My Fears Tell Me I'll Never Win (Victoire)

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It was his day off and Rory was enjoying himself. He spent the morning in Diagon Alley, looking for ingredients for potions he might need and glancing in other stores. He met with a few friends and enjoyed himself, as he generally did around people that he knew. However, Rory didn't want to spend all day in Diagon Alley, so after a while he took his things home. After putting everything away, he decided to go on a walk in muggle London. 

Rory liked walking around muggle London, and it was something he did quite frequently. Today he didn't really have anywhere specific he was going, just wandering. He did all his real shopping in Diagon Alley. However, after walking for a while he got a little hungry and decided to go into a shop to grab a pastry or something. He went to the bakery counter and told the young woman there what he wanted. She got it for him and he thanked her, backing away and making his way through the store to the front so he could pay for it and be on his way.

@victoire

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Vic had convinced Teddy to let her go grocery shopping by herself, something she hadn't done in months. She knew she should have stayed in wizard territory in case she needed help but... she didn't want to see anyone. So, she went to the muggle grocers and just hoped for the best. She wouldn't be using magic so she would be fine, right?

Wrong. She hadn't even been their fifteen minutes and she started to get dizzy. Typical Vic, trying to do more than she was ready for too early on. She should have let Teddy come with her, should have walked around inside their hideout a little more before going out in public. But no, she was told only two days ago that she was on the mend and here she was, jumping up and getting right down to it without taking care of herself gradually. But she didn't, and she was about to pass out in the grocery store.

She reached for the nearest person, who happened to be a guy walking past, and clutched his arm before her knees his the floor. "I'm okay, I'm okay..." she muttered. But then she looked up. She recognized him. He was a medi-wizard. Her eyes widened, would he recognize the previous Minister for Magic?

@rory

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Rory froze, surprised when someone grabbed his arm. He turned to the side, surprised to see a young woman who was sinking to the floor, repeating over and over that she was okay. She looked up at him and his eyes widened as he recognized her. She was the former Minister for Magic. "Hey, what's going on," he said, sinking to his knees beside her as well. She was grabbing his arm after all so he wanted to make sure she was comfortable. "Miss Weasley, are you all right?" He asked softly, concern in his eyes. He was sure she was here in a muggle shop because she didn't want to be recognized (surely there was no other reason, right?) so he didn't call her Minister. And she wasn't that anymore either. She'd resigned. And disappeared. Now she was back?

@victoire

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He asked her what was going on and knelt beside her. She had seen him work before, considering all the bad things that happened while she was minister. He was one of the first responders. She shook her head, her eyes welling with tears. "I'm sick," she said softly. Him saying her name, 'Miss Weasley', gave her immense comfort, though. She was glad to be recognized for once. She bit down on her lip and then looked back up at him. "I need help getting home... what's your name?" she asked. Normally she didn't really like asking for help, but she also knew that she wouldn't get it if she didn't ask for it. At least in some situations. "I've been staying at home because I've been sick - please, please don't tell anyone," she said softly. "But I need to get back."

@rory

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She was about to cry and Rory felt bad for her. She was younger than him and something was obviously wrong. Then she said that she was sick and his eyebrows furrowed in a little concern. "Sick ... with what?" he asked, wanting to make sure that he could help her in any way she needed it. She told him that she needed help getting home and he nodded instantly. "Rory. Rory Williams," he told her instantly. "and I'd be happy to help you. You need to walk there or ... how were you planning on getting home?" Hopefully she knew how to walk there because it would be difficult to find it if she didn't know where they were going. "Don't worry, I won't tell a soul." He reached to take her elbow. "Are you ready?"

@victoire

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He asked what she was sick with and she sighed, "in medias ignis. Don't worry, it's in finishing stages," she said. If it was still serious then there was no way a healer would be cool with her being out and about and would probably take her right to the hospital. "Williams," she nodded, blinking. "I can't apparate," she said softly, hating those words coming out of her mouth. "Walking would be nice... I don't live far." She let him take her elbow and she nodded, smiling with gratefulness that he promised not to tell. "You can buy your stuff, really, I'll be okay for a moment," she said, slowly standing and leaning toward him a little. "Just need to sit down," she encouraged, smiling forced now, "really."

@rory

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His eyes widened when she told him her sickness. It was a relatively rare one, if he wasn't mistaken, that caused witches and wizards intense sickness when they used magic. He relaxed slightly when she said it was in the finishing stages and nodded. "Im glad. How long have you had it?" She added that she couldn't apparate and he nodded quickly. Of course the sickness wouldn't allow that. He gave a small smile, "I'd be happy to accompany you home." Victoire told him to buy his things and that they could leave after and he looked around a little, "Do you have anything you need?" He was looking for a cart or something, but not seeing one yet. He stood with her, supporting her as she leaned on him. "Here, this way," he said, slowly leading her to a nearby bench by the wall. She was trying to be positive and cheerful, but he could tell it was a struggle. "What do you need? I can grab it while you rest and then we can be on our way." He didn't want her trip to the store to be in vain.

@victoire

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He asked how long she had it and she grimaced, "four months.... I just found a few days ago that it's getting better. I guess I expected the healing process to be a lot faster," she admitted. She pushed herself, as she always did. That wouldn't surprise anyone who had caught up on the news while she was Junior Assistant or the Minister. He gave her a smile, saying he'd be happy to accompany her and she sighed with relief, nodding again. He asked if there was anything she needed and she shook her head, "no, I'll be alright," she answered. He led her to a bench and she sat down, her head starting not to spin so much anymore. Then he asked again what she needed and she smiled softly, "you're very kind, Rory. I just needed some milk, eggs and orange juice," she explained. "If you wouldn't mind, I will gladly pay you back," she assured him. She felt incredibly foolish.

@rory

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She obviously didn't like the question, but Rory was still glad he asked. If she had it for four months then she really should be able to tell if she was getting better ... and she should know the signs that things were getting bad and she needed a rest. He could trust her assessment of herself. He smiled and nodded, "I think that's a normal reaction. No one likes being sick for that long, and there are few sicknesses that can keep someone down for such a long time." She seemed relieved at his assurance that he'd walk with her and he was glad. Rory didn't want her to feel like she had to do this on her own. At first she refused his offer to grab some items for her, but after he had her sitting down she relented, telling him at least some of the items she came for. Rory smiled and nodded at her. "It's no problem Miss Weasley," wow that sounded formal. Still, she'd been minister. Didn't that mean he should show respect? "I'll be back in just a few minutes," Rory assured her.

Grabbing a small basket, Rory strode through the store, grabbing the items the young woman needed. He didn't want to make her wait long. After he found everything, he went to the register and paid for it all before returning to her. "Are you ready to go or do you need a few more minutes? I'm not in any rush," he told her. He didn't want her feeling like she needed to push through the sick feelings instead of rest a few minutes. He didn't want her to get worse again.

@victoire

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Vic nodded. "And I don't like not working for that long," she admitted. Then he said it was no problem and she shook her head. "Call me Vic. Please," she corrected him. Normally she would have preferred the professional nature, but this was a very personal situation now. Plus, she was just an unemployed, sick person now. She wasn't anybody Rory had to answer to.

When he left and she bent foward to catch her breath. What if Rory wasn't there? What would she be doing? Probably sitting on the floor of the store with her head between her knees into she felt better or a store person helped. Having another wizard there made her feel much safer. And a healer, no less. She didn't deserve this luck.

He came back and she looked up at him with a smile, "no, I don't need more time. Let's go," she took his arm and stood.

@rory

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She pointed out that she didn't like not working as well and Rory nodded understandingly. "I believe that. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't work." He would go crazy, that's what he would do. He smiled when she told him to call her Vic. "Alright. Thank you Vic." With that, he was off to find her groceries.

When he came back she was bent forward, but she smiled when she noticed him there. Rory gave an equally small smile in return. She said she was ready to go and he offered his arm. She took it and got up and Rory started leading her through the store. Once they were outside, he looked over at her. "I think it'd be best if we take it slow to your place. You'll let me know if you need another rest, right?" He sure hoped she would because that would be much easier than him needing to pay close attention to her. Also, he wanted to show he trusted her to know her own body.

@victoire

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They made there way out of the store and he said that they should take it slow. She didn't know him well enough to roll her eyes, but she almost did. She hated going slow... But he was right. She nodded as he asked if she'd tell him. "As long as we look like we are not walking slow just for me. If somehow it got out why I've been gone..." she shuddered. "I've done well at avoiding them by staying in muggle areas... You shop around here often?" she asked him. Talking about him would make her feel better, instead of thinking too much about herself. Distractions were good. Rory seemed like a good guy, someone who wouldn't tell that he'd found the former minister falling apart at a grocery store...

@rory

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He smiled when she said she didn't want it to look like she had to go slow and he nodded. "I wasn't thinking we would go that slow. Just slow enough to not make you get worse." He hoped she would be all right with that, but even if she wasn't ... he didn't want her to get worse because he didn't care for her well enough. Ten he gave her a wry smile, "I could limp and make it look like you're helping me," he suggested, though he was mostly teasing.

He shrugged when she asked if he shopped here often. "Not really. I was just taking a long walk and stopped for a bit of a snack. I can't help myself when it comes to pastries." He admitted with a smile.

@victoire

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She nodded as he said that he just wanted to to slow enough for her sake. She chuckled, and then chuckled even more when he offered to limp so she was helping him. She actually considered it for a moment before shaking her head. "This pace is fine... If we see anyone we know just start limping," she suggested, only half kidding. She really, really hoped they didn't see anyone. She wasn't even seeing Royal until tomorrow.

He said he didn't shop there often and she nodded. Vic grinned, "what pastry did you get?" then her eyes widened. "Oh no! Please don't say I distracted you from getting your snack," she said, groaning afterward. She would feel terrible!

@rory

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He was glad that she started laughing, even softly. He knew that it got hard for people to keep up positive attitudes when they were sick for such a long time. He nodded when she said the pace was fine, but that he could lump if they saw someone they knew. Rory grinned, even though he knew she was teasing, at least somewhat. "I can do that! But ... I'm assuming you know more people than me. Squeeze my arm if you want me to start limping." That was an unnoticeable sign, wasn't it?

It seemed she was definitely feeling better, since she was still smiling. He shrugged at her first question, but then she started talking fast, before he had a chance to answer her. "No, no, don't worry. I got my pastry. A danish," he said, lifting the bag it was in. He didn't want her to worry about that, especially when things were going so well.

@victoire