InsaneJournal

It was past three a.m. by the time Cambina left the office. All she wanted was to curl up and sleep and not think about what had happened on shift. There was dirt and blood smudged on her face, but she would shower in the morning. Sleep was more important, at least for a few hours. She apparated without thinking, not considering where she was going until the door didn't open with the first flick of her wand. Grumbling, she kicked the door with her boot before resting her head against the doorframe. Why was she here? Sighing, she took a deep breath and focused, working on undoing the wards as quickly as she could. She really didn't want anyone catching her out here.

Will had decided to go to bed less than an hour earlier, which was actually an early night for him. It was the kick to the door that woke him up, having him instantly sit up in bed, carefully listening for any more signs there was actually a possible intruder and it wasn't something at the neighbours. But when there were indicators the wards were being messed with, he was on his feet in a moment, grabbing his wand and stalking towards the door.

He had no idea who would be out there, but he had no patience for people trying to mess with him. Silently, Will walked those last few steps towards the door, cautious as he pressed the tip of his wand against the door itself. He already had a list of spells in his mind he'd like to inflict on any potential thieves, but first he wanted to catch them unawares.

Muttering the spell under his breath, Will sent out a powerful shockwave through the door before throwing it open, wand ready to fire off the moment he had a visual on the culprit.

The shockwave made Bina stumble backwards. "Salazar's cock," she grumbled, her lip still swollen from a stray elbow she'd caught in the face during the call on shift. It took a moment or two for her to realise the door was open, and she looked up briefly, her eyes full of emotion before she glanced down at her boots and moved to shuffle past him. "I didn't want to wake you up."

Will just stared for a moment, a mix of shock and confusion that looked new on him given his usual controlled expressions. "Bina? What are you-" He cut himself off at the look she gave him. Of all the things he'd expected this could be...Bina at his door looking uncharacteristically vulnerable was not on the list. Will stepped aside to let her shuffle past and into his flat, glancing around down the hall before he followed her and closed the door behind them. "It's fine, really. What happened?"

Bina shook her head. She couldn't talk about it. Even if she had permission to talk about it, which was unlikely, she didn't want to. Instead, she made her way to the bedroom, hoping it was unoccupied. Not that it matter, she could get rid of a fling easily enough. She sank down on the edge of the thankfully empty bed, and began to unlace the combat boots she tended to favor for work, her fingers fumbling with the laces.

Will let her go ahead, staying back for a moment to check the wards and fix anything she'd managed to undo. He wasn't sure what to make of this, it was new and it threw him slightly...but if she had come to him in such a state he had to admit that was something to his advantage. A significant one.

When he got to the bedroom, thank salazar he hadn't had anyone over or it could ruin this, he found her fumbling with her laces. He flicked his wand slightly to undo them for her before he sat down on the other side of the bed so she could keep her back to him and have her moment. It was best to let people have those he found, let them ease into things more. "Let me fix that lip at least?" He kept his tone quiet, just above a whisper even though there was nobody to overhear.

She managed to kick the boots off, letting them fall haphazardly on the floor. Her dragonhide jacket followed soon after before she stood up to wiggle out of the matching pants. Stepping out of them, she kicked them aside. She'd need to get them cleaned now, after tonight. She slipped her bra off from under her shirt and let it drop, leaving herself in knickers and a sleeveless shirt - much more than she usually wore to bed. The shirt was dirty but she didn't want to change. She sunk back onto the bed, shoulders slumping as she stared at the floor.

"Tomorrow." Everything could be fixed tomorrow. Tomorrow she'd shower, fix the cuts and bruises she could feel spreading on her body. Tomorrow she'd get her clothes cleaned, and go back to work and do it all over again.

Will waited patiently as she undressed, adding nothing until she sank back onto the bed. If she didn't want anything fixed now that was fine, it wasn't that important. He put his wand away and turned back before laying back on the bed next to her. "Alright. Tomorrow then, we'll fix you up and get breakfast." He turned his head slightly to watch her, trying to get a better read on what sort of state her mind was in. Clearly something had happened, but what wasn't important in the scheme of things.

Bina wiggled under the covers, moving until she could feel Will's body pressing against hers, though she kept her face turned away. It was a far cry from her usual playful, exhibitionist self that she usually was around Will, collapsing and sprawling across his bed naked and exhausted after a night of enthusiastic sex. This was different. She wasn't sure why she had come here, but she didn't want to be alone right now. There were good days and bad days at work. And lately, most days were frustrating. Tonight, however, had been not so good. Nestled up against him, she shivered slightly.

This was new territory to say the least, and he had to tread carefully. But even without getting a good look at her face it seemed like she just didn't want to be alone at the moment, and he wanted her to think she could come to him for that. Will turned slightly to wrap his arms around her as she nestled against him, pressing a kiss to the tip of her shoulder but saying nothing else.

Bina pulled his arm tight around her, clutching at his hand as she clenched her eyes. She would be fine in the morning, but for once, she just didn't want to fuck it all away. She just wanted someone to hold her, to make it okay. Even if it was all a lie.

At her tug, Will wrapped his arms around her tighter, pulling her against him more so that between him and the covers she'd feel enveloped and warm. He kissed the side of her neck, though there was nothing suggestive about it like there normally would be, it was more just a comforting action to say he was there. "It'll be alright," he said quietly. "It'll be fine."

Gradually, she relaxed, her breathing slowing down, though her grip on Will's hand didn't lessen. She knew she needed to sleep before going back into the office, but it was hard. Eventually, she drifted off, clutching Will's hand like a child might clutch a teddy bear or safety blanket.

Will stayed like that, holding her close and letting her clutch his hand until she fell asleep. This was a new side of her, and he had to consider the implications. Maybe he could pull this off, he'd been a little doubtful before but if he was the one she came to when it was late and night and she didn't want to be alone...then maybe he had a better chance than he suspected.





In the morning, Cambina woke before William, slipping out of bed and into the shower. It was a bit unusual that he didn't join her, but then her actions yesterday had been very unusual. She scrubbed her body thoroughly before wrapping herself in one of the familiar towel and setting herself in front of the mirror, healing the minor cuts, scrapes and bruises that she could see. Satisfied that she looked much more like herself, she headed back into the bedroom. Leaning over, she brushed her lips against Will's. "Should I make coffee? Or are you planning on staying in bed all day?"

Will peaked open one eye at the question, as if he hadn't been awake ever since she slipped out of bed. In normal circumstances he'd join her, but given last night...he couldn't be sure what sort of mindset she was in. He figured it'd be a safer bet to give her that space and the time to herself to fix up the damage from whatever had made last night on the job so terrible. She'd been vulnerable last night, knowing her he didn't think she wanted to show that side the next morning too.

"Coffee is good," he agreed lazily and kissed her as one hand snaked around her waist to pull her down on top of him. "Though I'd be lying if I said the other option wasn't tempting."

Bina hadn't thought he was actually asleep, but there were some things that were just accepted between them - faking sleep, strike outs in journal posts. They just moved on. She let herself be pulled on top of him, straddling Will as the towel rode up her thighs. Leaning down, she kissed him again, her damp hair falling over her face. "I can't make coffee in bed."

Will propped himself up on his elbows and gave her half a smile. "And here I thought you were a woman of many talents," he teased. "Depends. When's your shift today?" He left it open if she wanted to mention last night's shift. The whole night had been unusual, from her sudden appearance at his door, her emotional state, to just the fact that they'd just slept. If it didn't come up, it didn't come up, and it could be added to the list of things they just accepted and didn't talk about.

"Oh I am," Cambina said, rolling her hips just enough to remind him of some of her talents that he was familiar with. "Eight a.m., but I was planning to go in early to get a head start on paperwork." She had worked both day and evening shifts yesterday, but that had become standard practice around the office, Aurors putting in double shifts.

"Another double shift or do I get the pleasure of your company this evening?" He sat up on his hands now. Last night hadn't been one of the nights they usually spent together, but they were nothing if not flexible, and if she wanted to skip tonight or avoid him some he could still work with that.

Bina's hand trailed down his chest. "I can probably make it back by 10.. unless something comes up." She kissed him again, her teeth catching his lower lip. "The real question is how much do you want that coffee?"

"Let's hope it doesn't." Will smirked and tilted his head at her slightly at the next question as his hand went back around her waist. "Well actually...quite a bit." The smirk became more shark like as he suddenly flipped them over, covers tangling between them as he hovered over. "Means we have to make the distractions from coffee worth it."

That earned a growl from Cambina as she tugged the covers out of the way before hooking her legs around William to pull him down against her. "Oh, I'm sure I can make it worth your while," she said, dragging her teeth along Will's neck. "As long as you don't make me late."

"Don't worry, I'll have you finished in time," Will grinned, a positively feral one. This was ideal, if after last night he could bring them back to a normal like this come morning...well that just folded the previous night into their new normal that they didn't talk about. Maybe it'd show her that she could come to him in those moments, be vulnerable, and it'd just be part of their unsaid new normal. If that worked...it'd be a significant step in the right direction for him.

"Just make sure you do a thorough job," Bina teased with an impish smirk, tugging on his hair as she pulled him down for a rough kiss. "I don't want to have to finish up what you started."

"As if I'd do any less," Will winked with a smirk before responding in kind. His teeth tugged on her bottom lip with only a pause for a low whisper against her lips. "Wouldn't be right to start your day off on a tease."