘frosty.’ Since Prim was always coming to him, Lucas thought it was time for a change and apparated to her aunt and uncle’s house, knocking on the door.

Grinning when it opened, Lucas tried not to fidget, but he had far too much energy to stay still. “Are you ready for an adventure?”

--

Primrose was, perhaps, a little overdressed for a picnic, but Pippa had assured her that the silk was sturdier than it seemed, and Prim very much liked the idea of wearing the bright colours for a summer outing. Particularly an outing with Lucas. As she packed a basket with some of his favourites and some of hers, she hummed tunes from the Disney films she had taken him to see. She was happy. She was glad to get to see him; he'd been so busy lately. They both had.

Prim smiled when the knock sounded at the door, and that smile grew when she saw Lucas. "I am," she replied, raising on her toes a little as his energy washed over her. He was infectious. She held up the basket. "I didn't know how long our adventure would take, so there's enough food in here for two meals. Three, if we don't eat all the mini pies." She'd left a note for her aunt and uncle on the tea kettle that she was with Lucas, in case she didn't return home that night as had happened in the past. She never wanted them to worry.

Her house key was in the basket, as was her little wallet in case of an emergency. "Where are we headed," she asked as she joined him outside and closed the door.

--

“Ireland.” Lucas hooked his arm through hers, but not before tugging the basket out of her arms. It might be charmed to be feather-light, but it was only polite that he take it. “Technically Knockainey, in County Limerick, but telling you any more would ruin the surprise.” There wasn’t actually much more than that, but Prim didn’t have to know that yet. Unless she asked.

At the mention of food, Lucas peaked into the hamper and grinned. He probably should have assumed that Prim would make his favorites, but he actually didn’t like doing that. Besides, it was always nice to find out that he would have something delicious to sustain him for the rest of the day. “I’m not going to make any promises, okay?” As if on cue his stomach rumbled loud enough for them both to hear. Lucas had to grin.

“Side along, okay? There’s a row of trees. We won’t be seen by any muggles.” And if they were, they could always be mistaken for the faerie folk. The Irish were much more willing to believe in magic, unlike the rest of the British Isles. Lucas didn’t always feel Irish, but in that one way he did.

--

Prim made an interested sound, but didn't ask further. She trusted Lucas completely. She knew he would never push her outside of her comfort zone without proper warning, and a picnic was well within her comfort. Especially with him. She let him take the basket and laughed at his words and stomach. "That's why rationing is always optional and never mandatory," she teased gently, nudging his shoulder with hers.

"Your brogue gets stronger when you speak of Ireland," she said, taking the basket and blanket from him and turning to face Lucas. With the picnic items secure in the crook of her elbow, she stepped closer to her friend and wrapped her free arm around his shoulders, pressing against him. "Okay," Prim said, sighing with determination. "I'm ready."

--

Lucas did not think much of how Prim pressed herself up against him, though he did note the subtle scent of her shampoo. A few moments later they were at the tree line in Knockainey, the hillside rising up in front of them.

Now that the magic part was done, Lucas held out his arms expectantly, ready to take back the blanket and picnic basket.. “Pick any spot that speaks to you,” he told her. The sun was peeking out behind the clouds, giving the day a dreamy sort of tone. Maybe they weren’t as completely free of magic as he initially thought.

--

When they landed, Prim clung to Lucas a moment to regain her bearings. She allowed him to take the basket, but she hugged the blanket to her chest. Smiling, she led him out of the treeline and up the hill. The air seemed to be waiting for something, though that could have been her imagination, and she walked with deference. "Is this a fairy hill," she asked Lucas as she stopped at the top.

Prim spread the blanket just to the right of center and turned to her companion. Before she let him set the basket down, she opened it and took out one of the pies, just in case, and set it on the ground as an offering. "This is a lovely spot." She removed her shoes and sat on the blanket. "How did you learn of it?"

--

Lucas nodded and trailed after Prim. “I don't know. I just always knew about it, I guess.” The Flint family estate wasn't very far from here. Places like these were far more his home outside the imposing manor occupied by his parents. “I'm glad you like it.”

Setting the basket down finally, he helped her smooth out the blanket and uncorked the bottle of butterbeer, pouring out a few mouthfuls worth in an offering of his own. He laid back and closed his eyes, breathing in the air and letting the sun warm his face. The mountains of Wales had their appeals, but this was happiness right here and now.

Lucas opened his eyes and shifted to his side, propping his chin up on his arm in order to look at Prim. “Welcome to Ireland.”

--

Prim watched Lucas for a moment after he settled back on the blanket. It made her heart happy to see him happy, and her smile was fond as she laid back herself. Their food would keep, she always made sure of that. They had all day to get to it, and it would be nice to be properly lazy for a little while.

Shifting up so her legs would be on the blanket more, Primrose lay down and gazed up at the clouds. They weren't near a road, or, if they were, no one was about in their cars to disrupt the peace and quiet. She listened to the birds, running her hand idly over the plants covering the ground.

When Lucas spoke, she turned so her position mirrored his, smiling broadly. "I've been to Ireland before," she replied, though she quickly amended that statement with, "though...I don't suppose the cities have anything on this. A person could get lost in their imagination here."

--

Lucas almost replied back that the cities didn't count. That this was the REAL Ireland, but maybe that was stretching it just a touch. “Welcome to my Ireland,” he offered instead. “It's not fancy or anything like that. It's grass and sun and,” he gestured to all that surrounded them, “even the fairy hills.”

He drew silent for a moment, letting the birds’ songs fill the quiet. “How has working for you aunt been going?” Lucas asked. He knew every little about the fight for werewolf rights, despite knowing two of them. Maybe he should reach out to Tracey to see if she needed anything.

--

"I like that it's not fancy. It sparkles on its own without needing lights and tourists attractions." Keeping her knees pointed at him, Prim rolled a little so her torso pointed towards the sky. "From here, you will be able to see all of the stars. Trace the constellations without losing track of them because of light pollution." She turned to Lucas again. "I like your Ireland," she said, smiling. "I prefer it. I like what cities and large towns have to offer, but I very much like the idea of having only a few neighbours with a lot of space between us."

When he became quiet, Prim closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of nature and silence. "It has been interesting." She opened her eyes and smiled across at Lucas. "I can't divulge a lot of information because of client-barrister privilege, but I know my aunt is doing everything in her power to do right by the people she helps." She didn't say, though, that her job wasn't what she wanted. She still, very much, wanted to work for the Department of International Magical Cooperation. She was still learning her languages in the event they changed their minds about her.

"How are your dragons?"

--

Lucas nodded. He didn't want Prim telling him anything that would get her into trouble. As long as she was doing well and was happy, that's what mattered in the long run. “They’re good. We haven’t had any poaching problems recently, so that’s good.” He wasn’t naive enough to think that they would be completely free dragon poaching, but as long as the majority of activity had died down for awhile maybe he could spend more time outside the reserve.

He gave his friend a warm smile, suddenly struck at how pretty she looked, with the sun framing her face. “You look really pretty,” he blurted out, “not that you don’t normally look pretty, Prim. But like extra pretty today. Is that one of the dresses you bought with Pippa? It looks really nice. It’s a good color.”

Rather than risk any further embarrassment from talking, Lucas promptly shut up, but even then that apparently wasn’t enough. He leaned over and pressed a quick peck against her cheek.

--

"I hope it stays that way. They really bring magic to life for Muggle-born children," she said, almost wistfully. "They're part of legends and fairy tales, and learning they were real all along really made me excited about being different. Not completely excited, as you know, but still. The prospect of seeing creatures that I'd only ever read and dreamed about was thrilling." She blushed. "Though I know you know that."

Primrose smiled, touched and pleased, and she blushed deeper as Lucas babbled a little. "Thank you. It is one of the dresses your sister bought for me. The other--Well, I'm saving that one for a special occasion." She was taken a bit aback when he kissed her cheek. It was sudden and seemed out of context, but her stomach exploded with butterflies. She sat up as soon as he retreated and regarded Lucas for a moment before opening the basket and setting out food.

She felt a little bold; as if she should do or say something daring. It was like something deep within her was pushing her forward, but she refused to believe in any outside forces moving her hands. She was her own person. She made her own decisions, even when they were based off of what she thought others might want from her. "May I ask you a favour," she asked, handing him a plate of food, meeting his gaze though she smiled bashfully.

--

When she didn't slap him, though he really didn't expect her to, Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. That could have gone a lot worse. “Of course.” Immediately Lucas sat straighter, ready and at attention for whatever Prim had to say.

Hopefully he hadn't embarrassed her. That thought was worse than embarrassing himself. He gave her an encouraging smile and reached out to take her hand, pulling back at the last minute. Maybe her favor was that she didn’t want him to touch her right now. He probably should have asked before kissing her.

“Was it okay that I kissed you? I’m sorry, I should have asked first. I won’t do it again if you don’t want me to.”

--

"I….actually…" Prim blushed, pausing as she tried to find her words. She didn't want him to apologise for kissing her. Yes, it had been sudden and out of the blue, but it wasn't unwelcome. She chewed on her lower lip, her eyes on the basket as she fiddled with the pocket that held the silverware. Her ears rang with the deepness of her blush, but she wasn't embarrassed. Not exactly. Bashful, yes, and nervous in her boldness, but not embarrassed.

"It was okay," she whispered, glancing up at him through the hair that had fallen across her forehead. "That's actually what I wanted to ask about." Prim stopped playing with the inner button, folded her hands in her lap, and looked up at Lucas. Her heart pounded so hard she was sure he could hear it or, at the very least, see the pulse in her throat.

Then she reminded herself that this wasn't one of her stories but her actual life, and she couldn't frame it like a story that she could control. "If you don't want to, you can tell me no. You are never obligated to tell me yes." Prim blew out a breath. "For a little while now--a few months, perhaps--I have been wondering--well, imagining really--what it is like to be kissed. More specifically, what it is like to be kissed by you, and I was hoping you would…" She had to duck her head. She couldn't get it out looking at him. "If you are attracted to me and would like to, would you kiss me?"

--

Lucas’ mouth went dry and he could feel his face flush. “Um. Yeah. Absolutely. Sure.” He shuffled closer and pulled her hands into his own, running calloused fingers the backs of her hand. Their delicate nature and softness struck him, but underneath that he knew there was strength. He wanted to wait until she relaxed, but it seemed like with every passing moment she grew tenser and her spine grew straighter. Soon she would be rising right off the ground.

“Telling you to relax probably isn’t very relaxing.” He tried to joke, still petting her hands. The truth was, he did want to kiss her again, properly this time, and had wanted to do so for a long time prior to this. He had only been too nervous about crossing a line he’d never be able to uncross. But if she wanted to cross it too? Well they could do it together.

Leaning forward, Lucas brushed Prim’s hair out of her face. He sort of missed her blonde hair, but it wasn’t his place to tell her that. She was pretty either way. Inside and out. “Please don’t be nervous,” he murmured, his forehead touching hers for a few seconds before kissing her.

It took Lucas’ brain a few moments to catch up with the rest of his body. Prim’s lips, like the rest of her were soft and gentle. He was almost afraid to deepen it, but Lucas couldn’t help but get a little greedy. One hand curled around her hip, pulling her closer as the other cradled the back of her head, not to force her, but to offer any support Prim might want.

--

At his answer in the affirmative, Prim sucked in a breath and waited. She didn't hold it to the point of light headedness, though she had to force herself to breathe normally. Prim laughed lightly, her shoulders relaxing ever so slightly at Lucas' joke. He was right, it wasn't very relaxing, but the kindness with which he said it put her more at her ease. She watched their hands, focused on the rasp of his thumbs across her skin. She liked his hands. They were strong and gentle.

She looked up when Lucas brushed her hair aside, meeting his gaze briefly before she let her eyes flutter closed. With his forehead pressed against hers, she took two deep breaths and felt her heart slow a little just before he kissed her.

She had written many moments like this--the first kiss--but what she put on the page did not truly represent what she felt the moment Lucas' lips pressed against hers. Her stomach fluttered pleasantly, her heart stuttered. She tensed briefly, unsure of what to do with her hands, but she soon forgot to think and worry, and she was simply there, kissing Lucas. When he pulled her closer, she moved. One hand floated up, finding his jaw and absently tracing soft lines on the side of his neck. She rest her other hand on his knee, gripping it gently. She had nothing to compare the kiss to, but she didn't need to. There would never be anyone who could or would kiss her like Lucas. She was sure of that.

--

He moved on instinct. Breaking the kiss for just a moment, Lucas tugged her even closer until their bodies were pressed up together. He imagined that if he listened hard enough he would be able to hear her heart beat against her chest, perhaps in time with his. Part of him liked the idea of that. Especially because they were in this together, exploring the other for the first time.

When he finally pulled back, Lucas’ grin was a bit goofy, almost like he had been drinking.”So….?” he trailed off, pretty sure asking if it was ‘good’ was some sort of ill mannered question. “Are you good?” he asked instead, suddenly struck that maybe whatever he felt wasn’t what she felt. Even if she had asked for the kiss in the first place she could have changed her mind.

Turning slightly, Lucas’ eyes landed on the forgotten bottle of butterbeer. “Butterbeer?” he offered. “One of the other dragon trainers had a spare bottle and offered it to me.”

--

She hadn't expected him to break the kiss, even briefly, so when he shifted to pull her closer, she was already moving towards him. Prim wrapped her arms around Lucas' shoulders, following his lead but also growing curious about what lines she could cross. A little hesitantly, she parted her lips against his and touched the tip of her tongue to his lower lip. The moment was fleeting; she was afraid he wouldn't like it, and she went back to following his lead. Lucas had more experience kissing, after all.

When he pulled away again, Prim was sure her eyes were starry. Or glassy, rather, since this wasn't one of her stories. She felt intoxicated, but in a completely different kind of lightheaded way than drinking had caused. She slowly unwound her arms from his shoulders, letting one hand rest over his heart, the other on his upper arm. Her smile matched his, though it was goofy in a Primrose way, and she shifted to sit on her knees so she could move closer to him.

"I'm very good," she replied, blushing slightly. "Are you? That was...I mean…" She caught her lower lip between her teeth, suddenly worried that he might not have enjoyed it as much as she had. "Was it okay?" She looked at the offered butterbeer then moved back enough for Lucas to be able to move. "Please," she said. She wasn't sure the sweet drink would actually help quench her thirst, but Lucas was distracted enough by it that she felt she ought to say yes.

--

Lucas was not thinking about who had experience and who did not. Instead he focused on the feel of her in his arms and how they seemed to fit together seamlessly. Like they were two parts of one whole. Before she could move too far away, Lucas grabbed her hand, squeezing softly. Maybe what he couldn’t put into words he could put into actions.

“It was more than.” His voice was soft as he uncorked the bottle for the second time and fished out two glasses from the picnic hamper. Normally he would have just drunk straight from the bottle, but Prim deserved some sort of manners. He filled her glass first, handing it over before he filled one for himself. “Sláinte.” He clinked her glass with hers before taking a drink.

Shifting over so that their thighs were touching, Lucas took her hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb. “This doesn’t have to change anything if you don’t want it to. Or it can add to it, but not takeaway. Never that.”

--

"Sláinte," she repeated, sipping the butterbeer. It seemed sweeter than normal, or maybe it was Lucas holding her hand and sitting close. He had shifted so they were thigh to thigh. She shifted further so they sat hip to hip, and she could rest her cheek on his shoulder. Prim was feeling bold but not brave, and there were things that, even with Lucas, were easier for her to say when she couldn't see the other person. Her empty hand lay in his, her thumb mirroring how his moved.

"Of course it's changed. Not our friendship or how I feel about you, but how we'll behave towards each other. We have crossed a line that, as long as we are both willing, gives us permission to explore and learn and grow and.." She trailed off, taking another sip. Prim lifted her head and looked at Lucas, searching his face with hope written on hers.

Letting go of his hand, she touched his cheek. "I do love you. You're my best friend. You know me better than anyone. I don't know how much of my love is romantic and how much of it is based on our friendship, but I believe I have had feelings for you beyond friend for some time." She rest her forehead against his, glad they were of a height even sitting. "I have nothing to compare it to, but I believe my feelings are very real."

--

“But it just adds to it,” Lucas reasoned, optimistic as ever. He was happy that she hadn’t moved away. Quite the opposite in fact. When she moved closer, he let out a breath he hadn’t been aware that he was holding. He was more nervous than he had anticipated. What if she actually didn’t feel the same way?

When Prim looked at him, something within Lucas broke, flooding his system with emotions he wasn’t quite sure he had the words for. “I love you too.” His hand reached up to cover her hand with his. “And I’ve never said that before. Unless you count Marcus and Pippa.” But he didn’t want to think about them right now, not wanting the shadow of being a Flint to darken this moment here and now.

There mouths were so close. Lucas could not help but to tilt his head just enough to press his lips against hers again, elated that they both felt the same way. Without even realizing it, he was already painting a fairy tale in the back of his mind. The prince and princess had found one another. Clearly all that was left was the happily ever after.

One hand slipped down to her waist, tugging her to him and into his lap. Lucas craved the physical contact.

--

A weight lifted from Prim's shoulders, and her smile was wide and relieved and so happy. "You have, in a way. Once before. When I couldn't find my knees because of the whiskey Uncle Sirius sent me. You wrote it. It made me warm and fuzzy." She let her hand rest on his shoulder when he kissed her. It was so effortless. It was them, but it was them enhanced, and it felt amazing.

When Lucas tugged, Prim moved, settling easily onto his lap. She held her glass, careful not to spill the stick drink on him. He tasted of butterbeer and toothpaste and smelled vaguely of smoke and something fresh. "Wait," she pushed back gently when her drink sloshed over her hand. "I need my other hand."

Quickly, unselfconsciously, she finished her drink and set the empty glass by the basket. It was awkward, but she didn't worry about it. She didn't think Lucas would care or think she was weird for it. She wiped her hand on the blanket, even, before turning her torso towards his again. "Sorry. I needed to be able.. I wanted to.." She trailed off and placed her hands on either side of his face, tracing the lines of his ears. "This. So I can do this."

--

He waited for her, like he always would, still and scarcely breathing in case he startled her. “You have a better memory than me,” he confessed with a slight shrug of his shoulders, “but that doesn’t change the fact that outside of my siblings you’re the only one I’ve said it to.” Prim was right when she said whatever love brewed between them was not the passionate, hormonally charged affairs found in the M.L. Drachen books he used to borrow from his sister, but that did not make it any less valid or any less important.

Blinking owlishly at Prim, Lucas scarcely thought to breath, but he had to force himself to relax. If he was scared and nervous that would not allow Prim to relax as well. “You can do whatever you want. I trust you.”

He had had been this close to others before, but none felt as intimate as this. The thought should have made him feel overwhelmed or downright scared, but he couldn’t, not with Prim. He took comfort in the fact that she wanted him to be happy as much as he wanted her happiness. They could trust their hearts with one another.

--

Prim flushed but smiled. She was feeling bolder now, with his face between her hands. She kissed him just at the corner of his mouth, letting her left hand drop to his chest. She traced the lines of his face with the fingers of her right hand, barely touching his skin, but feeling electricity between them. "I trust you," she whispered. "You have the same permission." She kissed him again. "There are no lines you could cross that would frighten me."

Even as she said the words she knew they were true. This was Lucas. This was her best friend, the man who knew her better than she sometimes knew herself. She trusted him with her life, with her heart and her would. Of course she trusted him with everything else. "You just have to ask," she whispered, kissing him a third time. "My answer is yes."

--

Whatever Lucas was going to say next was interrupted by an ominous crack of thunder. That was their only bit of warning before the skies promptly opened above them. This was not a light summer rain that warmed the skin, but a driving storm that had the rain blowing sideways and leaving a chill in its wake. Without thinking Lucas tried to cover Prim as much as he could so her dress wouldn’t be ruined as he reached out for the picnic basket before the wind had it tumbling down the hill.

Almost immediately the both of them were soaked. Not even the blanket below them would offer any reprieve. “Come on.” Lucas scrambled up before offering her his hand. “It’s probably not raining in Wales and my vardo has stove to ward off any chill. If we can make it to the trees we can disapparate out.”

Despite the urgency the rain caused, Lucas could not help the bubble of laughter that seemed to come from the very depths of his chest. Whatever spell that had held them to one another had not yet been broken. He leaned over and pressed a playful kiss against her lips, trying to ignore the chill-inducing dripping of water down his neck under his collar.

--

The moment it began to pour, Prim was off of Lucas' lap, searching for her shoes, which she couldn't find. She couldn't see very far in front of her face, and she only barely heard his words over the wind and rain. She used his hand to stand, laughing at the suddenness of it all. She wrapped her arms around his neck when he kissed her.

As the wind picked up a corner of the blanket, she spotted her shoes and quickly dove for them. She shoved her shoes in her bag and wrapped her arms around Lucas again. "No one will see us," she said, her mouth closer to his ear so he would hear her. "I can barely see you. We could break an ankle if we try to go down the hill."

Prim leaned back and looked at Lucas, laughing. She was about to say something, but her words left her when there was another crash of thunder. "We should go," she called before hugging him. "I'm with you."

--

Looking around, it was obvious that Prim was right. Everyone and everything with half a mind had sought out shelter. They were the only two fools who hadn’t sought out shelter yet. He gave one last scan of the landscape before burying his face in her neck and disapparated them out of there.

Wales was indeed dry. Or as dry as it ever got. At least they were not caught in the middle of a downpour. Separating was a bit difficult as their skin stuck together (and Lucas really did not want to let Prim out of his arms just yet), but he stepped away, wincing as he saw how wet and wrinkled her dress had become. “Do you want to come in? I can get something for you to change into. I wouldn’t trust any of my drying spells.”

Speaking of… he tossed the sodden blanket over the clothes line in the hopes that it would dry out. Or at least reach the stage of damp at some point. “I’m sorry the picnic got ruined.”

--

She felt half-drowned, and, now that they were out of the downpour, she began to shiver. Prim nodded. "Please," she said, laughing lightly through her slightly chattering teeth. She kissed his cheek before moving past Lucas and into his vardo where it was a little warmer out of the breeze. "It's not your fault. You can't control the weather. And I think the food is fine. It has charms on it to stay fresh."

Prim peeled off her cardigan and hung it over the back of a chair. She looked down at her dress. It was soaked, but she didn't think it was destroyed. She looked at Lucas and smiled, forgetting about her dress for a moment. "Nothing about today was ruined." She moved to his side to take his hand. "There's still a lot of day left. We'll change into something dry and warm. Build a fire and make a pillow nest in front of it." She kissed his cheek and let her forehead rest against his temple. "Nothing is ruined."

She moved away and turned her back to Lucas. Pulling her hair over one shoulder, she exposed the dress' zipper and looked back at him. She'd never disrobed in front of him, but she wasn't sure if she could manage the zipper carefully enough to protect the fabric. That's what she told herself the reason was. She really just wanted Lucas to touch her again.

--

Lucas had fetched a towel and was ready to give it to Prim once he made sure it was clean. He had a few dirty ones that would suit for him, but she was the guest. It took him a moment to realize what she wanted and with an startled Oh! he stumbled forward. Fingers delicate, Lucas pulled down the zipper, catching a peek at her underthings. He probably shouldn’t be oogling at her. He stared at spot on the wall just beyond her shoulder before he could be caught.

“Here,” he passed the towel over, “in case you wanted to dry off.”

As Lucas spoke a full body shiver wracked his body. His soaked shirt was doing him no favors. Grasping the hem, he pulled it over his head and tossed it in the vague direction of the clothes hamper. It was only because of his well defined spatial awareness did he succeed in his task. “I’m going to start up the wood stove and get us warm, okay?”

--

She shivered when the air cooled her skin. Prim smiled her thanks, turning to face Lucas when he handed her the towel. He may not have stared, but she did. She watched him peel his shirt away. She admired his form, blushing only slightly and not from shame or embarrassment. "Okay."

Retrieving her wand from her bag, Prim escaped to the sleeping area of the vardo and carefully, with her back to him, removed her dress. She didn't dare attempt a drying charm on the silk, unsure of how to treat it outside of dry cleaning, but she carefully laid it on a flat surface out of the way. She did, however, use a charm on her underthings and heated the towel to the temperature it would be coming straight from the dryer.

With the towel wrapped around her shoulders, she turned to look into the rest of the vardo. "Lucas? May I borrow a shirt, please?"

--

Try as he might, Lucas could not look away from Prim’s form. She was all pale skin and daintiness and every fiber of his being told him that he should protect her. Even if that meant from himself. She had asked for a shirt, not for him to stare at her arse.

“Course.” Did his voice sound strangled? He didn’t think so. At least it didn’t crack on him. “It’s in that drawer over there.” Lucas gestured before realized that with her back to him she couldn’t actually see where he was pointing. So he moved to fetch her one. The only problem with this option was that with such a small space he was all but pressing up- against her, skin to skin. Lucas nearly dropped the shirt he was holding. He managed to hold onto it, just barely.

Blushing furiously, he held it out to her. “Erm. Here. Did you want me to turn around,” not that there was much room to maneuver, “or close my eyes or something?”

--

Prim shivered again, but not with the cold. Her body tingled, alive with electricity and anticipation. "Actually," she replied, her voice breathy and light. "No." She took the shirt from Lucas, the movement opening the towel a little. Then she thought it was silly that she was hiding. She'd been swimming with Lucas. He'd seen her in a bathing suit before, even though it was a one piece. She didn't have to hide.

So she dropped the shirt on the bed and wrapped the warm towel around Lucas' shoulders. He was still wearing wet clothes. Prim used the terrycloth to pull him closer. "You've always seen me, even at my most invisible." Her eyes brimmed with tears, but her smile--everything about her radiated happiness. "I never want you to not see me."

She rubbed his arms, wanting to make him warm, to take away the chill from the rain. In the back of her mind, she began flipping through her soup recipes and the different ways she knew how to make hot chocolate. Anything to make Lucas warm.

--

Everywhere she touched seemed to banish the chill from his skin as heat bloomed in his stomach. Lucas couldn’t help but return Prim’s smile, even as her soft and gentle strokes were and heating his blood. His trousers even grew marginally tighter and Lucas fought the urge to to adjust himself right in front of her. “Prim,” he managed as his face heated up, “you’ve never been invisible. Ever. But right now…” Rather than finish the sentence, Lucas leaned down to kiss her. Maybe she wouldn’t notice his growing arousal. Or maybe she would.

Lucas kind of really hoped she would.

His hands came to rest on her hips, fingers framing the pale flesh as he could feel the material of her knickers. Prim’s knickers. Good Godric. The thought made him a lot more interested and if either of looked down at that moment the would be able to see the rather indecent bulge Lucas was sporting.

--

She noticed. Prim wrapped her arms around Lucas' shoulders when he kissed her, pressing her body close to his, so she noticed. She didn't register when the towel fell to the floor, or when the water from his trousers dampened her skin again. She didn't even think about the research she'd done when writing her stories to understand this moment. The only thing on her and in her other senses was him, and she understood, fully, what it was to need someone. It was beyond desire or having the urge to kiss and hold and feel. It was an ache deep within her that she had no words for because she had never experienced it.

As they kissed, she explored his torso with her fingers, tracing the lines of his shoulders and back. His stomach. They stopped at his belt, and her normally deft fingers fumbled when she hesitated. She broke their kiss, pressing her forehead against his with her eyes closed. Her breath came a little fast.

"I don't want to be like that girl," she said, refusing to say Astrid's name. "I don't want to push or demand. We've waited this long. We can wait longer." Prim licked her lips, counted to ten, and tried to calm down, but it didn't help. "I feel like I might explode. Every part of me, every nerve, is awake for you." She pulled back, searching his face, and laughed lightly at herself. "I sound like I'm writing one of my stories, but I need you. And if you ask, it's yes. My answer to everything is yes."

--

“I still need to ask,” Lucas tried to respond as he buried his face against her neck. She was nearly an inch shorter than he was and he liked that they were on an equal footing.

Taking one of her hands in his, he squeezed it for a moment in reassurance before letting go. Lucas undid his belt and pushed down his trousers, kicking off his shoes before stepping out of them. If Prim was standing there in her underwear he should probably be too. In his underwear. Not hers.

“I want to touch you.” He trailed a single finger over the plane of her stomach. How he could still marvel at the softness of her skin Lucas didn’t know, but here he was, marvelling. “I don’t have the words like you do, but I want to. I want you to feel good.” Taking a step backwards until his legs met the bed, Lucas drew Prim into his arms as he fell backwards.

“You’re nothing like her,” Lucas promised. He could barely remember her name now. All he could focus on now was Prim above him. The heat from her body chased the last of the rain’s chill away, leaving only desire in its wake.

--

Prim's stomach muscles contracted under his finger, but she didn't feel as ticklish in that moment as she normally was. She watched him, eyes wide but not panicked. Her cheeks warmed as her gaze moved down, as she unashamedly traced his form. Again, she had nothing to compare this to other than the research she had done for her books, but porn and other romance novels were fictional. He was real, and he was beautiful and perfect.

She trusted him, knowing he would be there when they landed though the fall wasn't far. She felt his muscles under her. Where she was soft, he was strong and hard, but he was Lucas, so there was always something soft and warm about him. Prim tried not to squirm. She was afraid of hurting Lucas, of pressing too hard on certain sensitive areas, but she was also sure she was going to cut off his ability to breathe by laying directly on top of him.

So she kissed him, because, from her position on top, that seemed like the thing to do. She was bold. She teased his mouth with her tongue, nipped his lower lip lightly before focusing her kiss on the spot. As she kissed him, she slipped sideways, fitting herself in the space between him and the wall. The bed was large enough for the both of them to be comfortable when they shared it to sleep, and small enough for her to remain close to him while they kissed.

Needing to have as much of her skin touching his as possible, Prim kept a leg over his. She moved it, sliding her knee up his thigh. He moaned when she accidentally tapped his erection, and Prim half sat up, looking down at him, eyes wide with concern. "I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?"

--

The moan slipped out before Lucas realized what he was doing. “No. No. No.” He shook his head as he stroked a hand down her back hoping to comfort her and maybe to draw her back to him. “I’m just… sensitive.” Nobody had touched him like that before and he was eager to have her back in her previous position. “It felt good. Promise.”

He nudged her gently back laying down, shifting all of his weight onto his hip so he could face her at the same time. “I know you said that anything I ask is a yes, but where can I touch you?” Even as he asked his gaze was focused on area in particular and it took all of his will power to not just reach out and cup one of her breasts.

Prim was so soft, so breakable, he was terrified of hurting her. “Maybe you could show me where to touch and how and I can do the same?” He could feel himself twitch and swell in his pants and knew that he would have to be careful before he accidentally embarrassed himself by finishing before they really even got started.

--

She almost asked him if he was sure when realization dawned on her. "Oh. Ohh." She smiled and resettled next to him, liking it when he turned on his side to face her. She propped her head on her hand, watching his face. She'd always felt beautiful when Lucas looked at her, but there was something more now.

Prim rolled forward and kissed him. "Okay." She smiled as she pushed herself up again, sitting fully this time. With her heart pounding in her chest, she held her breath and reached around her back to unclasp her bra. She felt suddenly shy, as if she'd put herself on show, so she quickly removed the article and laid back down.

"Imagine exes on a map," she said softly, taking his hand in hers. "Now picture a map of someone who didn't want his treasure to be found, so it's covered in exes." She kissed his palm before pressing his fingers to her collar bone. "Anywhere not covered in fabric has an ex, and gentle, light touches will send shivers of pleasure through me."

--

Lucas couldn’t take his eyes off of her, especially when she unclasped her bra, revealing more tantalizing skin. He nearly pouted when she started explaining where and how he could touch.She couldn’t just tell him ‘touch here’ could she? He refrained from making a face, however, and instead made an effort to follow her instructions to the best of his ability.

His fingers brushed along her collarbone, tracing what he thought were random patterns over her skin until he realized that the random patterns were actually words. Love Desire Want. All described how he felt right now. Also desperate.

“I don’t know if it’s the difference between boys and girls. Or the difference between you and I, but…” Rather than finish the sentence, Lucas quickly paused his own exploration to place her hand directly on top of his erection. It was a bold move, maybe, but he really liked it when she accidentally touched him. Surely he’d really really like it when she meant it. “You don’t have to be gentle, but don’t be rough either?”

The pressure of her palm had Lucas rolling his hips up into her grip as his hand returned back to her chest, finally reaching up to brush fingers along the swell of one of her breasts.He felt the warmth and the weight of it, unable to suppress the shiver that ran through his body. Though he wanted to savour these first few moments of exploring one another’s bodies, he found it hard to not freak out about the fact that he was touching Prim’s boobs.

--

His touches raised goosebumps on her flesh, and she felt herself becoming impatient. For what, exactly? She wasn't sure. Prim didn't know what she wanted. She only knew that she needed him to touch her.

She inhaled sharply, almost gasping, when Lucas moved her hand, but she didn't snatch it away. She was gentle, despite his assurance. She traced the line of him through his knickers. She didn't register what his hand was doing until her nipple tightened in response to the rasp of the callouses on his hand. She gasped, surprised, and arched her back into his touch. She hadn't meant to, but her fingers tried to close around Lucas, but she found the fabric was in the way of properly feeling him.

"I think…" Prim slipped a finger between the band of his pants, tugging it away from his hip slightly. She met Lucas' eyes, a question in hers. "Maybe this would be better without any clothes?" She kissed him suddenly, pressing her body as close to his as their positions allowed, understanding now how being above him was a good place to be so she could kiss his chest and stomach and everything. "Maybe.." she breathed against his mouth.

--

He answered her with a simple nod of his head. For a moment his hand joined hers in pushing his underwear down over his hips so he could kick them off. Then his attention was back on her as calloused fingers roamed over her soft skin. “That was a good idea,” he managed with only the slightest tremble in his voice.

His face felt flush, not from embarrassment but from the yearning he felt at that moment. His fingers were back to tracing their words and for a moment was unsure of what they were supposed to do next. The books he’d borrowed from Pippa always made it seem so easy, that lust and passion would just carry them through, but this was more important that. Wasn’t it?

His body had other ideas, however, and it responded far more readily to Prim’s touch. His hips rocked up against her hip, brushing past what looked like an old scar. He wondered how she had gotten it. It must have been before she found out she was a witch. Only muggle healers would leave such a mark.

“I don't want to hurt you.” His fingers fell down to her hip, ghosting over the scar. “The first time is supposed to hurt for girls, right?”

--
Lucas was naked. Some small part of her tried to tell her that this was wrong, that she was not a good girl. That nice young ladies did not allow young men to disrobe in front of them. Did not allow those who were supposed to be her friend to explore her practically naked body. But as far as this daring and bold Prim was concerned, that voice could take a long walk off a short pier. There was no room for it here, not when Lucas was responding to her, and looking at her, in such a positive way. There was nothing wrong or bad with this. It was beautiful and right.

Her touch was light, hesitant. She couldn't exactly see what she was doing with him over her, but her hand seemed to know where to be and what to do. It was all those books. She gasped lightly as the movement of his hips caused him--or her hand--to bump the most sensitive area. In her search for knowledge for her stories, Prim was no stranger to finding pleasure for herself. She had to know how her body reacted to certain things to give her writing a bit of authenticity. That was how she justified it, though she had never discussed such things as masturbation with anyone.

Prim smiled serenely up at Lucas, touching his chin lightly to make him meet her gaze. "It only hurts if the girl isn't properly aroused. The science behind sex says that there should be no pain, though some pulling is to be expected, when the woman is allowed time to--self-lubricate." She took his hand from her hip and opened her knees a little further, to give him more room between them. With her heart in her throat, her eyes on his face, Prim put Lucas' hand between her legs. "You won't hurt me," she said quietly. "If you rub here," she moved his fingers up a little, "you will hurt me even less."

--

Lucas held his breath as he let her guide him into making her feel good. This was what he was talking about. Simple, direct instruction is where he excelled.

As one hand busied itself between her legs, stroking and sliding as instructs, he used his other to brace himself so as not to crush Prim. “Can I kiss you?” He asked, already feeling foolish as soon as the words were out of his mouth. He was already touching her so intimately, what harm could a simple kiss bring?

--

Rather than answer with words, Prim arched up, enjoying his touch though she bit her lip to keep quiet. It was habit; she didn't know what she would sound like, and she was always afraid of giving herself away if she made a noise. But she arched, and she tugged Lucas down to her, making him collapse to his elbow rather than his hand, and she found his mouth with hers. Every nerve felt alive. The balls of her feet were warm, her toes curling and uncurling, and her core tightened.

Everything tightened, and she forgot that they were kissing as fireworks went off in the back of her eyes. "Lucas." His name was a gasp and a plea: quiet but full of an urgent need. "You won't hurt me," she promised, her breathing quick and uneven. She started to reach for him, to guide him, but she stopped herself, resting her hand on his hip. Prim licked her lips, pressing her head into the pillow. "Lower your fingers. A little more. Yes. Just there. Go there."

--

She wasn't making any sound and Lucas didn't know if that was good or bad. What if he was hurting her but she didn't want him to feel bad? He needn't have worried. When she spoke his name he was instantly alert and attentive. His fingers moved against her body, her heat sinking into his skin.

He leaned down and took her earlier advice, peppering her bare skin with kisses, as he traveled lower. Sudden inspiration struck and his lips closed around one of her nipples, his tongue teasing the sensitive skin as his fingers continued to follow Prim’s directives.

Shifting, Lucas put most of his weight on his knees as he hovered over her body. He wanted to say something, anything. He wanted to to tell her how beautiful she was how much he appreciated the fact that she trusted him, but Lucas couldn’t get the words out. Instead, he merely smiled down at her before returning to giving her pleasure. After all her pleasure was his pleasure and he felt like at any moment he could pop. He might not have much experience in this area, but even Lucas knew that he should last longer.

--

A sighing moan escaped her lips as her back arched to put pressure against his mouth. She felt his teeth scrape her skin from her movement, and that sent a jolt of intense pleasure coursing through her. "Lucas," she said again, though his name was a whimper. She suddenly felt desperate, like she would explode if he didn't hold her together. It was an out of control feeling she'd never had before.

She had to tell him. Prim had to say what she wanted, but she couldn't find her words. Just his name. "Lucas." She moved his hand from her, dropping it to the bed by her shoulder, and lifted his chin so he met her gaze again. "Please." She would cringe at the slight begging tone to her voice later, but she didn't have room for thought about it now. Her fingers were gentle, even in her urgency, as they wrapped around him and guided him to her. "You have to do this part," she whispered. "Please. You won't hurt me. I need you."

--

He wanted to ask if she was sure, but he realized at that point it would be an insult. She knew her body much better than he and if Prim said she was ready she was.

Slowly he entered her, unable to stop the low groan of pleasure as he finally found where he was supposed to be. He didn't even know he was waiting until he was there. “Prim,” he breathed her name like it was a holy word and at that moment maybe it was.

Lucas stilled, not quite ready to move just yet, afraid of ending before they ever truly began. After a few tense moments where he was doing everything to just hang on, Lucas began to move. His movements were hesitant at first though he found his confidence as he fell into a rhythm. The whole time he kept his gaze trained on her face in the hopes that we would be able tell if something was wrong even if she could not.

“Prim,” he tried again as his hips snapped up into hers, burying himself as far as he possibly could in her impossible heat. It was too overwhelming and he was right at the edge, looking over the precipice. “Don't move. Just give me a few moments.”

--

If there was a pinch as he moved into her, she didn't feel it. She waited for him, knowing how it could be for men their first time. She followed his lead, matched his rhythm. There was no 'lying back and thinking of England'. Prim moved her hips against his every time he moved closer. She held his gaze, feeling as if he could see to her very soul as they came together. She didn't look away. She didn't hide from the intimacy. She embraced it.

A small smile danced across her features when he said her name the second time. She sighed and gasped and held on to him, waiting for a release that was close. His or hers, she didn't know, but she was waiting for it. She yearned for it.

When he stopped, when he asked her not to move, her body wouldn't listen. Prim pulled Lucas down for a slow kiss, moving her hips against his. "It's okay," she breathed against his mouth, smiling. "The first time isn't supposed to last. That's what second times and third times and all the times after are for." She kissed the corner of his mouth before lying back and looking up at him. "It's okay," she said again, ghosting her fingers down his side, bringing them to rest on his hip. "It's okay."

--

When she mentioned a second and third time, with the potential for even more after that, Lucas’ brain short circuited a little. He hadn’t imagined a time after this. After what happened when they crossed the line post friendship into something more. Somehow he hadn’t realized that there would be some sort of ‘next time.’ It took him a moment to realize she was still talking to him, giving him permission to not make this moment straight out of a storybook.


He began to move again, though the rhythm did not last for long. Far too quickly his movements became jerky and less smooth as trembled for one moment more before he fell over the edge, spilling inside her. With a long sigh, Lucas kissed Prim, unwilling, and perhaps a little unable, to move just yet. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you.”

--

Though she had been close earlier, she didn't climax. That didn't mean she wasn't pleasured. Her heart raced, her breathing was uneven. Her body felt light and heavy at once. Prim wrapped her arms around Lucas' shoulders, holding him close against her breast. She breathed a laugh and traced a lazy line down the top of his spine. "Thanks? For what, love?"

--

Once he was able to scrape together two brain cells together enough to move, Lucas rolled to the side, careful of Prim below him. “You gave me a gift,” he said as he fought to get his breath under control as sleepiness threatened to overtake him. He shook his head and whole body, not unlike how he would in his animagus form, to force himself to stay awake.

“Was it good?" He was curious, not wanting to leave her behind even when he orgasmed. “Did you… did you come.” He whispered the last word, slightly embarrassed for saying it aloud, but the question was far more important than his ego.

--

Prim turned to her side to face Lucas when he moved away from her. She didn't want to break contact yet, especially when he said something to sweet. "I think it was always going to be you. Now or later, but it had to be you." She kissed him and cuddled close, the air was suddenly cool on her skin.

"I did not, but it was good." She smiled broadly before kissing him again. "Lucas you--" She laughed, suddenly full of energy, and jumped out of bed. Prim stretched her arms above her head, then spun with them out to her side, just once, laughing. "You brought me to life. For the first time, I feel bold and daring. And beautiful." She knelt next to him, took his hand, and kissed his palm before holding it to her heart. "I didn't climax, but you gave me that. It wasn't just the sex. I took a risk, and you with me the entire time. That's the happiest ending I could have asked for." She thought for a second. "And the happiest beginning."

She leaned down and kissed him. "Are you hungry? We have all this food. I don't think the rain got to it."

--

How could Prim be so energetic? Lucas wondered as he watched her dance about, a funny little grin on his face, unable to deny (though why would he?) the pure affection he had for her. “I could eat something.” When couldn’t he eat?

Pushing himself up into a sitting position, Lucas simply took joy in being in Prim’s presence. “Are you sure it’s okay? That you don’t want me to, you know, help?” He cocked his head to the side feeling that for whatever reason he owed her. Fair was fair.

--

Prim blushed from her head to her toes, but she smiled, and kissed him. "Later, maybe? After we eat and nap." It was when she hopped off the bed again that she remembered they were not clothed. It didn't make her unsure or uncomfortable, but she didn't think she should eat while naked. Somehow, still on the foot of the bed, was the shirt Lucas had gotten out for her, so she pulled it on and went to where she'd left the basket.

She looked over her shoulder at Lucas. "Do you want to make a pillow nest and eat in front of the fire, or over there, and try not to get crumbs in the bed?"

--

Seeing Prim pull on the shirt broke Lucas out of his stupor and he went searching the floor for his pants, pulling them on as he considered her question. “How can one say no to a pillow nest? It would be our own indoor picnic.”

He went to her, taking her hand in his, squeezing it for a moment. “Whatever you want to do. How can I help?”

--

Prim leaned into Lucas for a moment, her hand in his, her head on his shoulder. "Pillows," she answered. "All of them, and we'll make a few extra." Their nest was quickly set up, the food set out, and the fire stoked. They settled on the pillows and enjoyed the picnic that had been interrupted by kissing then rain. As they ate and talked, Prim's mind kept wandering to what sleeping next to Lucas would be like now. After their meal, they cuddled close, and the last thought she had before she fell asleep was about how everything was different but the same.