Ginny Weasley has serious spunk. (holygin) wrote in reduxpitch, @ 2016-08-11 08:06:00 |
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Entry tags: | !thread, character: ginny weasley, character: marcus flint |
WHO: Marcus Flint, Ginny Weasley, and the Flint Parentals
WHEN: slightly backdated 10 August 2002, between 5 PM and 9 PM
WHERE: Flint Manor, Random Island, Marcus' room
WHAT: Crushing Parental Dreams or A showdown
RATING: Yelling and threats made, but sfw
STATUS: Completed in Docs
Marcus looked over at Ginny and raised a brow, "You know this isn't going to go well right? This isn't telling your family. Or even my siblings. This is going straight to the gates of Hades and then unleashing the fury." He leaned back in the far too delicate looking chair in his mother's version of a parlor. Or at least - it was this season's version. He was sure that if they were here in a few months it would look completely different.
With the gossip in the papers, and pictures from the gala showing Ginny wearing a ring, he had been expecting the summons. He was actually impressed they hadn't stormed his home in the middle of the night to make a point to him. But instead there had been a very coldly written owl - one he had tried to keep away from Ginny, intending on dealing with his parents alone. But she had managed to find out and then he had his hands full with an annoyed Weasley and sorting out what he was going to do with his parents.
"If I were you - I would be running for the hills."
~~
Ginny turned her attention to Marcus, making sure she looked as bored as she felt. They had been summoned and made to wait, and that was exactly how you got on Ginny's nerves. They were doing nothing wrong, and she didn't like how worried this had Marcus. "It's not going to go well for them," she said primly, smoothing the skirt of her dress. She didn't care what the elder Flints thought of her, but she had put in an effort to look nice for Marcus' sake.
She reached over and put her left hand over his right. The light caught the jewels in the ring so it flashed becomingly, and her face softened. They had chosen each other, and nothing anyone said would make her change her mind. "I could have been a Slytherin," she said causally. "But I was sorted the way I was because I am made of stern stuff."
Leaning towards him, Ginny turned Marcus' face, her fingers light on his jaw, and kissed him. "I am very protective of the people I love," she whispered, holding his gaze, "and I love you with all of my heart. So whatever fight they want to make, I am ready for it. There is no way in hell that I'm going to give you up, Wolfy. They'd have to kill me first, and even then I couldn't promise I wouldn't come back as a ghost."
~~
All Marcus could do was chuckle at Ginny's words, resting his head against hers, "Oh Gingersnap - I have a feeling that this is going to go sideways. Even with your claws out. But I appreciate the fighting spirit you are showing. We are definitely going to need that."
There was the sound of a door opening and in stepped the elder Flints. Both dressed impeccably, both wearing matching masks of ambivalence. Marcus got to his feet and mentally sighed. So this was going to be their route - icy rage. Fantastic. He kept his fingers linked with Ginny's, kissing her knuckles and meeting his parents eyes with a look of disinterest, "Mother, Father….you owled me about something…?"
Constantine stepped forward, his eyes disdainfully taking in the scene in front of him, his eldest and heir - with a blood traitor. He was honestly wondering where he had gone wrong with Marcus. He had had every advantage - he was given every chance and to do this to the family that had provided those things? Oh their ancestors had to be rolling over in their graves. Silently, he motioned for them to sit.
"We did owl yes, as it was shown to me at a charity tea that my son had gone and made a very….life altering choice without advising his parents. Now did you stop and think how that would look Marcus? I mean really…." Josephine said with a sigh, "I mean really - and whatever happened with that Parkinson girl - I mean - she was a far more appropriate wife for you than someone who plays Quidditch and isn't from our background." She gave Ginny a tepid smile, "I mean no offense dear, but you must see how very different the two of you are…"
~~
"Of course you mean offense," Ginny replied, just as icy as Josephine Flint. The older woman had years of practice, but she would soon learn not to mess with a Weasley woman. "Let's not pretend otherwise. As for Pansy Parkinson, she is happily involved with my friend Edward Carmichael. As I hear it, they are progressing in their relationship quite nicely, and Eddie has met her father's approval." She didn't know how true that was, but it sounded good and, as far as Ginny was concerned, put the argument to bed.
She looked at Marcus, but doing so made her thaw, and she had to quickly look away. She wouldn't lose her fight, but her love for her fiance would be seen as a weakness in the ice king and queen. "I think the only thing he cared about when he proposed was us. Not you, not the world. Us." She looked down her nose at Josephine. "Because, at the end of the day, that's all that matters." It wasn't completely true, but she didn't want to bring up his siblings. She didn't want to remind Marcus' parents that they existed.
~~
Constantine chuckled as his wife narrowed her eyes, "Now, now….both of you. We invited them over to discuss things Josephine, not start another war. At least not as long as my son sees reason."
Marcus rolled his eyes and sighed, "Father, allow me to make myself very clear. I am going to marry Ginevra Weasley. She will be my wife, the mother of my children and YOUR daughter-in-law. I am not sure what else you feel there is to discuss…."
"Well, simply put - we have let you have your time in Quidditch. You have frolicked and played your way through most of your twenties. Now that you are settling down - no matter how questionable to the spouse - it begs the question of when you will cease these dreams of yours and take your place…"
Licking his lips, Marcus narrowed his eyes and shook his head, "She isn't questionable and I have until I am 30 I believe was our agreement. That that will be my final season. I still have some time left if I am not mistaken on my age."
Constantine sighed, "Marcus, honestly, you aren't a child…how much longer are you going to resist what if your path in life."
"I could be a real arse and say as long as you are breathing - but knowing you - you would live forever just to piss me off."
"How dare you speak to your father like that!" Josephine said, pointing an elegant finger at Marcus, "Now listen to me, you are the eldest and this is your role in life. That was also part of the deal wasn't it? That you would be your father's heir - and assist in dealings as needed until then - and we cease trying to marrying off Phillipa and change Lucas?" Her eyes fell back on Ginny, "And I am sure that this - lovely - young woman understands family obligation and loyalty. And how much both mean to you."
~~
Ginny subtly stretched her shoulders, feeling her spine pop just a little as she prepared for a fight. Her grip on Marcus' hand was tight, but it was more to keep her anchored to her spot than it was to keep him in his. "What do you know of family loyalty? If you were half the parents that mine are, you wouldn't try to force your daughter into a loveless marriage. You would embrace and accept the sweetness that is Lucas Flint. You would not try to run and rule your children's lives so fully." She leaned forward, her back straight as a rod. "If you knew anything of family loyalty, you would respect Marcus' choices and dreams."
Josephine opened her mouth as if to speak, and Ginny put her hand up. "I am not finished. Your children are not your pawns, but my engagement to Marcus has not made him forget his obligations. We have discussed this, and I am aware that he will take over the family business. He's not trying to back out of that agreement because he's going to marry me."
She glared daggers between the two Flints. "Your deal stands, but Pippa and Lucas are going to be my family. As such, they have my protection and loyalty, because that's what family does. We look out for each other. They will have the love and support of my parents, because that's the kind of people they are. Through me, they will have six more brothers." Ginny leaned back but did not relax. "If you want to test me and my resolve, I will show you what family loyalty looks like."
~~
Marcus mentally was cheering Ginny on, however the looks in his parents' eyes were again making him wish - just a bit - that he had been able to convince his lovely hellion to stay back at the house and channel the rage into baking. He watched as his mother stood and went to pour herself a drink, and then return to her seat, taking very delicate sips.
"You have said your piece and I now I shall say mine." Her voice was cool and even, not a hint of emotion showing, "You are marrying my son. You are coming into OUR family and with that there are rules and obligations. I am thrilled that you are able to understand he has obligations but you have not the slightest idea as to what that will all entail. We do have loyalty in this family - something my son chose to shirk to follow some dream. There are times to dream and times to live in reality. And this is the reality of things. Deals are never completely finished child. There is always the fine print."
Marcus Was on his feet and leading his mother to a far corner of the room before she could finish. Their conversation was muffled and tense. Constantine sighed and shook his head, "He was such an obedient son once - and then he learned to speak." he studied Ginny and took her in - sitting there in righteous fury. Simmering and willing to take on what seemed to be the devil for Marcus. He had to admit - his rogue wolf of a son couldn't have chosen better. But that hardly meant he approved.
"I am sure you think of evil and diabolical. We aren't warm. We are far from welcoming. We distrust and make things business deals instead of opening our arms. But we came out of a very dark time at the opposite end of things - leading to a very dark and cold winter for us and those we consider family. So we do things how we do them in order to keep things as they need to be."
He held up his hand to stop her from speaking, "And I say this with all due respect, but you honestly couldn't think that we would be over the moon with our son marrying a blood traitor. I mean granted - you aren't muggleborn - but still. And there is the fact that you are young. You haven't been together all that long...would you like me to keep going? Then there is the fact that my son - for all his shortcomings - has a head for business that is being squandered on the Pitch. But that is neither here nor there I suppose. And I suppose you will continue to play once you are married and leave the majority of the weight of being the head of a house on his shoulders....you see - there are a variety of reasons we are not fond of this match."
~~
Ginny let Constantine speak, but she was very obviously bored and unimpressed by what he had to say. She did give him some points for using Muggleborn over the more disgusting phrase he could have chosen. He would have been popped in the nose if he'd gone that route. "I don't give half a--" Ginny caught herself before completing that response. "I don't care whether you approve or not, because it's not your choice to make or your life to live. You don't know me. You don't know what I'm capable of or the cloth from which I am cut."
Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her arms and legs and eyed Constantine Flint levelly. "You think you're going to intimidate me, that you could possibly say or do anything that would make me change my mind?" She laughed without humor. "Marcus is not you, and I'm not easy to scare. How our lives will be after we are married, after he turns thirty and takes over your business, will be up to us. It will have nothing to do with you."
She stretched her shoulders again, trying to ease the tightness in her muscles, and making it a shrug. "So, please, list the reasons you're not fond of this match, but know that they will fall on deaf ears."
~~
"Ah, perhaps...but keep in mind the Marcus you know is the one that has been out of my life and away from me for quite some time. If I remember correctly the last time he was in business with me - he blew off steam with another witch." he shrugged his shoulders, her words and attitude not rattling or phasing him in the slightest. Not a single crack or emotion showed in his armor.
He was about to say more when Marcus stormed back over, grabbed Ginny's hand and excused them for a moment. Once the door was closed behind him, he looked at her, "I love you. I love you for being here. But I am going to send you home - so you have plausible deniability when I maim and possibly kill them."
He kissed her forehead, "Just….trust me on this alright. I will be fine. Everything will be fine."
Marcus wanted her out of the room when he unleashed at his parents. He was going to lose his shit and he did not need her there to deflect any of their reaction off of him. He knew this wasn't going to go well and he needed to get his feelings and his parents feelings dealt with. And things were going to be less than civil and Ginny hadn't seen him like this. He would rather she not see him like this.
"Please."
~~
Ginny was about to respond when Marcus was suddenly at her side and hauling her to her feet. She hadn't thought he'd been close enough to hear what his father said, and it made her wonder what his mother had been spewing.
With the door closed between them, Ginny wrapped her arms around Marcus, relaxing into him, releasing tension through her toes. She would need a very hot bath later to ease her muscles completely. "I love you, and I trust you, but there is no way in hell that I'm leaving you alone with them." She pulled back and looked Marcus in the eyes. "You are mine to protect now. I know you're not used to that, but they'll have to kill me to change my mind, and I can't promise I wouldn't come back as a ghost."
She brushed her lips over his and, before he could stop her, marched back into the sitting room. His parents seemed a tad surprised by that, though they quickly hid it. Her wand was in her hand before she thought to get it out of her purse, and she waved it at the elder Flints. "Sit down." Their chairs flew towards them, and they were stuck in place. "Be silent, and listen. Your son has a few things to say to you." She cast a silencing charm on them before sitting primly across from them. She gave Marcus an angelic look, though there was a devious glint to her eye. And an encouraging one. "I am not easy to scare," she told him. "Nothing you say or do will change my mind about you."
~~
Marcus stood in the doorway for a moment and looked between his parents and his fiancee and wondered if there was one time ever in the world that he was going to get to say his piece on his own terms, before he blew up at everyone, he shook his head, "I am sure there isn't Gin, and I love that about you. But for the love of Salazar…." he threw up his hands, "I swear to Salazar, I yell at them on my own. I have been doing it since I was seven."
He took a deep breath and with a shake of his head he looked between the three of them, "Fine, then allow me to say - before I take a walk to clear my head - that I know my own damned mind. Ironically - I have known it for years. I am in love with Ginny Weasley - and I am happy. And she is agreeing to marry into this family of fucking dysfunction. So there is that."
"Now, if you will pardon me I am going to clear my damned head before I wonder if and when I will ever get to say my own damn piece in my own damned way." He spun on his heel and left the room muttering about gorgeous but pushy women and parents with no fucking brains between them and siblings….
~~
Ginny watched Marcus leave. She would follow him in a little bit, but for now, she knew he needed his space. She clicked her tongue against her teeth and shook her head at his still stuck parents. "This is what happens when you don't listen to him. This is what happens when you treat him like he can't think for himself." She pointed between the two of them. "This is just the tip of the iceberg of what could happen if you continue to be complete shits towards him. He may have proposed, but I chose him as much as he chose me, and that is something you're going to have to come to terms with, because it's not changing."
She leaned forward, propping her arms on her crossed knees, and casually brandished her wand towards them. "I am very well aware of Marcus' abilities to fight his own battles, but he has spent nearly his entire life making deals and compromises to keep the two of you appeased and out of Pippa and Lucas' hair. He has sacrificed much of his own happiness to ensure his brother and sister have the lives they want, which wasn't his job. It was yours."
She looked between them. "But I'm here now. I am his, and he is mine, and I will protect his heart and happiness to my last breath. Because that is love and loyalty. Not upholding some old ideal of purity. Not living up to stodgy, dead, and dying standards. It is putting someone else's happiness before your own, and I will, because I was raised to follow my heart and encourage others to do the same."
Standing, she smoothed her skirt and ignored the ire in the elder Flints' eyes. She was not stupid enough to release them without someone there to witness her murder. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go find my fiance and apologize for being obstinate." She left the room, leaving her charms in place, and followed the sounds of pacing and grumbling. She stopped at the door that was cracked just a little and listened to Marcus rant, and a little voice answering him. She opened the door slowly and entered a couple of steps. "I'm sorry," she said, meaning it. "Not that I charmed your parents to their seats--they're still stuck--or that I didn't listen to you. I'm sorry if I've made this more difficult for you."
~~
Marcus was down in the more relaxed set of rooms - namely the ones that he and his siblings had used when they weren't being put on display. Kaxy, his elf since birth, was there pouring him whiskey and nodding along to his rant. She didn't understand the issue really - so someone else wanted to yell at his parents - she would have thought that was a good thing. But Master Marcus needed her and so here she sat. Listening and pouring the whiskey.
"And then she just swoops in and takes over. I have been raising my voice with my parents since I was seven - that is TWENTY-TWO years and I think I can…" His voice trailed off as the door opened and he turned to face Ginny, "I am sorry - did you need to be here to see this too…" then he let out a breath, "I know you are trying and your intentions are good."
Then she started to speak and Marcus felt bad. Because her intentions were good. They were coming from a good place. But she had to understand that when he needed to yell and get in his parents face - he needed to not have an audience. Hell, it was rare his siblings saw - they might hear the fight - but they were rarely in the room, "Ginny, I need you to hear me. Not just listen - but hear this. I am madly in love with you. And I am beyond amazed that you are here. But I need this next part to go my way. Not you swooping in to help. But me and my parents. Alone. Because baby, until it comes down like hell's own fury - this isn't over. And I want this to be over."
He took her hands in his and kissed her left ring finger, "Please - if you insist on staying - Kaxy makes a hell of a drink. And you can join us as soon as it's over. Hell, take a tour of our future home. It's creepy as hell, but interesting. Just….don't touch things under glass. The prettier it is - the sketchier it might be."
Kaxy nodded, "Would Mistress Ginevra like a drink?" She wasn't sure what to call Ginny and Master Marcus had been using her formal name, "That is what Master Marcus has said your name is…" She gave Ginny a hopeful look.
~~
"That is my name, but you can use Ginny," she told the elf kindly. "Can you give us three minutes, Kaxy. Exactly three. That's all I need." When the elf was gone, she turned her attention back to Marcus. "I get it. I do. For the most part." She'd never had to fight someone the way Marcus had to fight his parents. She didn't like the idea of him fighting on his own, but that was the part she understood. "Like you were telling Kaxy, you have been fighting this battle for twenty-two years. But you have me now, and you don't have to face your foe on your own."
Before he could argue or explain, she kissed him. "So I'm staying. I'll keep out of your way, but this door is remaining open, and if it becomes deathly quiet in there, I'll come storming in to see who's died." She cupped his face in her hands. "My money's on you, though they aren't going to be well pleased about being silenced and stuck to their chairs." Her eyes glinted with suppressed joy at that.
She kissed Marcus again, lingering to show how sorry she was for overstepping, silently promising to make it up to him, and to always have his back. At exactly three minutes, the elf returned, and Ginny backed up. "Give them hell," she said quietly. "I'll be here."
~~
Letting his forehead rest against hers for a moment, Marcus had a silent eye conversation with Kaxy on his way out the door. He wished he had parents that would at least pretend to accept this.He re-entered the room to seething parents and the door was slammed shut and locked before he released the charm on them. But also not before bracing himself for the oncoming storm.
And stom it did there were raised voice, sounds of shattering - something. Kaxy winced a few times as she made Ginny her drink, "Would Mistress like a tour of the house?" her voice was soft and sweet, her large eyes blinked at Ginny, like she wasn't entirely sure what to make of her. Master Marcus loved her - so she must be something special. But she didn't look able to withstand the storm that was going on in there. But appearances could be deceiving.
~~
Marcus was breathing a bit heavier, his eyes were dark and flashing a rage that hadn't been there in almost a year really. But Ginny hadn't been really around for that - and Marcus was glad - in the back of his mind. His mother was stonily silent on her chair and his father was eyeing him icily from across the room. They seemed to be at an impasse and for the life of him Marcus had no idea how to fix this.
Three hours of shouting and fighting had come down to this tense standoff. He wasn't willing to give an inch. They hadn't used his siblings yet - because unlike before - his parents had an unknown option in Ginny. She might tell Phillipa and Lucas. And if their younger children found out - well, they might lose one of the few bargaining chips they had left with Marcus. And so that remained off the table.
For now.
"I can promise you Marcus - that if you let this young woman run your life…."
"She isn't. She actually cares. Which I know is a shocking development. But she does." Marcus' voice was low and far too calm.
"I could disown you."
"If you do that - then you will be without an heir - because I will take my siblings and I will run with them." was the reply that Constantine goes in return. And the older man had no doubt in his mind that that is exactly what he would do. If nothing else - his eldest kept his word.
He looked at his son angry red scratches on his face from where his mother had slapped him, a resolute demeanor about him - and Constantine mentally sighed. This was going to be a train-wreck - there was no way at all this was a proper wife. She wasn't going to be the society wife Marcus was going to need to run his business and she had already proven today that she felt her way was right - and didn't listen…. How were they going to make a marriage and a small business empire work….
Josephine stood and headed for the door, "I do not accept her. I refuse. I don't care what you say - she isn't up for this and I refuse to acknowledge…"
She was cut off by her son, literally getting in her personal space, "I accept her. Pippa and Lucas - they accept her. My friends accept her. What more do I need? Approval from two people whom I could honestly care less about your opinions?" His sneer was cold and his eyes were ice, "From two insignificant and unimportant people? Why should I care at all?"
"You heartless…."
"I am just following your example Mother."
~~
Ginny had refused the offer of a tour from Kaxy. She hadn't let the house elf distract her in any way that she tried, and she only had the one drink, which she nursed for three hours while the Flints fought. There were a couple of times when she almost left the room. When things were suddenly quiet, and she feared for Marcus. But then she'd hear his rumble again, and her heart would start beating.
As their voices neared, she stepped into her shoes and walked into the hallway with her head held high. Marcus' back was toward her, so she cleared her throat softly before stepping up next to him and taking his hand. She hadn't wanted to catch him off guard, but she needed to be next to him.
Fighting against her nature, she held her tongue, but the fight and determination she felt in her heart to prove these idiots wrong sparked in her eyes. Not that she had to prove anything to them. They weren't worth her effort, but Marcus was, and she would try to make his life easier, especially when it came to them.
~~
Marcus felt the presence of Ginny without having to turn around, but in his current state he didn't think about his face or the marks on there. He just turned and didn't calm himself first. So for the first time - she TRULY got to see the icy, cold rage - the set of his jaw, the edge in his eyes, the entire demeanor. This wasn't arguing with a Healer or a drunk in a bar. This was full on rage, down to his core.
Then he turned back to his mother, "I am telling you this now….Mother mine….this witch? Is mine. Her family - is mine. I protect what is mine. So you keep that in mind for whatever little schemes you have cooking in your mind."
He looked up as Constantine approached, "That goes for you as well. If they are a Weasley or connected to a Weasley in ANY way - consider this my warning - they are MINE to protect. My siblings and the people in their lives - MINE. Cross the line and I promise you that this house will not be standing when I am done."
Josephine glared at Ginny from around Marcus, "I do hope that you are satisfied you…."
His hand moved, covering his mother's mouth, "MINE."
He took a step back, "And I am taking Kaxy with us. She is mine after all…..and Ginny might need the help with the season starting and planning a wedding."
~~
The rage wasn't for her, and she knew, in the deepest parts of her heart, that it never would be. The scratches on his face, though, made her temper flare. She could play cold. She could be calm and cool and collected, but her rage was hot. It was the fire to Marcus' ice, and she had her wand pointed at Josephine, though it remained by her hip. Marcus reached her first, stopping whatever she was about to say, but Ginny didn't care about the words.
Her stomach boiled, for she held her anger in her core, and her hands shook. Her hair crackled with electricity as she fought to keep sparks from flying out of her wand. She would not cast the first spell, though Josephine had drawn first blood. When Marcus stepped back, she stepped forward, placing herself squarely at his shoulder, presenting a united front. "As I am his," she said, her voice low and threatening, "he is mine." She stared at Josephine. "Consider those scratches the last time you will ever hurt him."
~~
Josephine glared daggers at both of the them and eventually Marcus took a step back, "I am warning you now…"
Constantine came to the doorway, "Marcus that is your mother…."
Marcus was shaking with rage, "Mother or not, Father or not. I am warning you both - stay away from Ginny and her family - and their families. Stay away from Pips and Lucas and their people. I mean it. You will not like the consequences."
Constantine frowned at Ginny and then ran his eyes over his son. The only time he had ever seen Marcus like this is when he had been going to sign a marriage agreement against Phillipa's will and the rage of his sister not having her own life....well - a cracked rib later Constantine had opted to not sign the contract. And to this day he wondered if his daughter knew….if Lucas knew the lengths their brother went to…
"Are they all worth it Marcus? Are they worth the deals you make for them?"
"Yes." The answer was firm and instantaneous, "They are all worth it. For the sake of the many - isn't that what you used to say Father?"
~~
That question from Constantine made Ginny take a step back. Nothing else would have made her, but his complete disregard for any of them, for his flesh and blood had her floored. "They are your children," she said quietly between clenched teeth. "They are not pawns or deals. They are your children, and you are supposed to love them unconditionally."
She turned to Marcus as her ire manifested in tears, and she watched him as she got herself under control again. "I have a deal for you," she said evenly, her eyes on Marcus' scratched face. When her features and tears were under her control, she turned to his parents again. "You do everything Marcus has told you. You leave Pippa and Lucas to their lives. You keep a civil tongue about my family. And my one stipulation: you let Marcus live his life, and I won't make your life hell. I have six older brothers, and they're all very good at what they do."
Ginny didn't elaborate on that, leaving it to their imaginations instead. "And I know how to play with the press, so don't test me. And maybe try to learn what parents are supposed to be like, or you'll die alone and cold and bitter." She backed up until her shoulder pressed into Marcus', and she sought his hand.
~~
There was a deathly silence in area surround the four of them, "Gin, I think we have made our point…" Marcus said, his voice almost sounding dead it was so flat and emotionless. But if the sight of him - the coldness in his eyes and way he held himself - even moving so Ginny was mostly behind him.
For the first time Constantine truly saw his son as a threat, as someone whom - if he truly wanted - could take away what Constantine held most dear. His power and control. He narrowed his eyes at Marcus - only to get glared down till He did take a step back.
Turning on his heel, and keeping Ginny in front of him, he lead them from the house and to where Kaxy was waiting in front of the house. Marcus was silent, stiff and still radiating rage and a host of other emotions.
~~
Ginny knelt in front of the elf and, in hushed tones, told her where Marcus' house was. "We'll be along soon. Go home," she told the elf gently. "Find somewhere comfortable for you." She straightened and turned to Marcus. Without saying a word, she wrapped his arms around her and disapparated.
With a pop, they landed in the middle of a very secluded island. "No one can hear you here. Only I can see you." Her eyes welled with the tears she managed to suppress at the Flints', but she blew her breath out forcefully to keep them at bay. Ginny put her hand over Marcus' heart. "You gotta get the negative out. It sounds touchy feely, trippy hippy, but you do." A stray tear rolled down her cheek. "Let it out, baby. Don't let them have any sort of power over you."
~~
His hand came up and wiped away the tear from her cheek Without a word he just pulled her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head. Still not speaking a single word. He just held onto her. He felt cold down to his core….and she was warm. So very warm. And she was sad and hurting - and he could help fix that. For him it was better to focus on getting Ginny okay than him. Because what he wanted was to fight.
He wanted to go and get into a bar brawl. He wanted to find someone to push him over the edge so he could let this rage in him some sort of outlet. He wanted to rage and vent and none of that was going to happen here.
But he could start working on getting Ginny to a better place. And so that is what he started to try and do.
~~
Ginny held on to Marcus for several long, quiet moments. Just the crash of the waves on the rocks below the cliffs and the call of puffins could be heard. That, and his heartbeat beneath her ear. She knew what he needed. She'd been paying attention, and she knew how Marcus normally handled this. But Constantine didn't deserve that smugness if Marcus ended up in the papers for brawling.
With some reluctance, she stepped out of the protective circle of his arms and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. Ginny lifted her wand and transfigured a nearby rock into a fighting dummy. She animated it so it'd be able to fight back. "It's not the same as fighting a person, but I can keep this charm going for an hour, and I won't hold back if that's what you need."
She found a rock that wasn't covered in puffin shite and sat down. "I need you to focus on you. If you have to tell yourself you're doing this for me, that's fine. Just get it out, because your heart is too good to let this sit on it."
Her dummy approached Marcus, raising its fists in the defensive.
~~
Marcus shook his head, "Gin, thank you…." His voice was rough and his hands were in fists, "But right now I just…." He ran his fingers through his hair, "I just need to not feel guilty for feeling selfish. I don't see the issue in wanting to be fucking happy. I really don't. And I DON'T regret for an instant anything I have done to keep my parents off my siblings' backs. I would do it again and again for them. Because someone needs to be looking out for them."
His fist came up and game flying at the dummy with what would have knocked a human out - there was so much pent up frustration in him, "And for them to even think of trying to get at me through you and them….." He threw his head back and roared - but it was from deep inside of him - raw and filled with too many emotions to really name. He turned and looked at her, his eyes still ice cold, his demeanor not that much different than before - but he held out his hand.
"Don't tell me what I need….just let me hold you so I can focus on something good….for just a little bit."
~~
Ginny had an internal reaction to that roar that was completely inappropriate for the moment. She filed it away to be explored later. Letting go of her charm, the dummy stopped moving and turned back into a rock. She tucked her wand in her purse and approached him. She wasn't cautious. She didn't fear for her safety, not with Marcus, but she watched him as she took slow, even steps towards him.
She ghosted her fingers over his cheek, careful to miss the welts on one side, and down his jaw. "I'm sorry," she whispered. She thought she was helping by bringing him here and encouraging him to fight something that could fight back but couldn't press charges. But she wasn't. So she did what he asked, and she wrapped her arms around his middle, pressing her cheek against his chest. Ginny held Marcus tightly, rubbing slow circles in his back. When his arms went around her, a thought and a small step brought them to his room.
~~
His arms just stayed around her - willing her warmth to seep into him and warm him. He needed to feel something other than the icy cold that seemed to still be churning in his gut. He pressed his lips to her ear, "This isn't your fault….none of this is. You have tried to help. I know you are. And I can't tell you enough…"
"I am sorry. So sorry. But tonight I am not the man you…." He shook his head and pulled away from her, "I am trying to be a better person - but so help me Ginny - I don't know if I can be a better man. One that you are worthy of because - all I want is a brawl and far too much whiskey...and to rage. Because that is what I do."
"I know you took me the island to give me that outlet - to protect me from the media, to keep it from my father…." he moved and poured them both a healthy serving of whiskey and saluted her with his cup, "But I am afraid this wolf isn't quite that tamed yet….."
~~
She followed him. He pulled away, and she was right behind him when he turned with the glasses in hand. She took hers from him and set it on the sideboard, untouched. "You are the man I love. Even now. Even like this." She took his empty glass and put her full one in his hands. "I tease you about taming you, but that was never my goal." Ginny pushed him towards his chair, making him sit before she climbed into his lap, straddling his hips, and sitting on his thighs so she faced him.
"I don't ever want to share you, Wolfy, but I don't want to tame you, either." She smirked, a devious glint in her eyes. "Where's the fun in that?" She never wanted to see him get hurt, and she sure as shit didn't want Constantine Flint to have the ability to be smug over Marcus' behaviour, but Ginny understood his need to beat things when angry. To rage and let loose the animal within. "You're worthy, Marcus. Not because of what you try to repress or because you're trying to change for my benefit, but because of every part that makes you whole." She kissed him, biting his lower lip with a little more force than usual. "I don't want you to change. I just don't want the fucker who gave you his last name the chance to gloat."
When his glass was empty again, Ginny got up and retrieved the decanter. She poured him another and had one herself. "How much is too much," she asked as she resettled on his lap.
~~
There was a low chuckle and a shake of his head, "Oh, we haven't even started yet…." the ice in his eyes started to crack and melt at her touch, her proximity, the feel of her lips near his. The fact that she wasn't scared of him….in this mood. That she was in all practicality embracing it - was new to him. There were few that stuck around when he was like this and none of them, other than his sister, were women. Most ran until the rage was gone.
Not his fierce Hellcat - she seemed to almost court the animalistic side of him. And that was new.
"Tell me…" His hands went to her hips and he pulled her closer, "Tell me why you aren't running away when so many do. Aren't you scared of me? Of what could happen if you stay so close?"
~~
"No," she replied simply, sliding down his lap as far as the back of the chair allowed. She touched his brow and temple. "Even if I were the cause of this look, I would not run. I would rather fight with you than be without you." Ginny sipped her whiskey, enjoying the burn of the liquid as it moved down her throat.
She shrugged like that was the most obvious answer in the world, and, to her, it was. "Tell me," she said, mimicking his tone, "why you expect me to be like other women. Haven't I proven that I'm not?"
~~
"Not just other women Hellfire - but other people in general. When I got into the very dark and cold place that is a visit to my parents - I seem to have very few people in this world that are willing to share a room with me - let alone my personal space."
He looked up at her , and raised a brow, "Even when I tell you to leave you don't. You are either very brave or very dim - I am going to opt for the brave with very little sense of self preservation. Either way….you just might survive being my wife...which I am still finding rather amazing to be honest…."
~~
Ginny leaned forward, allowing her head to fall to his shoulder. "What personal space?" She laughed against the skin of his neck. "I am incredibly bright, thank you." She pushed up so she was looking down at Marcus. "It would behoove you to remember that." She kissed him briefly before pouring them both another dram.
"I am brave to the point of reckless when it comes to the people I love, Marcus. I don't care what sort of danger that puts me in, if I can stand between you and those who will hurt you, I will." She kissed him again. "Don't be amazed. Embrace it."
~~
"Brave and reckless will get you killed bratling mine." Was all Marcus said with a shake of his head, "But I think tonight - me heading out to a muggle bar - may very well be the best option. Harder to track me and they honestly don't have a clue who I am. So I am just a another loud mouthed Irishman as far as they are concerned."
"And you will be here, tucked safely away - or in your own flat. One of the two. But nowhere near me."
~~
She shook her head. "That's where the incredibly bright comes in." Ginny relaxed against Marcus, making herself dead weight without simply flopping on him. "And if I refuse to let you go? If I suggest you expend that energy in a different way?" She played with the buttons on his shirt, but didn't open any of them.
"I am safest when I am with you, but how long do you think you could stay out with the knowledge that I am in your bed, naked, warm, and lonely?"
~~
Feeling her dead weight against him, Marcus shook his head, she was either vastly over estimating how strong he was or how heavy she was, "I wouldn't really suggest it…." was his firm response, "In my head space right now…..I could hurt you. I could mark you ...I could hurt you. And I don't want to do either in this way - baby I can't hurt you. That would kill me…"
"The fact that I am not throwing you to the bed right now and plundering your many charms….that alone should tell you I am not entirely myself."
~~
Ginny smirked against his neck. "Plunder?" She pressed a kiss to Marcus' throat. "I think this is more telling that you're not exactly yourself." She pushed herself up so she was looking down at him again. "I'll be here when you get back, to nurse whatever cuts and bruises you receive." She carefully kissed the skin above the scratches on his cheek.
She stood and found she was a little unsteady on her feet. She couldn't remember when she'd last eaten, and she felt every drop of whiskey in her system. "You'll be less likely to be arrested if it's self-defense, so don't throw the first punch."
~~
Marcus raised a brow and kissed her forehead, "I think you are under the impression that this is my first time in this place. Darling, the last time I was arrested I was going after a specific man for a specific reason. This time I am under different stressors. I mean - i am not going after a moron that put you in harms way this time."
He headed for his closet to change clothes, and called over his shoulder, "So the chances of me being arrested are much smaller."
~~
Ginny had been making her way to his bed, but she spun when he spoke. "I knew it!" She followed him to the closet and leaned against the wall by the door. "You never said, but the way you reacted to it." She shook her head. "When you're in a better mood, I will tease you about that." She ran her fingers down his bare back. "And I will thank you for it properly."
She watched him change, her head resting against the door frame. She was suddenly exhausted, and Marcus had been the one to do most of the emotional lifting. "Be as safe as possible," she whispered.