HIGGS, terence. (higgles) wrote in reduxpitch, @ 2016-11-29 10:51:00 |
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Entry tags: | !thread, character: gemma higgs, character: regulus black, character: terence higgs, location: st. mungo's |
who ? regulus black and terence higgs, then gemma higgs
when ? backdated to late sunday afternoon, 27th november
where ? st mungo's
what ? gemma's not dying
status ? complete
Regulus was aware that, as his relationship with Gemma became more serious, sooner or later he would have to meet her family. He had no reason to specifically not want to meet her family, apart from the fact that he worked with her mother. And the age difference. And the fact that most people, on meeting the quiet and paranoid Regulus, would have no idea what Gemma saw in him.
Still, he was too worried about her wellbeing to turn down a chance to visit her, and he supposed now was as good a time as ever to meet her brother. Caffeine was a very important part of being an Unspeakable, and he knew exactly where to get some excellent coffee. All the better that Terence wanted it black, really - no guesswork involved on the sugar and cream front. Although most of Regulus’s brainpower went to worrying about Gemma, he had to admit that he wanted quite badly to make a good impression.
Thus he arrived at the hospital with two coffees, and arrived on the third floor in no time. “Er, hello,” he said when he spotted a man who must be Terence, because nobody else of the right age was around in the hallway at the moment. “I’m Regulus. I hope you like the coffee.”
*
After his coffee break with Siobhan, Higgs felt better. Partially, because she’d actually managed to get him some coffee that didn’t taste like a paintstripper, but also talking to Siobhan had calmed Higgs’ worries a bit. Mostly, though, he felt better because Gemma had finally woken up and the healers didn’t seem to think she was experiencing any side effects, past what would be expected from a concussion anyway. They’d told Higgs to wait outside whilst they run some tests again. He’d set his parents off to the coffee shop Siobhan had taken him to, insisting that they should caffeinate. Pippa was off somewhere demanding healers tell her things, which Higgs trusted they would because Pippa could be very scary when she wanted to.
Right now, as Higgs waited for the healers to do whatever it was they were doing to Gemma, he was sat across from the room, trying to decide whether telling Gemma she had fallen off the broom because of too many eaten cakes was appropriate just yet, when he was distracted by Gemma’s boyfriend. “Hi,” Higgs greeted standing up, holding his hand out to Regulus. “Higgs,” he introduced himself before frowning slightly. “Well, I suppose you can call me Terence if that’s less confusing,” which it might be, Higgs supposed, seeing how Regulus was already dating a Higgs.
“It can’t be worse than what they have here,” Higgs assured reaching for the cup and giving a little cheers with it to Regulus. “They’re doing some more tests, but the healers have assured us she’ll be fine,” Higgs told Regulus, sitting back down.
--
“Higgs,” Regulus repeated, mildly surprised, but he supposed the young man had the right to go by whatever he was comfortable with. Regulus associated going by one’s surname with Hogwarts-aged kids, but it didn’t bother him much. At least he called Gemma’s mother by her first name, and would presumably do the same with her father when they met. Hopefully that would not be today. “Higgs is good.”
Regulus raised his own cup as well, and then took a sip of the coffee. “More tests?” he said, worried in spite of the news. “I’m glad. I mean, usually Quidditch accidents, if they aren’t immediately - well, usually since it’s only physical damage, it’s quite all right in the end.” Of course, he could name at least a dozen incidents in the past which had not ended well, but “fine” meant “not maimed” as well as alive, surely. “Were you at the game?”
*
“More tests,” Higgs confirmed with a nod. “Though, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. It’s just that she was unconscious so they need make sure she hasn’t got like... brain damage,” he explained, giving a small shrug before taking a sip of his coffee, which really was a great improvement to the type of coffee he had been able to find at the hospital. “Which, she doesn’t,” he added. Though, they hadn’t quite confirmed that, but the healers had all been rather positive that there would be no permanent damage and the broken arm would heal perfectly fine for Gemma to return to gameplay in no time. Higgs daren’t to imagine what would happen if she couldn’t.
At Regulus’ question, Higgs gave a small shake of his head. “No, I was at work,” he replied. “Got an owl. I’m Gemma’s emergency contact,” he noted. When they’d become each other’s emergency contacts, Higgs hadn’t quite expected that he would be the one being notified. It did make him feel like he owed Gemma another apology for when he’d been in the hospital.
Leaning back into his chair, Higgs turned to look at Regulus better. “How did you and my sister meet again?” He asked sure that Gemma must’ve told him but not being quite able to recall just now.
--
“Good,” Regulus said, after the momentary near-heart attack. Brain damage was one of the few injuries magic didn’t find it easy to fix. At least Gemma was going to be all right.
“Oh, I see,” he said, mildly surprised by the news of Higgs being her emergency contact. He would have assumed it was one of her parents; it never would have occurred to Regulus to make Sirius his emergency contact when their mother had still been alive, in spite of the strangeness in their family. Still, it was rather sweet that the Higgs siblings were so close, and it made him relax a little. This was a good thing, meeting Higgs, even if it was under unfortunate circumstances.
That was an awkward question, if only because they’d met under less than ordinary circumstances. “At a pub,” Regulus said. “I was meeting a colleague, but he was late. Your sister struck up a conversation with me. It was quite nice. So after that we became friendly, saw each other occasionally.” Nothing unusual, save that it was blind luck that he’d even been in a pub, since he didn’t drink and rarely went to such places on his own. How they’d gotten together romantically was more of a story, and he found himself silently praying that Higgs either already knew or wouldn’t ask, because “she had a possibly-prophetic dream” was getting into bizarre territory for a first conversation.
*
The surprise, albeit how small, didn’t escape Higgs’ attention and he gave a small shrug. “It was mostly for me,” he explained despite Regulus not having asked. “I used to be in the army,” Higgs told him. “So as morbid as it might seem, I didn’t want news of my death to come from a stranger to my parents,” which did still mean it would’ve to Gemma, but fortunately for all of them, that particular message had never had to be delivered. Even if Higgs didn’t doubt that ‘your brother’s in the ICU’ was a great message to receive either.
Higgs nodded when Regulus said they had met in the pub and then chuckled when the other man told him Gemma had struck up a conversation with him. “Of course, she did,” Higgs confirmed. Gemma, bless her, was a lot like Higgs in her ability and wish to talk to complete strangers. They were both extroverted individuals, but Gemma probably more so than Higgs. “And you’ve been dating for a few months now?” He asked sure that it must’ve been at least a couple now. Him and Gemma didn’t necessarily talk much about their relationships, but now that he was trying to think back on it, Higgs did recall one they’d had about sex. He doubted Regulus particularly wanted Higgs to bring that up right now.
--
It was all Regulus could do not to ask “what army.” It really wasn’t any of his business, or the kind of thing he assumed people would enjoy discussing with near-strangers. “It makes sense to me,” he said instead. “You have to choose somebody, and I think - it would be easier for a sibling than a parent.” He had personal experience in that matter, after all. One of his greatest regrets in life was that the only way he could fake his death was by hoodwinking the family tapestry, and thereby ensuring his mother would be the first to know. Guilt crossed his face for a brief moment before he pulled himself together. “People have to think of these things,” he said. “We’re not immortal, after all.”
Definitely not. Regulus didn’t even talk about sex with Gemma yet, and he didn’t especially want to detail his weirdness to her brother. “Since the middle of September,” he confirmed. “It’s been really...good.” Between her busy schedule with practice and his tendency to overwork, they didn’t actually go out as often as he wished, admittedly. Still, he was at present feeling quite confident in the relationship.
*
Higgs did agree, hence why he had chosen Gemma. There had also been issues with whether Alicia could, or rather should, be his emergency contact when they had separated. Nonetheless, Higgs appreciated the fact that Gemma had been, if not happy, then perhaps accepting, of his request to become his emergency contact. In turn, he had become hers, since it seemed easier. Writing owls to their parents and grandparents and excusing why he hadn’t sent one to Pippa, that had not been very pleasant. But at least Gemma’s condition now was stable and their parents had gone off to get coffee rather than overcrowd the healers demanding progress reports. Higgs had no doubt they already had their hands full with Pippa doing so.
When Regulus said that it had been good, Higgs smiled. “Good,” he confirmed. “Gemma’s been very happy,” he commented honestly. Higgs knew that it was his sister’s first proper relationship and whilst there were clearly some issues there, she still seemed perfectly happy, which was the only thing Higgs truly cared about in the whole situation.
Glancing up at the door as some of the healers emerged, Higgs gave a small shake of his head. “You better get in there quick before Pippa returns,” he told Regulus. “I think she’s in the process of reorganising the whole hospital,” probably. Reaching out, Higgs brought a rather hard pat down on Regulus’ shoulder. “If you were worried about meeting me, let me promise you, I’ve got nothing on Pippa,” he told the other man with a grin that in every way implied that Higgs thought Regulus meeting Pippa would be hilarious.
--
Regulus was, of course, aware that Gemma was happy to be dating him, but a shy smile still crossed his face at hearing it confirmed by her brother. “Good,” he said. “I try to make her happy. I’ve been really enjoying our time together.” They should’ve had dinner instead of her having all these tests, but he was grateful that Higgs had invited him to come to St. Mungo’s at all.
“I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Pippa yet,” Regulus admitted. “Though if she’s as friendly as you, I hope it won’t be too bad.” It was quite clear it would be that bad, but hey, you had to have hope. “You will poke your head in if your parents return, won’t you? I know it’s perfectly absurd, but...” Well, this would be the least optimal time ever for that conversation, and Higgs had promised. He tried not to flinch at the way Higgs patted his shoulder. It was probably meant to be friendly, and Sirius was the same way, but Regulus wasn’t a touchy-feely sort of guy. Even with his girlfriend, sometimes.
*
“Yes,” Higgs confirmed when Regulus asked if he’d tell them of Gemma and Higgs’ parents return. He did opt for not telling Regulus that Pippa was perfectly friendly, just also quite scary if you even thought of crossing someone she loved. The Higgs-Flints had always been very protective of each other, but that had also come with being supportive of each other. Higgs couldn’t really think of any of them ever outright being rude to someone else’s boyfriend or girlfriend. It probably helped that mostly they all made exceptionally good choices in who they dated. Even if it didn’t work out, they were all reasonable people who felt no need to overreact to things. They were also all Slytherins, which made the situation more calculated and less dramatic. Apart from Gemma, who Higgs was still sure had snuck into Hufflepuff just because she could.
Nodding towards the room Gemma was in, Higgs smiled. “Go on,” he encouraged. “I’ll stand guard,” he added with a smirk. “Tell you when to sneak out through the window and everything,” Higgs said amused. It was quite fun, Higgs didn’t think he’d ever had to sneak people Gemma liked in or out of anywhere.
--
Regulus knew how to deal with Slytherins, being one himself, and since he had no intention of ever causing Gemma the least bit of distress, he shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Still, he did worry, mainly that her loved ones would find him wanting. At least this conversation had gone pretty well.
“Thank you,” he told Higgs with a smile. “It’s much appreciated, believe me. I know it’s absurd, but this would not be a good time.” Never would be a good time, but he knew holding out for that was even more ridiculous.
Slipping into the room, Regulus offered Gemma a small smile. “Hey there,” he said, trying to hide the way his chest twisted painfully at the sight of her in a hospital bed.
*
Gemma hadn't been awake for very long but she was already sick of being in the hospital bed. Everything smelt weird. Also she didn't like being told that she not only had to stay in hospital overnight but she had to stay in bed and couldn't even wander around to look at different walls. The details of the crash and how it had happened were still kind of fuzzy aside from the part where she remembers trying to veer away and then vaguely recalling seeing Elonzo put onto a stretcher. Everything else was in that hazy vague dream-like state at the moment.
She'd been glad that when she had woken up it had been to familiar faces rather than that of a Healer she didn't know from the next. Gemma was also grateful for the succession of visitors as it certainly made everything seem far less dreary and saved her from worrying about her broken limb, even if she couldn't quite remember much from the conversations with her head feeling foggy. Though she couldn't recall the words said Gemma could recall, with some amusement, when Pippa had arrived and not long after started arguing with the Healers.
However, it wasn't long before her brother, parents, and Pippa, had been asked to leave so the Healers could carry out more tests and make absolutely sure there weren't any lingering problems for the time being. After being thoroughly poked and prodded once again she was soon alone once more. Gemma took the opportunity to close her eyes and just rest for a little while. Then she heard the soft clip of shoes against the floor and frowned thinking it was Healers coming to poke her some more. So Gemma simply pretended that she'd fallen asleep and hoped it was enough to fool whoever had come to check on her. At first her brain didn't quite register that the other person was actually Regulus and not what she thought was a Healer who happened to sound like him. In opening her eyes, so that she could glare and tell the Healer off and that no she had had quite enough of being poked at already thankyouverymuch, she saw instead that it was Regulus and she immediately brightened up.
"Hey," she returned, a genuine smile on her face. "I think I missed our dinner date."
--
“Technically, yes,” Regulus allowed, stepping closer to the bed. Having no idea how much pain she might or might not be in, he hesitated to reach out and touch her, though he did pull a chair up. “Under the circumstances, I think this is an acceptable excuse. I won’t hold it against you, I promise.”
It was hard to see her in a hospital bed like this, even if she didn’t look too ill and he knew things were going to be okay. Something about the lighting that made her look gaunt and pale - it tugged at his heart. He cleared his throat. “Your brother said I ought to come,” he said. “So I did. He’s very nice.”
*
There was a little sigh of disappointment when Gemma saw him hesitating in reaching out to touch her only to sit down instead. "You're not going to hurt me by just a little touch or if you were to hold my hand. Well, you might if you tug on this hand" she told him as she gestured with her free hand to the broken arm, which was currently immobilised to let the Skele-Gro do its work. "I'm glad you won't hold it against me. Though if you had brought dinner with you, you would've made me very happy. Hospital food leaves much to desire."
Gemma smiled, having wondered how Regulus knew where to come. Plus she was rather proud of Regulus for actually reaching out and contacting her brother. "I'm glad you did. And see, I told you, he's not scary at all," she said with a slight matter-of-fact tone to her voice. "Did you meet Pippa too? She was in here a little while ago."
--
“Oh, good,” he said, relieved, and gently reached out to lace his fingers with hers. “Are you in a lot of pain?” She looked okay and didn’t seem to be high on painkiller potions, but you never knew. She might be quite good at hiding it. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even think of that. I could go and come back with something?” Regulus didn’t especially want to leave, though, especially if their time might be limited by other loved ones returning.
He smiled back. “No, he’s not scary,” he agreed. “I’m afraid I did not have that pleasure, though perhaps she’ll come back soon. Your brother promised to alert me immediately if your parents were to arrive.” Regulus was definitely not ready for that.
*
Gemma smiled and then shook her head no. "At least not too much? They did give me something just before you came in but I'm not sure it's quite kicked in yet," she replied. She chuckled. "No, that's fine. I don't think I want you to go quite yet." Even if it did mean there would be the promise of something far more pleasant than whatever it was that the hospital classed as food.
"It seems a little silly to say but I'm actually proud of you for reaching out to my brother," she said gifting him with a smile. "Pippa's a force of nature, though in a good way. We've been friends for quite a long time. Oh… that's nice of Tens to do." Gemma knew quite well that Regulus was hoping to avoid that particular meeting for as long as possible, or at the very least meeting her mother in a capacity other than work.
"How are you doing?" she asked. It may have only been a few days or so since they last talked but her sense of time was just a little fuzzy on particulars at the moment. Plus she didn't think they should be talking just about her.
--
“I don’t want to go either,” he murmured. “I’ll bring dinner over for you when you get out, how does that sound?” It should only be a day or two...he hoped. As long as the tests found nothing else wrong.
Regulus blushed a little at that, and gave her a shy smile. “I needed to find out if you were okay,” he said. “And it’s about time I met him. That’s about how he made Pippa sound, too.” For a moment the nickname confused him, and then he added, “He told me to call him Higgs.” No doubt all of Terence’s friends called him by his surname, but Regulus wondered if that was odd for Gemma.
He shrugged. “I’ve been fine,” he said. “I’ve been...I think I’m going to tell my brother. About us.”
*
"I'd like that," she replied with a smile, though her voice had a slight mellow tone to it. Gemma was hoping it wouldn't be too long before she was out either; particularly since they seemed to have ruled her suffering any brain damage as a result of the accident.
"Pippa means well, she's just very protective of those she cares about," she added. "That sounds about right. It's just kind of stuck over from our Hogwarts days I suppose. I think our parents, gran and great-grandparents are the only ones to call him Terence." Though it had been some time since either of them had seen their gran's parents and so she couldn't rightly remember if they did or not. "My nickname came about because I could never properly say Terence when I first started talking and it just stuck really."
"I'm gla… Oh," she responded when Regulus mentioned telling Sirius about them. "Are you sure? I mean, I think it's a good thing if you do but I know you were kind of wary about it…"
--
“That’s cute,” Regulus said with a grin. “Must be a sister thing. My brother and I never had anything like that. I mean, he calls me Reg, but that’s not exactly uncommon.”
His smile faded into seriousness at that, and he bit his lip, gently turning her hand over. His thumb idly caressed her skin. “I was,” he said. “He’ll tease, and it’ll mean that this...it won’t be just between us anymore. I liked holding it close, and - intimate, I guess. But this made me realise that if something were to happen to one of us, I couldn’t...” He shook his head. If something serious happened to her, he would have nowhere to turn. And if something happened to him, which given his work and the recent Death Eater-related threats, was a real possibility, then Gemma would be left writing to his brother for answers, only his brother would be clueless.
*
"Might be. Though Terence is a very difficult word for a two year old, you know," she said in a mock-serious tone. Gemma was getting the feeling the painkiller potion she'd been given was kicking in because she was starting to feel very much in a drowsy-wanting-to-snuggle kind of mood - except she was stuck in a bed and couldn't easily snuggle against Regulus. It was terrible and making her pout.
"Might not though, and if he is then I'll just have to tell him off," she commented. Gemma smiled gently at him and reassuringly squeezed his hand, noting the worried tone and how he trailed off. "Which is perfectly normal to want, and I didn't mind really. I know... and maybe at some point when this isn't so fresh we could talk about it or plan or something?" She didn't like considering the possibility of something happening to Regulus but considering her accident earlier it was perhaps the right, and grown up, thing to do.
"Mm, I wish I could snuggle against you," she mumbled drowsily, not particularly aware of what she'd just said.
--
“This is true,” Regulus agreed. “A very difficult word. Borderline unfair, really.”
He nodded to that. There wasn’t all that much they could plan, save to, perhaps, do something like make sure the hospital would add them to each other’s allowed visitor lists. That wouldn’t make them family in extreme cases, of course, but it was a start.
“Really?” he asked with another shy smile. “Here? That bed is so small.” He glanced anxiously at the door, and though he wasn’t quite prepared to climb into bed with her in public, he did scoot the chair as close as he could and lean in to press his forehead to hers.
*
"More like completely unfair," she said jokingly. Though since it had stuck around well into adulthood her brother had never minded the childish moniker and neither had she minded the one he gifted her with.
"Mhmm, I like snuggling with you," she murmured, smiling kind of dreamily when she felt Regulus' forehead against her own. "S'not that small really. Not really very comfy either." Gemma blinked trying to keep her eyes open. "I think those potions might be kicking in," she mumbled.
--
“Snuggling is nice,” Regulus agreed softly. “Perhaps after that dinner I promised you, we can curl up by the fire.” He squeezed her hand. “You need to rest after this ordeal. I’ll stay as long as I can, all right? There’s no need for conversation.”
*
"Snuggling is very nice. So is kissing," she sleepily informed him. "That sounds very nice too." Gemma nodded in easy agreement. Because if she hadn't been feeling drowsy as a result of the pain relief starting to work she likely would've debated the rest issue, especially if it meant having to stay in the dreary hospital. "Okay. Maybe should tell Tens in case… parents or Pippa come back…"
--
Regulus smiled at that and lifted her hand to his lips to give it a gentle kiss. “Yes. That too,” he agreed softly. “Shall I go and fetch him?” If she was going to fall asleep, it was only fair to make sure her brother had a moment with her. Though he was reluctant to let her go, he did, and hurried to open the door and peek outside.
“Higgs, Gemma is asking for you.”
*
After Regulus had gone in to see Gemma, Higgs had returned to what he’d done before the man had arrived, which was mostly just sitting round. Higgs was becoming very closely acquainted with the journal on different canal boats. Why St Mungo’s felt that was good, or even appropriate, reading for those waiting to see their poorly relatives and friends, Higgs had no idea, but he was nonetheless learning a great deal about particular designs of narrowboats. When Regulus peeked out of the room to tell Higgs that Gemma was asking for him, it really was a blessing because Higgs had no desire to learn about engines in narrowboats.
Walking into the room, Higgs gave a small laugh at the doped up look Gemma gave him. Getting to the bed, Higgs reached out to brush Gemma’s hair out of her face, leaning down to press a soft kiss against her forehead. “You look high as fuck, Gemlin,” he told his sister, amusement clear in his voice.
--
Gemma very maturely stuck her tongue out at her brother. "I would flip you off but I don't think I could manage to lift my arm right now," she said with a pout. "Which is unfair, like your name... very unfair..."
The moment she started to yawn Gemma covered her mouth with the back of her free hand. "Sorry, think I'm getting sleepy... wanted to say bye before sleep," she said drowsily. "Wanted snuggles but Regulus said the bed was too small. But he did promise snuggling after dinner soon when I'm out..." Gemma's words were spaced out with pauses and started trailing off the sleepier she started to feel. If she hadn't been feeling so doped up and sleepy she might've actually felt a bit guilty for putting that out there and likely making Regulus feel just a bit awkward; as it was she was mostly just thinking 'sleep' and 'why no snuggling?'.
--
Regulus immediately blushed at the mention of snuggling, which was far more than he wanted Higgs to know about their physical relationship. No taking it back now, of course, and he could hardly blame Gemma for babbling while on medication like that. He reached down to pat her hand.
“Sleep well,” he told her. “I’ll come back if they keep you more than a day, all right? Otherwise I’ll see you when you get home.” He gave Terence a sheepish smile. “Enjoy that coffee, Higgs.” He’d stay another minute or two like he’d promised, until she actually did fall asleep, but it seemed like it wouldn’t be long at all.
*
"Mmm 'kay," she murmured, nodding sleepily and snuggling further into her bed as much as her arm allowed. Gemma vaguely registered his words, at least the part about hur duration at the hospital, and certainly hoped she wasn't going to be stuck there for more than a day. There wasn't much in the way of Quidditch to get back to since, aside from practises, the Falcons last match had been their last before the end of year break for the league. But Gemma certainly didn't want to be stuck in hospital with the dreary walls and terrible food, and Healers constantly poking and prodding. No, she would be very glad to be back in her own bed as soon as possible.
--
Higgs did give an amused chuckle when Gemma went on a long rant about how Regulus had refused her snuggles but she would’ve liked some. “I’m sure you can have all the snuggles when you feel better, Gemlin,” Higgs assured, giving Regulus a grin over his shoulder that very much implied that Higgs knew Gemma would be unlikely to say this in front of him if she hadn’t been high as fuck.
When Gemma finally seemed to drift off, Higgs gave Regulus a nod towards the door. “Best go quick, I think my parents are on their way back,” he told the other man. “Though, I think neither of them have the time to be here tomorrow morning, so it’s your window of opportunity,” Higgs informed him with a smile. “I’m sure Gemma would love for you to visit again,” which Higgs felt rather confident in saying. “Especially if there’s snuggling,” he added far more teasingly, leading them both out of Gemma’s room.