Fleur Isabelle Delacour (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} fleur_) wrote, |
"What? Oh, no, sorry. I was just surprised. " Fleur said, blushing as she realised that she hadn't said it as quietly as she thought she had. Now as she gazed across the table at him, Fleur very much wished that the table wasn't between them. Hell, if she was brave enough she'd probably have invited him back to her place right now. She wasn't though, so instead, Fleur tried her best re-assuring smile. "I 'adn't thought you'd noticed."
"I notice more than I probably should." Bill said self-deprecatingly, ruffling a hand through his hair, and gently rubbing the back of his neck. "I've fancied you for weeks, I just didn't want to be one of the masses drooling over you, or offering you their pen when you have four perfectly good ones on your desk. Or be the guy that can speak about nothing else except for how beautiful you are. You're a person, just an exceptionally lovely one, and you have the right to privacy as much as anyone else."
It was getting harder not to climb over the table just to kiss him, but Fleur was managing; barely. Truthfully, she'd heard similar confessions about her beauty, loveliness, and every variety of aesthetic compliments a male could manage. What she hadn't heard, and appreciated was what Bill was saying right now; that she was more than her looks. "I was theenking of doing zat too also," Fleur said, a small smile playing on her lips. Fleur paused as she glanced down then for the first time at her watch. "Speaking of work... I theenk we should be 'eading 'ome."
"Oh... ah." Bill could help the way that his entire spine softened in disappointment, and for the first time, he dreaded going back to his flat. He'd be worried about how to greet her tomorrow, or running over this small glimpse of her looking for any insight. But he understood- while it wasn't late, they hadn't planned on slipping off together. She'd been generous to offer a drink. "Of course." Slowly he pulled his legs back from their lazy resting place, and gathered to his feet, though he didn't release her hand, merely loosened his fingers between hers should she choose to pull away of her own accord.
Fleur watched Bill's reaction for a moment, both surprised and slightly pleased that he seemed disappointed. She knew she shouldn't be, but at the same time, Fleur was also a bit sad to have to leave him as well. Yet, she didn't want to keep him out all night, and there was work to consider in the morning. Sliding out of her seat, Fleur stood, picking up her purse as she did so, not letting go of his hand."Walk me 'ome?" Fleur asked, intertwining her fingers with his, and giving his hand a light tug.
Her light tug was all he needed to propel him forward, and Bill grinned, perhaps too energetically. "Of course, I'd love to." They were traipsing toward the door, but hand in hand felt better, and while he wanted to be closer, this had it's own merit. He slipped closer to her, brushing their shoulders together as the walked. "So tell me about your flat, or your flatmates."
Fleur was easily matching Bill's grin as they left the Leaky Cauldron, hand in hand. Walking next to him, Fleur glanced up at Bill occasionally, unable to wipe the smile from her face. It was a ridiculously simple movement and yet Fleur was practically on cloud nine. "Ok, it's not far from 'ere" Fleur said as she pointed ahead of them, a bit further along the muggle street they'd started walking down. "Zere is Anya, Maria and Paulo, zey are all new too ze UK, like I - me. I 'aven't talked to zem all too much, though zey are nice, friendly."