But it's better if you do (Sienna) (CW)

[Deleted]

CW: Mentions of depression and suicide attempt.

He'd invited Sienna over to his little cottage in French, which was not an uncommon thing to happen. The confession of a lifetime was, however, not the kind of thing that he planned to do more than once and the nerves were killing him a little. With everything that had happened over the last few months he had finally managed to make up his mind, although it was partially out of fear somebody else might steal her away from him. He had to tell her that he was in love with her and had never fallen out of love with her since their break up all those years ago after he'd gone and almost killed himself. It wasn't exactly like he'd planned it that way, he'd just been too tired to keep living but unable to fall asleep. He'd overdosed on sleeping potion and if Si hadn't been there on time... well he wouldn't have been around anymore.

Needless to say that they had broken up at that point, as he clearly had not been in a place to function as a person, much less so as a boyfriend and Sienna deserved the best in the world. It had been his choice for a large part and he didn't regret it, but now he wanted her back. He'd wanted her back for years but the fear of rejection had kept him from telling her his true feelings, even though he was taking that risk now. He was pacing endlessly in his room, dressed perfect and his room was completely spotless, which was one of the signs that he was fretting about something. While he was a very clean and organised person when he wasn't attempting to drink away his sorrows there was usually something around that made a little mess. Signs of life, so to speak. Phillipe was watching his pacing from the corner and quite clearly judging his friend on his behaviour. Gus shot him a look and rolled his eyes. "Oh Hush Phil." He muttered towards the tiger before sitting down and fluffing the pillows again. If all went well, he could give her the gift he'd been carrying around in his pocket for little over half a year by now.

He had the perfect plan of course. He had his dining room set up for a bit of a celebration themed romantic dinner by candle light which he'd spent most of the day prior to her arrival cooking by himself. That meant it wouldn't taste overly amazing but the effort was the point, right? He didn't really want to scare her off so he was receiving her in the living room where things looked mostly normal. He had the article from the newspaper that featured her lying on the salon table since that had been the excuse for inviting her over. To celebrate her status as famous potioneer! His heart was filled with pride for his best friend and the woman he was ever so deeply and madly in love with. He couldn't help but smile just looking at the article. With a sigh he walked over to Phillipe, flopping down next to the big cat and nestling against him in a strange kind of companionship that was between the two boys.

"I'm a fool Phil." He confessed to the tiger and he burried his face in the fur. Phil licked arm and Gus couldn't help but laugh as he picked up his guitar and started playing one of the many songs he'd written for and about Sienna, although without mentioning her name. Part of him was still a tiny bit amused she'd failed to catch the tiny little clue on his last album, as he knew she'd purchased it. Six songs that spelled out her name, followed by the classic French phrase for 'I love you'. He felt it was a little on the nose but nobody else seemed to have noticed it. It wasn't like he'd ever pulled a stunt like that before though, so it made some sense. He sat like that for a while, in the warm embrace of Phil, playing his guitar and softly singing songs for the woman he loved. It helped settle his nerves until he heard the door. Well he was screwed now. No turning back. This time, he would confess. Maybe he'd get scared and want to chicken out but he looked at his reflection for one long hard moment. "Maybe you don't want to confess your feelings Gus, but it's better if you do." He reminded himself.

Then he walked up and off towards the door where Si would be entering and smiled at her broadly. "Sienna!" He said and instantly walked up to hug her, perhaps holding her just a fraction of a moment longer than usual. Just in case she didn't feel the same and decided to leave. Just in case. Then he pulled back and spread his arms. "My beautiful brilliant potioneer! You made the papers! I'm so incredibly proud of you." He said in earnest as he looked at her. Yes, he was certain. There was nobody he would rather have in his life than Sienna. Now he just needed to tell her that, out loud.

Sienna Aurélie Linslee

[Sienna Aurélie Linslee]

Maybe it was hyperbole to say that this was the best week of her life…but it was! Best week so far, at least. There was a thrill to making an important breakthrough on what would undoubtedly be one of the biggest projects of her life, and seeing her and Jamie’s names in the paper was just the cherry on top. Sienna had kept a copy of the paper to take home, of course, and she’d already read the small, cramped article a dozen times. She was never going to get tired of reading it, proof that she and Jamie were working on something real and that someday it was going to be ready to help people. It might be premature, but Si was already starting to imagine what the headline would be the day that Aware Wolf was ready for distribution.

She’d already called her dad, of course, and he didn’t need to be a wizard to know that this wasn’t small beans. And she’d already gone out to celebrate with Jamie and her friends. All but one, naturally. Maybe it was selfish of her, and maybe it was a tad possessive, but she wanted Gus all to herself for an evening. Sienna wanted to get his congratulations, and celebrate the news, and tell him her future plans, and she wanted to be alone for it. She was already honest with herself that he wasn’t like the rest of her friends – they had a history, and they were extremely close, and she happened to be hopelessly in love with him. So if she could recognize that, then why bother lying to herself about it?

That love was going to hurt her terribly one day, she knew. They’d already tried a relationship, and there had been too many factors working against them. The break-up had been difficult, and the transition back to friends had been an uncertain one – how do you pretend you don’t have those feelings anymore? But it was the best thing to do. They had a proven track record of failure, and someday Gus was going to fall in love with someone else (most likely another famous musician). And if Sienna needed to forget the feeling of his lips on hers…well, she had time.

Sienna had been to Gus’s place in France so many times that it felt like a second home. Now that the travel restrictions had eased, Si had taken the first opportunity to travel abroad. The news of Aware Wolf had coincided beautifully with that fact. His home was lovely, and naturally it continued to take her breath away, but she knew the drill. The best way of travelling via Portkey, how to navigate to the front door, and by this point no longer needing to knock. Still, she knew he had something planned and didn’t want to spoil anything, so she knocked clearly and waited a moment before entering.

Si would never get caught leaving the house in anything but her absolute best, and the decision paid off as her eyes travelled up and down Gus’s body as he entered, dressed to the nines. It seemed impossible, but her smile grew wider as she returned his hug and kissed him on the cheek as an additional greeting. She could feel her face glowing with pleasure at the extravagant compliments. She smiled at him as she said, “This is only the beginning, mon ange. I still have a few surprises left.” She instinctively moved to fix the lapel of his jacket as she peeked around him exaggeratedly. “And I hear you do too! Are you finally going to tell me your plans for tonight?”

@auguste

[Deleted]

Gus was almost surprised he didn't hear the sounds of singing angels from the heavens above at the knock and opening of the door. She had arrived and she was by far the central point in his universe at this moment. He smiled broadly as he laid eyes upon her and checked her out as subtly as he could possibly manage, he felt the warm of her embrace wash over him. This was the best feeling in the universe, he was certain of it. She kissed his cheek and he was in heaven. Much unlike what most people claimed, it wasn't a place of high excitment where everything sped up or slowed down. To him it was far more in the quiet times and the total perfection of comfort that was around when he was with her. He found her immensely attractive, but that was never the main reason he wanted her around far beyond both their prime. Even if she turned old and grey and everything about them started to sag, she would still make him happy. She was home and joy in ways that were familiar but strange to him. She was everything.

He chuckled at her enthusiasm about everything going on. "You're going to be far more famous than I am. They'll refer to me as the potioneers friend before you know it." He said. At least in terms of history, he was more than certain that her name would be far more renowned than his own, unless he got to the levels of Beethoven and the likes. Even then, nobody could really name composers from over a thousand years ago, could they? Those that broke through in the fields of science and healthcare had better odds of that, and rightly so. "Well I'm framing all the articles about your journey to fame and I'm building a little shrine." He joked, but he was serious about his intentions to frame the articles. His house, though highly extravagant as most of his style was, still was decorated rather minimalistically. It was a place of peace and rest compared to his life when he was on tour. He did enjoy the decorations but liked to keep the majority of his home rather simple. Or maybe it was just so that Phillippe didn't have too many things to destroy.

He smiled a huge smile, like a child in a candy store as she mentioned surprises and plans for the night. "I do! First of all, I bought a new car!" He looked like a small child in a candy store. "It's not in yet because it's a custom made design. It's fabulous and once the muggles are done building it, I'm having it enchanted to fly. It's a little bit expensive but I just wanted to turn eyes, you know?" He said, his eyes sparkling as he spoke of the car, much in the same way they always did when he mentioned Sienna to anybody. Much in the same way his eyes sparked with love in the more quiet moments where he allowed part of his control to slip for just a moment and admire her with full adoration.

"As for the plans for tonight..." His face turned somewhat serious as he looked behind him to the door where the entire romantic evening he had planned was still hidden away. It was now or never? Or well, it was going to be near impossible to explain the setting away as a mere celebration. She knew him too well. She knew how over the top he was around most people, how his parties were always beyond splendid and how the two of them never felt particularly forced to show off to one another. If he didn't tell her now, she was going to find out the moment they got to the dining room anyway. He sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair, a bit of a nervous habit. "I have something I need to tell you before dinner." He pulled a face as he looked down and put his hands in his pockets. "Nothing bad, I promise. Just... it's important." He looked away as he motioned for her to come in and flopped himself down on the sofa. He could feel the majestic presence of his adorable little tiger nearby. If things went badly, Phil would comfort him. He patted the seat beside him and waited patiently for Sienna to sit down. It was clear he wasn't planning on talking while she was standing up. He had no idea how she'd react but any chance of her fainting wasn't allowed because he wanted a dinner, not a trip to St. Mungo's for stitches or something. As she sat down he smiled, still a little tense but far less so.

"My dear Si.. I'm sorry if I'm stressing you out. What I want to tell you is something I've had on my mind for years now. Ever since I met you, and even after the break up. You've always been there for me, in my darkest hours and my most beautiful moments. You helped me overcome all the pain and trauma from my teens and helped me see just how wonderful life could be around you. As you know, I find you incredibly attractive and have done so from the moment we met." He paused and took a deep breath. "What I'm trying and failing to say is... I'm in love with you Sienna. I've been so for a very long time. I thought that maybe it would fade over time when I saw you dating somebody new... but you're taking forever to replace me!" He said it with a small smile that was equal parts teasing and sad. "I know I messed up really badly last time we were together as a couple, but I'd like to try again. I cooked you a full three course meal all by myself as an attempt of a first date, if you'll have me." He pulled the little box with the ear rings out of his pocket and gave it to her, closed, to not give off some really bad signals. "I guess what I want to ask more than anything is.... Sienna, will you be my girlfriend again?"

He could feel his heart pounding in his chest which was so constricted that holding his breath was far easier than attempting to breathe had ever been. He waited, terrified of her rejection, for her to speak and answer his question.....

Sienna Aurélie Linslee

[Sienna Aurélie Linslee]

Gus’s music often kept him away, and sometimes it could be weeks before they saw each other again. That had been the most difficult part of moving from Beauxbatons into the working world – the knowledge that life had a habit of driving people apart and you had to fight to keep them close. Sienna had been the one to encourage Gus to pursue music in the first place, when he’d been reluctant and nervous to show his music to the world, so she’d never fault him for doing what he loved. But it did mean that she treasured the time they spent together, and did everything she could to make each moment memorable. It gave her something lovely to remember while he was abroad and she was entangled in work in London. And it gave him somewhere stable to return to when he was ready.

“We’ll just be famous together,” Si offered as a compromise as she smiled at him. “Between my potions and your songs, they won’t know what to refer to first. Just that it made a difference.” The nature of their distinct jobs meant that the impact would be very different, but there was a value to the arts that was too often overlooked. Si wanted her potion to be able to help – there was still too much discrimination in wizarding society and she wanted to do anything she could to help at least one small portion of it. But there was something special about music – the way it spoke to the soul, a culmination of everything that made up humanity. There was a reason humans across time and culture always came back to music. Gus could be too hard on himself sometimes, and Si wanted to be there to remind him of his worth.

And about this supposed shrine… “Well good, it can match the one I already have of you.” Not a shrine per se, but she’d saved every article about him and bought every album. Not that he needed to see her little collection at home. His expression talking about the car – priceless, and Si giggled a little even as she resisted the urge to tease. They each had their hobbies and quirks, and if Gus’s was designing custom-made cars that were doubtlessly quite flashy…it wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

Still, his next few sentences were a little concerning. Gus looked nervous, and his tone was serious, despite the fact that he’d said it was nothing bad. He’d already run a hand through his hair, a telltale sign that he was agitated, and he dropped onto the sofa with less than normal of his usual grace. Si sat down delicately next to him as she gave a nervous laugh. “Gus, you have me a little worried,” she admitted. Despite what he’d said, her mind began to race with the possibilities of what he might say. Something about his family? A problem with work? Merlin forbid, a problem between them? Sienna didn’t even realize she’d been holding her breath until he began to speak and she exhaled slowly (in relief? In shock?).

And when she heard those words, those words, she gasped. I’m in love with you. She’d fantasized about a confession like this for years, alone at night or during slow days at work while she watched her cauldron gently simmer. Despite knowing the reality of the situation, the facts on-the-ground, she had always hoped that something could change. That someday they’d have a second shot. Sienna was frozen– it was one thing to daydream and hope and keep all of this within her heart, and it was another thing for it to actually happen. And it was an almost perfect confession, except for one thing…

Gus looked incredibly nervous and Si had paused to take everything in – now she surged forward in her seat to capture him in a tight hug. “Gus, mon ange, it wasn’t your fault. You are not responsible. It wasn’t your fault,” she murmured into his ear. She wasn’t just referring to the way their relationship had ended – Gus had always taken what happened with his mother and his family extremely hard, and he had a tendency to blame himself for things outside of his control. And before anything else, before anything about her feelings, she needed to tell him that. Sienna pulled back to look deep into his eyes. “I love you. Always, through everything. You have been the brightest part of my life. Even when I’ve been scared. Even when I’ve been in pain. Always.” Her voice was coming out shaky, so she took a deep breath. “I’ve been so scared of this world, and all its dark elements, since I first discovered it. But when I hear your music, or see you smile, it reminds me of all its beauty too.” She sighed as she leaned her forehead against this. “All this to say…my answer is yes. It will always be yes.”

@auguste

[Deleted]

The compromise she offered amused him. When she pulled this off he knew that it was possible for him to both help promote her work and use her certainty to acquire more fame than he'd have to promote his own music. The industries could in theory work together but it seemed unfair to either of them to throw their lot in for sake of fame and fortune. Neither of them seemed to have such a business model. Apart from that he barely made his music for the sake of the world. Yes, in all honesty, he enjoyed most of the aspects of fame and absolutely adored all the attention most of the time. He was a sucker for the spotlights but relished in the more quiet little moments as well.

He raised an eyebrow slightly as she mentioned a shrine dedicated to him, but then a cheeky little smile appeared on his face. He was almost certain she hadn't caught sight of the message, or he certainly would have had a response of some kind by now. "Truly so...." He mused momentarily before looking at her again. "I suppose you saw the little message I left for you on my latest album then? I admit I thought it was too well hidden but since you've got a shrine you certainly did not miss that." He was taunting her. He was completely certain she'd missed it.

Confessing wasn't too hard, it was the path that led towards it that had really gotten him bothered. He struggled to find the courage, perhaps even the words. He struggled with many things, but telling her that he loved her was the easiest thing in the world. It had been true for such a long time and the words had been on his lips even long before they'd been on his mind, even if he'd never voiced them before. It was perhaps a little odd in terms of timing, but she was the one his heart had belonged to. He had thought for a while that he might be able to forget her and had almost convinced himself of that. He'd gone off to flings and one night stands but she was always the one he wanted to come back to. His frivolous nature hadn't chased her off, and his heart had always been hers, no matter whom he had been with for the evening.

Except that he would never consider only spending a single night or short time with her. She was the one he wanted for the longest possible time. A light in the darkness, no matter how small it was always bright enough to nearly blind him. And yet for all his songs and words and poetry her words were always better. When he thought his words had been smooth those coming from her mouth seemed to make his words look like a poorly maintained road full of potholes. It was grounding and up to some point highly frustrating to the musician that the potioneer would be more eloquent that he was. Yet it was in part why he loved her. She inspired him.

The hug was like a breath of fresh air to that of somebody that had been drowing too long. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, more than a little glad for their proximity. They hugged regularly but it felt different this time. As if the secrets that were between them no longer took up invisble space to separate their hearts even when their bodies met in mutual comfort. "Si, you're the most important thing in my life. I don't even want to imagine my life without you. You saved my life, literally and figuratively. I'll never be able to repay that debt but if there is anything I can do to make you happy I will gladly do so." He said, smiling. Naturally she'd know she had to share him with Phil, but he knew that the tiger wouldn't mind at least. He leaned forward and gave her a gentle but lingering kiss on her cheek. He smiled as he pulled back a little. "Just let me know when you'd like to have dinner. If it's really horrible we can always go to a restaurant somewhere nearby. I'd offer further but I have to wait on the car first." She'd probably have a right laugh when she saw it, considering it was far over the top. Not that anything currently worried him, as the answer she'd given felt like it had set his soul free of a prison. Well, almost. There was one thing still to resolve before he could truly move forward.

Sienna Aurélie Linslee

[Sienna Aurélie Linslee]

Sienna’s heart skipped a beat as he smiled at her. God, it was unbelievable the effect he could have on her, even after so many years. She’d seen a thousand of his smiles in a thousand different ways, but every time it felt like she was seeing him again for the first time. They’d been best friends at Beauxbatons, practically inseparable both before and after their attempt at a relationship. After school, life had sent them in different directions, but he’d continued to be one of the most central parts of her life several years later. He was familiar, in a way very few things were in a world that wasn’t completely hers. But even after being together for so long, he could still make her blush and make her mind go blank at one smile.

It was unfair, really, because he seemed to know the effect he had even as he’d seemed to miss all the obvious signs about what it really meant. But then, that was what made this moment so heart-stopping – that moment where everything came together all at once. Knowing that this strange idea of ‘moving on’ didn’t have to mean anything to her anymore. Because that had just been impossible. It had been years since they dated, and Sienna hadn’t found herself in any real relationship since. She’d gone on dates, and kissed a few of them, but every single time her heart led her back to Gus and the knowledge that it wasn’t over yet. Not for her, at least. She’d been ready to accept that and bear it on her own, but…well, Gus had always been amazing at reminding her that she wasn’t alone.

“You make me happy,” Si responded simply, smiling at Gus before closing her eyes to savor the feeling of him close to her and his lips on her cheek. She opened her eyes to narrow them playfully as Gus mentioned dinner. He’d never been the type to cook before. “Should I have brought an antidote? It seems rude to poison me after a confession like that, mon cœur.” It didn’t seem like it could be physically possible, but Sienna closed the remaining distance between them and brought a hand up to his cheek to angle his face closer to hers. She traced a finger over his lips (she could try to play it cool but her heart rate had quickened considerably) before she remembered something else he’d said earlier about a message he’d left her on his last album.

As much as her mind screamed at her not to, Si pulled back slightly to demand, “What message? Witch Weekly is half-convinced you’ve been secretly dating somebody because of that album.” He hadn’t mentioned anybody to Si, so she hadn’t mentioned it back, but…it would have broken her heart if that particular rumor had been true. “I would have noticed, I’ve listened to every song about a dozen times.” She had not meant to say that out-loud and her jaw snapped shut as she flushed furiously at the inadvertent slip. It was somehow worse than everything she’d said to him earlier – because a love confession was all well and good, but he didn’t need to hear about how closely she followed him while he was away. Seeing him happy and doing well was one of the few things that made the distance bearable.

@auguste

[Deleted]

It felt as if he was finally complete again. As if after all these years he'd managed to recover his purpose, his center, his universe. He felt at ease with her back in his arms, although he had to admit it had been a good thing for both of them to have been separated. They'd both had the opportunity to develop and mature and he knew he needed it badly after his aunt had passed away. It had shaken him and he knew he'd hurt many people he cared about badly, Sienna included. He'd been able to work on himself after that, although that had been anything but smooth sailing.

Gus pulled a face as she suggested his cooking would poison her. "Hey!" He said, a little injured. "I'm perfectly fine in cooking, even if I'm usually too lazy for it and like the good other people make more than my own creations. I put a lot of time and effort in so you could at least try before brewing an antidote!" He pouted a little in order to make his point. He'd literally spent hours in the kitchen, but he also knew she was just teasing him... probably. He was a decent cook, nothing too grand of course. He just was far more of a creative soul and liked creating extensive romantic plans far more than executing them. He usually hired people for that. It was a rather huge compliment he'd put in all the effort himself for a change, but he wouldn't have it any other way. She was special after all.

He felt the cold as she pulled away in surprise at the message. He chuckled slightly because of course he hadn't expected her to notice. If she had, she wouldn't have been that surprised by any of this. Not to mention that he was aware it was a little too subtle for most people to notice it either way. He did raise an eyebrow when she told him what Witch Weekly had been speculating about. He felt a grin creep up on his face. This was far more amusing than he'd anticipated. He was definitively going to tease her about this endlessly. "Did you ever happen to properly look at the back of the CD though?" He asked her, but the smile was still on his face. It was very clear he was enjoying far too much. "I pretty much spelled it out Si. Did you really miss the hint?" He was definitively having too much fun about this. He totally understood that the magazines would love to place him in a sordid love affair but the reality would be fun enough. "You do realise that the next issue of Witch Weekly will probably have a detailed analysis on your life and our relationship in it, right?" He asked, this time with slight concern. Those tabloids were not always very kind in the things they said and his life in the spotlight didn't have to be anything she wanted to deal with. She was an academic after all, not an entertainer. Those worlds didn't always match up that well and he was very aware of that.

Sienna Aurélie Linslee

[Sienna Aurélie Linslee]

Sienna giggled at the face Gus made at the suggestion that his cooking might perhaps require an antidote. The teasing was an integral part of their relationship, although neither one ever let it get too far. Gus in particular was a master at it, giving maddeningly obscure little hints or pulling close just to slip away again. That said, Si did like to get her shots in. He was a superstar and far too famous and attractive for his own good. He no doubt was hounded by fans no matter where he went, and probably didn’t hear ‘no’ much as a result. It was good to keep him grounded and ensure his head didn’t float too past the clouds…even if it meant Si over-exaggerated her lack of trust in his cooking.

To that end, Si hummed in contemplation before nodding once slightly. “Alright, mon ange. Just because you put so much effort into it today, I’ll leave my bezoars in the living room. But on our next date, my potionmaking kit comes with me.” Her heart fluttered at the idea of a next date after this one, even as the words came out casually and in her typically teasing manner. If she had things her way, there would be many dates in the future. A few big ones with all the stops pulled out in some breathtaking experience, but also many smaller ones where there was nothing to occupy their attention but each other. And as much as she joked about it, it really was a big deal that Gus had made so much effort to cook her something. He had his talents, and he was very good at the things he was passionate about, so the fact that he’d branched out meant his heart was truly invested in something. And it made Si blush to think that something could be her.

While Sienna had studied his newest album with the same amount of attention she’d given the others, she did not in fact recall the back of the CD. Clearly, she’d need to call Heleen and ask for the other girl’s help in deciphering whatever hidden message Gus had very thoroughly disguised in his album. Yes, she could admit defeat and get the answer out of Gus, but where was the satisfaction in that? No, she was going to find this message for herself, and her old school friend seemed the exact right candidate to recruit. The two girls were remarkably similar and had the same tastes in basically everything that mattered – and Sienna was sure Heleen had probably already gotten the album for herself. And besides, Hel was in a solid place of her own right now, romantically speaking, so she’d probably accept the proposed mission with the same level of enthusiasm as Si.

The thought that Sienna might make it into an upcoming issue of Witch Weekly made her exhale slowly as she considered Gus’s question. It wasn’t out-of-nowhere, even if the last time the two had tried a relationship had been before Gus’s rise to fame. Si wasn’t unused to the thought of making it into the paper – in fact, the whole reason she was here today was because she and Jamie were finally getting noticed for their potions – but that was academia. This was pop culture, an entirely different beast to tackle. “It does worry me a bit,” Sienna confessed to Gus as she bit her lip nervously. She was used to having a private life. Even when approached by people to discuss Aware Wolf, the discussion was only ever about the technical details of the potion, and maybe occasionally Sienna and Jamie’s backgrounds as potioneers. But they were never asked about their personal lives, and the fact that it might become anybody else's business (especially some details, like Sienna’s Muggle origins) was nerve-wracking. “But,” she continued, inching closer to Gus on the couch again as she looked at him intently to make her point, “I won’t be alone dealing with that sort of attention. You’ll be there too.” She still had one hand on his face and Si smiled as she stroked his cheek gently. “Anything seems possible with you. And I’d do just about anything for you.”

@auguste

[Deleted]

Gus realised he was good at teasing, but so was Si. Not to mention that he wouldn't even have enjoyed it much if she was too easily romanced by him. He knew that she liked him, but that didn't change things between them. She kept his feet firmly planted on the ground without making him feel as if she didn't love him. She was definitively swooning on the inside, he was sure of it. Okay, maybe not swoonish but he was totally attractive to her. His head was in the clouds. She could try to anchor him all she wanted but he was flying on love and he'd rather take her up into the air with him if he got any sort of say in it.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, but he smiled regardless. His woman, the master potion maker. He was sure that if he happened to poison them on accident she'd be able to cook up an antidote even if she was in delirium due to the poisoning. That wasn't something he had to worry about it seemed. She was rather perfect for him in far too many ways, even if it had taken him far too long to figure that out. "Fine." He said generously, gesturing elaborately. "Stomp on my heart but at least we'll be safe." He then nuzzled her neck, placing a few butterfly kisses while he was around either way. She was just so perfect.

She answered his question with near perfection. She was honest, which mattered most to him. It was no good if she tried to pretend it didn't bother her when it would affect her a lot. He nodded and pulled her a little closer. "I just hope they're not going for a nasty angle. I'll talk to my manager tomorrow and see if I can get him to influence the articles at least a little. So far it'll probably be mostly gossip but the tide might shift after they figure out exactly who you are. Be prepared for accusations of feeding me love potion." He wished he was joking but considering her skill in the field of potions people that wanted to make her look bad to his horde of fan girls would be very likely to use her talents against her. It was sad but he'd always be there for her, as long as she'd want him to be. He'd help out with anything and by now she knew that could mean insanely over the top romantic gestures. Even if she had no particular interest in being in the public eye it wasn't something that was easy to avoid, even less so now she was friends with Camila on top of dating him. She was surrounded by stars so she was bound to be noticed, no matter what she might have wanted.

"You know I'd do almost anything for you, right? And I know you wouldn't ask the few things I wouldn't do for anybody, which means I'll do anything for you." Except give up on music, but they both knew that wasn't an option. She was the one that had kickstarted the madness after all so it wouldn't exactly be fair to him to ask him to stop now. It had been her idea and it had changed his world. It had been a release from all the pain he'd felt and it had set him free. Free, but always returning to her. In the end she mattered most after all. "Just let me know if I need some huge public declaration of love to get them to shut up. I'll make it huge, don't worry." He teased her. He'd love to, but he also knew that she might not be comfortable with it and he really didn't want to make her unhappy. Her happiness was everything to him right now.

Sienna Aurélie Linslee

[Sienna Aurélie Linslee]

Sienna didn’t even know how to begin to express everything she felt for Gus. She watched him gesture wildly as he agreed to her teasing compromise to save her antidotes for their next date, and Si was sure her eyes were full of the absolute fondness she had for their inside jokes and love for everything Gus was – the quirk to his smile, the way he expressed himself through his hands and voice, and that he could always find that middle ground with her. There were relationships – romantic or otherwise – that were too demanding of one side, where one person always had to make the effort to bridge the distance and meet the other person’s demands. Relationships that had no sense of reciprocity because it was always one side giving everything to the other while receiving nothing back.

But their relationship had never been like that – Gus had always matched every bit of affection Sienna had ever shown him, and always had more to provide on top of that. She never had to worry about wondering where they stood on an issue, or the fear of reaching out only to be rejected. It was a certainty in her life that Gus would go above and beyond for her, and she fervently hoped that he knew that about her too, even if she showed her love differently. Si gasped lightly as he nuzzled her neck, and she wanted desperately to give in to the impulse to kiss him thoroughly and let her mind float away. But they were talking about something important, so Si struggled to ignore the impulse, focus on his words and listen intently.

There had never been a doubt in her mind that Gus wouldn’t leave her out to dry, even if she’d never contemplated the idea of making their relationship public because she had been sure there would never be a relationship in the first place. Sienna fiddled with his collar while she absorbed his explanation – getting his manager on the case, influencing the articles at least until his fans had had time to get used to this new reality. Si exhaled slowly through her nose as she thought things over. “Will I need to think about giving an interview at some point?” she asked after pausing for a moment to turn the topic over in her mind. Public relations was not her field of talent by far, and Si had absolutely no idea what maintaining an image entailed. She knew Gus had a team that worked on tailoring his image to fit his fanbase, and that he’d gotten very good at figuring out what exactly people wanted from him. But she had never needed to think about it, never had any interest at all, and Si was at a loss for how exactly to proceed. Especially the point he made about love potions – Sienna knew she was talented at potions, she wouldn’t be shy about that, and that might mean some people would doubt her intentions (and methods) when it came to Gus. It was a daunting thought, but she trusted him (that would always be a certainty) and this would just need to be one more obstacle to overcome together.

She smiled as he promised her a public declaration of love if needed, and she teasingly replied, “Well, I wouldn’t mind a big gesture. Sweep me off my feet and take me somewhere glamorous in that new car of yours, once it’s finished. Although I can’t promise I’ll be taking in the view…” Si trailed off and her eyes darkened as they swept over his face before landing on his lips. She wanted him in a way words just couldn’t express – having to hold herself at a distance for years while they figured out what it meant to be friends after a failed relationship had been torture. Pretending she wasn’t affected by him, acting nonchalant at every touch or close brush…but now she didn’t have to hold back, not on a night like this when they were finally alone. So Sienna didn’t hesitate as she closed the distance between them and kissed him deeply, hands framing his face to keep him close. Even after years, the sensation of kissing him felt as familiar as if they’d never stopped, and Si let herself indulge in the feeling of his lips on hers before pulling back the slightest bit. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to do that…” she said with pleasure as she gave a sigh of satisfaction.

@auguste

[Deleted]

Oh how Gus cherished these quiet little moments with Sienna. The moments where it was just him and her and nothing else in the world mattered. He regularly wished he could freeze these moments in time and never let them slip from his grasp again. The only thing he wanted even more was to move forward in his life now that she was in it. Maybe one day he could make her the promisses he wished to make, but that time knowing with certainty he could keep them. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, but he didn't want to promiss her that if he couldn't ensure her that it was a long life. With his mental health he wasn't willing to make promisses if he wasn't fully certain that he could keep them. He couldn't do that to her.

He blinked a few times as he considered her question. Would that be expected of her? He had to admit he had no idea since he'd never been in any sort of actual relationship since having gotten famous. It didn't suit his reputation, even if he'd rebranded a little bit at the latest album. There had been more love songs on that and he'd attempted to see if that had worked out with his plan. Well, not quite as much as he'd hoped but there was word that his album could possibly hint at the possibility of him actually haven met somebody he'd fallen for. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to have been more on the nose about that specific fact. Then again, he'd always had her in his life. The main difference was more that he'd chose to actually commit to her and try to make something good out of it this time. He shrugged. "I don't really know. It's all uncharted territory for me as well. I haven't exactly dated anybody since my rise to fame. You might be badgered by people but I'd just keep to no comment for the most part. The vultures will and can twist anything that you tell them to suit the story they want to tell. They annoy me endlessly." He rolled his eyes a bit exagerated but he figured she'd get the message. Vultures bad.

He smiled as she invited him to make a big romantic gesture. Well that was one thing she couldn't escape now. He'd mentally started planning something beyond huge the moment those words had left her mouth. "Oh, I'll show you the world. We'll fly around anywhere in my little sun car." He said in a seductive whisper as he pulled her closer. It seemed like he wasn't the only person with physical intimacy on his mind though, as she practically demanded a kiss. Not that he'd ever have considered saying no. It was good that she took initiative though, since he was working far too hard on being respectful. She was special and he wanted to show her that by not instantly jumping her but allowing her to set the pace. Not that he didn't match her intensity with his own, but he was slow in pushing ahead. It was up to her to determine the speed of their relationship.

Her words were like music to his ears, even though the small increase in distance wasn't what he wanted. He softly and gently pulled her closer as he gave her a short kiss again. "Then why stop?" He asked, his voice heavy with desire and emotion. He wanted her, but he was trying hard not to overstep. This was easily the most challenging thing to him, as he normally just went with whatever the flow seemed to be. He just couldn't risk going too fast too soon with her. She was far too important for that. That being said, he definitively did wrap his arms around her and pulled her just a little closer before kissing her again. He was far from satisfied and would always want to love and cherish her more.

Sienna Aurélie Linslee

[Sienna Aurélie Linslee]

The question of Gus’s celebrity status and the role it would play in their relationship was an important one, and it certainly needed to be discussed. It was sure to be something that weighed on Sienna’s mind in the coming weeks, if only because she was a person who valued her privacy and did everything she could not to advertise herself unnecessarily. She liked receiving attention to be sure, but only from the right kind of people. Gus, and her friends, and the people she was closest to. Once Si grew close enough to a person to really get to know them, yes she wanted their approval. But for the rest of the world? She’d be friendly, of course, and attentive to anyone she came in contact with. But she couldn’t deny that her privacy was important to her.

So there were things that would need to be discussed. Gus’s public image, and his fans, and how Si would fit into his world. There were other things too, because although they’d known each other a long time and been friends even after their breakup, there were things about Gus’s life that Si had preferred not to know about. Exes, or friends with benefits, or anybody else that had gotten a slice of Gus’s love. But tonight wasn’t the right time for that. Not a night like this one, with a confession and a date and the promise that it would be just her and him tonight. That was too perfect an opportunity not to enjoy completely, and Si let the subject of public relations and marketing drop with a final nod of her head. “Nothing is impossible to navigate, even the vultures,” Si promised.

Sienna laughed a little, then gasped as Gus whispered in her ear. His question didn’t immediately register in her mind, since it was still clouded with everything Gus – the warmth of his body, his arms wrapped around her and pulling her closer, and the shared breath between them as he spoke with his lips barely a hair’s width apart from hers. Instead she closed the distance again and wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him insistently. When she was short of breath, she pulled back slightly, giving him one last kiss for good measure. “Because…” Si tried to answer, although her voice was hoarse. She cleared her throat slightly then smiled at Gus as she traced a hand over his cheek. “Because you seem to have quite the evening planned, and now I’m curious,” she finally responded. It took an extreme amount of willpower, almost more than she could manage, but Sienna put a little space between them.

She took a few deep breaths to steady her heartrate, which had been beating erratically since she’d first given in to the temptation. Gus was…so intuitive about what she needed. Despite the vast differences in their backgrounds, he had never overstepped or done anything to insinuate that she was below him. Because of who he was, and everything he’d been through, there was a sensitivity to him that most people seemed to lack. Especially the wizards and witches who had grown up with everything and had only ever seen other people as a resource. There could have been so many ways for Sienna to step wrong in magical society, in a society she hadn’t really known when first starting at Beauxbatons, but she was so lucky that she’d met Gus then. He enriched her life in countless ways, that couldn’t be expressed in words but only in how deeply she felt for him. Still, she wanted to at least try. “I am…so lucky,” she said breathlessly, eyes drinking in Gus. She laughed slightly. “I don’t understand what I could have done to deserve you.”

@auguste