But it's golden (Jim)

[Deleted]

Jan. 18th

It had been three days since her and Jim went out for drinks. Honestly, she couldn't really remember what all had happened last night. She never got that drunk. Okay, that's not true... she RARELY got that drunk, but sometimes it did happen... and this weekend was proof. Coming back into the Ministry after all of that was almost agonizing. Who had seen her that night? She remembered some old friends being around and... a flirting competition, or something? She did remember kissing. Kissing Jim. But the next morning she had woken up alone.

She had come into the Ministry solely to find him, which was a weird feeling. She always had a bigger reason for coming here but... she missed him. He was a good friend, right? She had left him to die, basically, and still felt guilty about that. And after everything that happened with Finn, Andy and Dom at Azkaban... well, she just needed to see him, it was that simple. 

It wasn't hard to be allowed to approach the Ludicrous Patent Office. She honestly didn't even know if he was working today. But, why wouldn't he be? She entered the elevator and her escort to the office pressed the button. Right before the doors closed, Allison Martin's hand stopped the doors so she could squeeze inside. The woman was known for churning dough at the good old rumor mill and Victoire had honestly avoided her when she was Minister. Allison grinned at the sight of her, "Victoire! I mean, Miss Weasley," the condescending tone was obvious. "I wanted to congratulate you."

Vic tilted her head to the side, "on what, Mrs. Martin?"

Allison giggled,fanning her face a little. "Oh dear. Well," the elevator dinged for Victoires level, "on your marriage, of course."

And then the doors opened.

@jim

[Deleted]

Life was funny Jim thought as he clicked the mechanical muggle pen over and over as his mind wandered. He partly did this to annoy his coworker and part because it was just a habit he had. It had been a few days and he was still trying to piece the events of the weekend and his night with Vic together. Jim was pretty sure there was a bet that she would get drunk first which he felt he had won but as he had clearly gotten drunk too, who knew. Something about Vic blowing up things when hungry. There were all these bits and pieces of a night but putting it all together was impossible without the rest of the puzzle. There was the sobering memory that they kissed, he just couldn’t remember why they had now. Which made all the thoughts of contacting Vic that much more awkward. He was torn because he also wanted to make sure she was okay, if she was as drunk as him that night who knows if she had made it home. He had, so he was sure Vic did but still it bugged him immensely to be so unsure that she was safe or not.

Yet he just didn’t know how much of a fool he had made of himself in front of her that night. She was just a friend, what if he had ruined it by whatever that moment was. There was more, a toy store for some reason and an old couple with them. That part he could only imagine was some drunk dream he had. In it they were getting married, this didn’t help with Jim trying to tell himself that Vic was just a friend to him if he was dreaming of marrying her. He could write Vic he supposed, that would be the least awkward option at this point. If she didn’t reply besides a simple ‘I’m fine’ he would know she was safe at least and just how bad he had messed up that night.

Jim was pulled out of his thoughts by voice speaking up near by. “Would you stop that already?” His coworker finally spoke up about the clicking. “Oh, this was bugging you? I didn’t realize.” Jim replied feigning innocent for a moment. “It’s bugged me since the day you started here and I told you about it.” His coworker snapped back. “Oh, right sorry I forgot.” Jim smiled before clicking it one last time to write Vic a letter just to see if she was actually okay. It ended up being longer than he had planned as he spent part of the letter also apologizing for anything he might have said or done while drunk that might have annoyed her. With that done he left for the receptionist desk on their floor to have it sent out. Once there he was reminded that Pam was gone as it was still just a temp receptionist. He still missed her but it wasn’t the same as before, more just as a friend would miss a friend. The same he felt about not seeing Vic for the passed for days but maybe more. His feelings were all out of sorts and he kept blaming on it just being unsure of how much of a fool he had made of himself in front of Vic.

“I’d like to send this out,” Jim said about to hand the letter to the temp, she read the name and looked back at him a little confused. “I don’t know many newlyweds who send letters to each other, that’s kind of cute.” She said with a slight giggle and Jim looked at her confused slightly, that was a random bit of information for her to give out. “I...what do you mean?” Jim finally got out as he remembered what he thought was just a drunk dream for a moment. “I read about Victoire Weasley and you getting married in an article. Actually it’s right here.” She presented him with one of the gossip papers that had a full page article about Vic and him getting married with an interview with the old couple that did it. This was all some crazy dream and he would wake up any second. With that the elevator opened and he looked up from the paper to see Vic standing there along with a few other ministry workers. Jim quickly hid the paper and letter behind his back and just smiled awkwardly. Hoping she hadn’t found any of this out yet and that Jim could fix all this somehow. “Hey... friend.” Was all Jim could get out. Both embarrassed, happy to see Vic in a way and that she was indeed safe.

@victoire

[Deleted]

The doors opened and there he was. She froze, and for a moment it seemed he did too. But, he managed to say “hey.. Friend,” right before the doors closed again. She gasped out loud and smashed the 'open door' button as hard as she could. The doors opened up again and she stepped out, then the elevator shut and zoomed away.

She cleared her throat, looking down at the paper in Jim's hand and looking back up at his face. "Is that for me?" she asked. She was kind of hoping that maybe he hadn't heard the news so she could talk to him but... the look on his face said otherwise.

She chewed on her lip, then stepped aside for some people waiting for the elevator. "Do you have a second to talk? I mean, I know you're at work so I don't want to, like, pull you away and get you in trouble or anything-" Wow, she was talking really fast. And since when did she say 'like'? Either way, whatever was going on with her speech was irrelevant. Just seeing Jim made the embarrassment rush through her again and she felt an intense urge to look away, but she tried to hold his gaze so she didn’t seem… crazy.

Unless the look in her eyes was completely crazy.

@jim

[Deleted]

There Vic stood at the elevator looking toward him after he said hi, there was a moment where she didn’t do anything as the doors started to close. Vic quickly pushed the button to have the door open again. It was an awkward sign but that could just be because of the night they had shared. Not because of what was in the paper in his hands. Vic exited their elevator and asked if that was for her, he assumed she was referring to the paper. “This? No, no, no it’s just some gossip paper. I mean the letter was,” showing he did indeed have a letter but it wasn’t like it was important. He just didn’t know what to say. “Nothing in the paper worth reading anyway. Or the letter for that matter....” Jim trailed off as he knew he was just rambling at this point.

Vic moved to allow people around her while asking if Jim had time to talk to her. Adding that she didn’t want to pull him away from work if he was busy. “Non-sense. I said you were free to come raid the supply closet anytime you wanted.” He attempted to make a joke, “but since it’s a little cramped in there. there is an empty office I know of.” Thinking of one just down the hall, it would be better than the break room where someone might be at already. Jim did notice the curious look the receptionist gave him. He could only imagine what she was thinking and could tell she wanted to say something. Something Jim wanted to avoid.

Jim took Vic’s hand and part guiding, part pulled her toward the empty office. Anything to avoid Vic finding out what had happened hopefully. Once in the office Jim closed the door behind them. “Sorry about that, the receptionist is actually a big fan of yours, we’d be there all day if she got started talking.” A believable excuse with how important Vic had been and still was he imagined with the ministry and her order. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

@victoire

[Deleted]

He mentioned it was a gossip paper and her face turned stark white. Of course he had that. There was nothing that was higher gossip than the former, youngest Minister for Magic getting married while drunk. He mentioned a letter, though and her eyes flickered down again, then back up to his eyes. "Oh, seriously?" she asked. He said there was nothing in the letter or paper worth reading and she swallowed, not sure what to say to that. Of course there was important things to be said. But maybe he wasn't saying anything after all.

As they moved aside he reminded her that he had told her she was free to 'raid the supply closet' anytime. She let out a breathy, shaky laugh. A short burst of awkward sound. He added that it was a little cramped in there so they should go to an empty office instead. She nodded, "yeah, yeah. Space is good," she said quickly. When he took her hand she fully let him guide her to where they were going. She may have seemed confident in the direction, but she was honestly completely surrendering. She was freaking out. He closed the door quickly and started to apologize for the receptionist. She shook her head, it didn't matter. She wave her free hand dismissively. He asked her what she wanted to talk about and she stepped away from him, turning to the side and raising a hand to her lip to nibble on her fingernail. She noticed what she was doing and abruptly stopped.

She kept her gaze averted for a moment as she spoke. "Did you... did you hear? About... I mean..." she turned back to him, eyes suddenly determined. "What does the letter say?"

@jim

[Deleted]

As Jim tried to dismiss the paper as just a silly a silly gossip magazine Vic asked about it. Possibly curious about what might be some of the articles. If she didn’t know yet she would have quickly found out from the front page. Something Jim was really trying to avoid till he could figure out a way to fix all this. If there even was a way too. “Yeah, something about how dementors might have been behind the attack on Azkaban. Mad they lost their old jobs. Silly, right?” It came out of no where but Jim accepted any thought at the moment to avoid Vic looking at the paper.

Vic agreed with the office plan as she stated that space would be good. It wasn't a good sign in his head but after the night they had, Space was probably the best thing for them. First because she was possibly upset about the kiss he thought, if she even remembered it. And second, there was the gossip they were now married which being caught close together wouldn’t help right now. Jim left the paper at the receptionist desk before he left with Vic toward the empty office. It was best he didn’t carry it with them. It would just be another chance for Vic to learn about what had happened. “Totally, space is the best.” Jim replied with a small laugh while they walked.

Once in the office he asked what Vic wanted to talk about, only fearing the worse. She attempted to ask if he had heard about something which only made his fear grow. She stopped and instead asked what the letter he had for her said. “Do you want to know? I could mail it to you and you could read it when you get it.” Jim explained with a small smile as he was thankful for the moment away from what he might have heard about conversation. “I... I was just worried since I hadn’t heard from you since that night. So I figured I’d at least write to make sure you got home safe.” He explained as he fiddled with the letter in his hands. There was more yet he debating on being that open. Taking a somewhat deep breath it decided to just go for it. “That and I wanted to apologize for anything I might have done that night. I don’t know how much you might remember since we both got pretty drunk but from the bits I remember I didn’t know if I embarrassed or annoyed you.” That was it Jim thought, the whole letter. It was the least awkward option which now turned into one of the most awkward. At least for him.

@victoire

[Deleted]

He said that the gossip paper spoke about dementors being behind the attack on Azkaban... which was not accurate in the least but she decided not to comment on that, for good reason. "Very silly," she agreed. Just silly enough that he was obviously making it up. Gossip Columns could be absurd, but that was pushing the envelope.

He asked if she wanted to know, saying that he could mail it to her and that she could read it when she got it. Vic furrowed her brow at him and brought her hand back up to her lip to chew on her fingernail again, completely unaware that her body was doing that. She smiled a little under her hand, but didn't speak up as he continued. He said he wanted to write to make sure she got home safe. Her gaze shifted down to the letter in his hands that he was playing with and her smile grew a little more.

She looked up at him again as he took a deep breath dropping her hand and her eyes widening a little. He said he wanted to apologize for anything he might have done. He knew, he definitely knew. He said he didn't know if he embarrassed or annoyed her and she took a step forward. She smiled a little, secretly loving the way he was so nervous about this. About talking to her. About apologizing. And about...

She moved forward again and reached a hand out to grab his hands that were fiddling with the letter. She kept her eyes on his, deciding bravery was the best choice in this situation. "Jim, we got married. I'm sure you know that. We'll take care of it but for now..." she squeezed his hands, "I don't want you to be sorry for anything. It was my idea," she recalled. "And I'm not sorry for most of it. I like you," she admitted firmly, "I'd kiss you again if you asked me to, I swear."

@jim

[Deleted]

Jim got the hardest part out and he felt relieved for that. It didn’t make any of this any less awkward but at least he had said what was on his chest. Well minus the obvious fact they were now married but if she didn’t know yet he could hope to straighten this all out without ruining his relationship with Vic. Eventually Vic moved closer to him and took his hands looking up to him she spoke. She had already known they were married which wasn’t a complete shock to him. He didn’t doubt she had read it before him somewhere. Still there was a moment of disappointment that he couldn’t have saved her from the trouble of all this. That disappointment was gone as she moved on to explaining more about that night and that he hadn’t don’t anything wrong. Or at least to be sorry about which was a small relief. Vic also claimed she wasn’t sorry for most of that night. The only part he was sure of was possibly the marriage, it was hard to imagine she would actually have wanted to be married to him. Yet that thought didn’t last long as she said she likes him, that she would even kiss him again is he asked her too. That was more information he hadn’t been expecting and yet was happy to hear more than he could imagine he was.

He wanted to say something but Jim just smiled for a moment, processing everything. “I like you too and I’d be tempted to put that kiss to the test but I don’t think that would help our being married situation.” Jim got out, jokes were his go to when in awkward situations. An attempt to defuse them even if this wasn’t something he could defuse, it needed dealt with preferably before her family found out. If they hadn’t already. “We need to sort this out before your family finds out it was actually not just a rumor.” Jim explained as he was more worried about her situation. He didn’t want to think what her family might say knowing she had a few to many drinks and married someone. “Besides I think dares are what got us into this mess in the first place. It also wasn’t just your idea from what little I can remember. I’m just as much to blame, possibly more.” Jim explained still looking back to Vic, hand in hand. Which he realized would also be a sight some rumor mil would have loved to know about.

@victoire

[Deleted]

He just stood there for a moment smiling and she thought she had broken him. Not necessarily in a bad way, because of the smiling and all but... still, she had a minor moment of panic. But then he spoke up, saying that he liked her and that he'd put the kiss to the test if he didn't think it would hurt the marriage situation. She said they needed to sort it out before friends and family found out and she tilted her head from side to side. He said that the dares got them into the mess and that it wasn't just her idea. Se shook her head, "No, don't take the blame for this. I already did, that's not fair," she countered. She felt a stirring in her stomach from everything he'd said and that familiar warm feeling in her chest.

She released one of his hands in order to place it over her heart for a moment. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes before opening them to speak again. "I don't care if it will make things worse," she finally said, her tone firm. "Just kiss me so we can laugh it off and enjoy for a second that we like having each other around. I think that's worth being happy about more than it's worth worrying about... the other stuff!"

@jim

[Deleted]

Jim just smirked slightly as Vic protested him taking part of the blame for their drunken marriage. “I didn’t want to pull the marriage card but sorry. As your husband I’m entitled to fifty percent of the blame. Probably more but that’s for the judge to decide I suppose.” He replied, it was still weird and probably always would be to be calling himself the husband of someone like Victoire Weasley. It also would probably taken care of quickly so Jim supposed he might as well say it a few times, if only to Vic while he still could.

Vic explained that she didn’t care if it made matters worse. They should just kiss and be able to laugh about all this rather than being unhappy. Just enjoy they liked being around each other and not worry about anything else. He hadn’t expected to be the one more worried about all this as his reputation wasn’t as much on the line or at all for that matter. Yet, he wasn’t going to complain. He could have taken the moment to laugh but instead Jim leaned in and kissed her. Freeing his other hand from hers he placed both of them on her hips and used them to pull her closer. Finally pulling away a little bit from the kiss, Jim just smiled looking back toward Vic. “You don’t have to tell me twice. I’m fine with worry about all that til after we leave this office or a few days after.” There was a small laugh that followed as he meant the last bit more as a joke. They would have to resolve this marriage issue at some point but if Vic wasn’t in a hurry he didn’t need to be either.

@victoire

[Deleted]

He said that as her husband he was entitled to fifty percent of the blame and couldn't help but release a laugh that finally broke the tension in her shoulders for a moment. "Judge... right," she commented, her tone growing more somber. 'Perhaps we should... look into that," she suggested, but it was only half-hearted. She wasn't sure that with everything going on, she had the energy to deal with all of this. They had time before it was necessary, right?

She didn't actually expect him to do it, so when his lips landed on hers she was surprised for a split second before kissing him back. Her hands grabbed the front of his shirt when he released her hand, his hands on her hips. When he broke away, she had to catch her breath. Her eyes lifted to his and she smiled right back at him. He said he was fine with worrying about everything 'a few days' after this little run in. She grinned more, nodding. "Hey," she softened her playful, joking gaze. "I promise that I'm taking this seriously I just... need a little positive in my life right now," she admitted.

@jim

[Deleted]

As Jim brought up the fact of talking to a judge Vic got a little more serious. Possibly wondering just what they would have to do to cancel or end this marriage. “I mean possibly a judge, I have no idea if there just some form we need to end it if we both agree. This might surprise you but I don’t happen to get married to people all that often,” Jim laughed once more. It was a weird thing to attempt to laugh about but it was better that the other options they had. “You’re just a special exception.”

The breaking away from the kiss was the hardest part. If hadn’t really believed they kissed when he was drinking. He found it hard to believe they got married but after that the kiss also seemed like something he had drunkenly made up. Yet it happened then and was happening again. This time at least he wasn’t drunk and would remember it better. Vic stared up to him and smiled and he was just lost in that for a moment til he realized she had actually been talking. Explaining she was taking this seriously but also just needed something good in her life for a the moment. “I’m happy to volunteer to be that for you anytime.” Jim replied with a smile. “If you’d like I’d say we celebrate our new married with at least a nice dinner somewhere. Possibly less drinks though as I don’t think we need to get remarried so soon already.” It still wasn’t very natural to joke about their marriage but if Vic was happy to hold off and dealing with it so was he.

@victoire

[Deleted]

He said he didn't know what they needed to do to take care of the pesky marriage, and she laughed when he said he didn't get married that often. At his next words, though, about her being an 'exception' she felt that familiar tug in her stomach. "And you're mine," she returned.

It took him a moment to answer, and when he did she was relieved. Honestly, her lovers of Christmas past were... a lot of drama. She didn't mind it really, because she loved them, but not things were... different. Jim was a breath of fresh air and really, really deep down, she wondered if that would be enough. It didn't matter right now, because in this moment it was enough and that was the important part. He suggested a nice dinner, less drinks, and she smiled a little wider, laughing out loud again. "That sounds lovely, Jim," she squeezed his hands and leaned up to kiss him gently on the cheek. She kept her lips there as she spoke, "tonight, eight. I'll meet you back here at the Ministry," she promised. She gave his hands one more tight grip before they went their separate ways.

Well, separate ways physically.

@jim
(the end!)