Choices [ondicass... and scorp?]

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She couldn't breath. The room was filled with smoke and fire. Her eyes burned. And there were figures through the smoke, barely even discernible. One was running o the other. She tried to call out to them, reaching out with one hand to get their attention. When she saw her hand though, it was engulfed in flames..

Ondina jolted awake, gasping. Just a dream...

She wasn't in her bed, she realized almost immediately. But where.... Oh. The smell, it was familiar. She knew it better then her own common room. The Hospital Wing. It took a few more moments for her to piece together why she was here. There was an explosion. Whether intentional or not, Albus had blown up the room they'd been in. She'd been injured, but how badly she didn't know. It was all a jumbled mess, her memory trying to piece it all back together. And... Cassius. He'd been there, and he must have been the one to bring her here.

She couldn't have been the only one injured in the explosion, he was probably off helping the others. Wait, was that jealously she felt? Burning deep in her chest. He was a healer after all. Why was she jealous that he was doing his job..? She let out a sigh, trying to wash the emotion away as she forced herself to sit up in the bed, her blonde hair falling into her face as she slowly took in the overly full hospital wing.

@cassius
@scorp (If you'd like him to join this madness )

[Deleted]

Cass was constantly looking back at Ondinas bed, obviously, making sure that she was still okay while he was taking care of other students around her. It was the next morning, and everyone was in much better shape thanks to he, Ondinas and some others help. Still, Ondinas asthma was at a dangerous place and her leg was in bad shape. He wanted to get her well again quickly, but also kind of liked having her around all of the time...

This time, he was across the room at a different bed when he heard a slight whimpering from her bed. He whipped around right as she sat up. She must have been having a bad dream. He turned back to the student, took care of what he was doing before smiling at the kid with encouragement and walking away. He walked casually, and slowly, toward Ondina. He didn't want to seem over eager in the other kids, or other nurses, eyes. This was a delicate situation. She was so close, so vulnerable, and he had to treat her just like any other student.

Once he reached her, he clasped his hands behind his back and gave her a little nod, "everything okay, Ondina?" he wanted to reach over and move the hair out of her face. It may not be that weird, if he was feeling her forehead or something, but he decided to wait a moment. Give her a chance to answer him before he started checking up on her. She hadn't been really conscious in many hours, and he wanted to give her time to adjust.

Ondina Nell Weasley

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Ondina didn't spot Cassius immediately. There were a lot of students though, the Hospital Wing fuller then she'd ever seen in her life. Were they all here because of what happened? Had it been that bad? She had even thought about just how destructive the explosion had been, or how many students it could have affected. On the other side of the wing she thought she saw her cousins, but she wasn't sure. Because, before she could decide if it was them or not, Cassius appeared.

As if out of thin air, making his way across the wing. In no hurry, of course. She watched, unable to help it. He was in his element, so calm and collected among the chaos around him. Unfazed. Like when he'd rescued her- No. That wasn't right. He hadn't been calm. He'd almost seemed... panicked? It was still a blur, and her lack of understanding was frustrating. As Cassius approached, she felt that burning in her chest intensify rather then fade. It wasn't jealousy she was feeling... So then what was it?

"Yeah..." She muttered in response, still trying to decide what that burning was.... When it suddenly hit her. Or rather, she remembered. He'd kissed her, and she'd kissed him back. Seriously kissed him. It took serious self restraint not to reach up and touch her lips at that moment. Cassius didn't move though, just stood there at a respectable distance. Either unable, or unwilling to get any closer. That burning turned to a bitter sting.

[Deleted]

He could tell that there was a lot going on in her head with that one word answer. No doubt she was thinking of the kiss, no doubt she was annoyed with him, no doubt she was going to smile at any moment, if he said the right thing. He nodded, "good. Since you're awake I should give you a quick check up, do you mind?" he didn't wait for an answer as he closed the distance between them to clasp her wrist with his warm hand. He lifted her wrist a little as he did so, his eyes following on the skin where his thumb checked her pulse. It was a little uneven, but not in the sense that she was having any sort of medical issue.

No, it was speeding up just like his was. His head was starting to feel foggy as he gently lowered her wrist back onto the bed. He took in another breath, before sitting down on the edge of her bed. Just like before, he held his wand in placed in the front of her chest while his hand found its usual spot on her back. They had done this a hundred times, but it was different now. He was different now.

Someone entered the room, and Cass made the mistake of looking over Ondinas head toward the door. It was Scorpius Malfoy. His chest started to burn and he found himself wanting to keep Ondinas eyes forward, not to let her turn back to see him... he was relieved when Scorp turned to Albus's bed first.

He finally removed his hand from her back, and lowered his wand. He stayed seated, however. "You sound okay. I'm...." he was having a moment of weakness. He sat up straighter, trying to keep his professional posture. "You were in really bad shape."

Ondina Nell Weasley

[Deleted]

Ondina was tempted... Oh so tempted.... Cassius has left her the perfect opening to respond. Dare she though? A quick glance to the neighboring bed, where the student was dead asleep, and then back to Cassius. No one would overhear if she was quiet.... "I never minded before." She spoke softly. The words, in a way, were rather innocent. But the way she said it... Not so much.

As he moved closer, that jealousy and anger in her stomach settled, as if finally content. Finally tucking her hair behind her ears, her emerald gaze refusing to leave him as he worked. His mere touch made her heart flutter, remembering what had happened the last time he'd been so close. And... He just worked, as if it had never happened. THAT infuriated her. How could he act like there was nothing between them? Like nothing had happened? Maybe she was over reacting, and he was just trying to be professional, this was his job after all! But she couldn't help it. That jealous anger rekindling.

Ondina tried not to look angry, but their was an intensity in her eyes as she just watched him in silence. Only when he'd finished his check up and spoke, did her head tilt a little, acknowledging his words. "How bad?" She finally asked, unable to hide that slight bite in her tone. She really shouldn't be angry. It was irrational. But when had Ondina ever been a rational girl?

@cassius

[Deleted]

"I never minded before.." Cass nearly groaned at the words and pulled her into his arms right there, but he kept his resolve. In fact, he didn't even respond at all as he finished checking her up. As he stopped, however, and made eye contact with her he could see the burning there. He could hear the bite in her tone as she responded to him. He shouldn't have been surprised that she was acting this way, but he was. Couldn't she just understand that this is what he had to do? As much as he would relish in the chaos it would cause to just kiss her right then and there... he really did need the job. Not just for the experience in healing, his passion, but for the Purifiers. They needed someone like him and he wasn't ready to give up his part in their little charade. It was too much fun.

Actually, making Ondina jealously angry was pretty fun as well.

He smiled, unable to hold it back, "well, you're leg was broken in three places, and it took me nearly six hours to get your breathing back to normal. That was exhausting," he said with a little roll of his eyes. He leaned in a little closer to her, just a little. "But I stayed by your side for all of it, okay?" aw, the serious side of Cass was showing.

Ondina Nell Weasley

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Oh, Ondina wanted to wipe that smug look off of Cassius' face. He'd caught on quickly, and looked far to pleased with himself, and the fact that she was now thoroughly miffed at him. She frowned as he smiled, her eyes narrowing into a slight glare. "Enjoying yourself?" She snapped. But her expression softened as he explained the condition she'd been in, and then added that last part, the man leaning closer just a touch. "Thank you, Cassius. Really." She finally whispered, her gaze never wavering from him as she spoke, and meant every word. She could remember her throat closing up, and that it had been Cassius that had saved her. How he'd been there to help her. It hadn't been Scor-

Oh.

Right.

Scorpius. She'd forgotten about him up until that very moment. He'd been in the tower too. Was he in one of these beds? Was he okay? As she thought about him though, she realized that she didn't feel that same burning in her chest. Yes, she was concerned about him, but where was that... spark? The one she'd always felt up until now.


@cassius

[Deleted]

Cass wasn't surprised when she snapped at him, but he continued his speech in confirming to her that he was by her side. Which he was. Sure he had to help other students but he couldn't leave her side for very long. He nodded at her thanks, lifting a hand as if he were to place it on hers. He pulled his hand back. "I'd do anything for you. Your boyfriends here," he spoke the two facts without even skipping a bit, nodding his head in the direction on Albus's bed where Scorp was sitting.

Albus seemed to be unconscious, and Scorp had a hand on the Potters shoulder. Cass turned back to Ondina. "I'll leave you to it. But I'll be right back," he promised, giving a weak little smile before pushing off the bed, moving away from her and giving Scorp a little wave, a go-ahead of sorts.

Scorp had every right to take priority. For now.

[Deleted]

Albus was in really bad shape, just like Ondina. He and Rose had seriously lucked out in minor injuries, for which he was grateful. He couldn't help but think it was because he ran to her aid first... But no, Albus and Ondina would have been just as bad no matter what he did. At least, that's what he had to keep telling himself. He sat by his best friends side, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, mate. This is... It's my fault. I shouldn't try to get you two to talk. I shouldn't..." his next thought was awful, so he didn't say it aloud. He thought he shouldn't have chose Ondina over Albus. And yet he did, over and over again.

He glanced back at Ondina in time to see Cass lift a hand, then pull it back. Hey were sitting awfully close... But Scorp probably deserved it, considering he had ran to help Rose first. Soon, Cass stood up and beckoned Scorp forward. He stood immediately, giving Al one last squeeze on the shoulder before crossing to Ondina.

"Hey," he said, sitting on the same spot Cass had just been, "Cassius only had good news, I hope?"

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Ondina didn't want Cassius to leave. When she heard him say Scorpius was here, her stomach sank. Her boyfriend. She should be wanting to see him right now, right? But instead, her heart hurt, knowing Cassius would leave. Her own small smile responded to his as he stood. "Cassius..." She started, wanting to say something, anything really. But nothing came to mind. "We'll talk later, okay?" She finally finished, smiling with a little more confidence. She felt like she was missing something, like she couldn't remember something important. Something about her and Cassius....

At Scorpius' appearance, her smile softened, sweetened almost. He looked fine, better then fine. Thank goodness. "Hey." She responded as he took the spot that had only recently been vacated. She was glad to see him, honestly, but... he wasn't Cassius. "Don't look so grim, a tower falling on you is nothing." The girl teased, though she was all to aware of how sore her chest was, from her asthma attack. "You're okay though? And the others?" she didn't name her cousins. Both their names left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she didn't want Scorpius to hear it. Albus because of the whole fiasco, and Rose... Well, that was a complicated web of emotions she wasn't exactly sure she wanted to deal with. At least not now. Not until she finished piecing together everything that had happened...

@cassius
@scorp

[Deleted]

There she was, joking and asking about himself and the others. She looked so... broken and fragile. He reached a hand out to her, placing it on hers. He almost hesitated, but then hesitated about hesitating. She was his girlfriend, there was nothing wrong with him placing a hand on hers. No, he shouldn't feel uncomfortable about it. "I'm okay... I'm in the best shape of all of us, to be honest. Al is just as bad as you, if not worse," he grimaced, jerking his head slightly toward the direction of his best friends table. "And Rose. She's fine," she wasn't really, none of them were, but he didn't think Ondina really wanted to hear that much about it.

So, now was the time. An awkward silence filled the space for a moment, reminding Scorpius of what he had to do. He had to apologize for not saving her first. No, how was he even supposed to start that sentence? He was supposed to just bring it up suddenly? He didn't know what to do. So he just kept his mouth shut, choosing not to lead the conversation now.

Ondina Nell Weasley

[Deleted]

Scorpius' touch was... comforting. It was different. There wasn't that usual spark. Actually... That spark hadn't been there a while, now that she thought about it. Ever since she'd started getting closer to Cassius. She'd just never noticed until now. Until he'd made it quite clear what he felt for her. Instinctively though her fingers closed around his. While it wasn't the same, his hand was still familiar. "Good." She responded as he said he was probably the best off out of all of them. If he'd gotten hurt.... Her feelings might be changing, but he still knew her better then most people. He was still important to her.

Her fingered tightened as he continued, saying that Albus was the worse off and Rose was fine. Served Albus right... And Rose? Well, of course she was fine, Scorpius had chosen to save her. Okay, some very angry and spiteful feelings were starting to boil deep inside her, and now was not the time to get angry about that. Especially since Scorpius would pick up on in quickly. "Scorpius...." She started, casting her gaze down at their hands to ensure he wouldn't see the anger in her eyes. Instead, he'd just hear the slight trembling in her voice. "I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I didn't think something like this would happen. If I hadn't pushed him..." Dang, she was impressed at how convincingly upset she sounded. Maybe she should consider a career in acting...

@scorp

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"No don't... don't be like that," Scorp muttered, looking down at his hands. He knew she was right though. She really did like to push Albus, and he was oh so easily pushed. He looked back up at her, completely at a loss for words. So he simply leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead before standing. "I should let you get some rest... I'll be back soon, okay? Just... be gentle with yourself. Don't get all riled up about anything," he was only half joking as he gave a little smirk, squeezed her hand once more and turned to leave.

But not before making eye contact with Rose a few beds down.

(LE END THIS THREAD NEEDS TO END EENNND)