In the Still of the Night//Avery

[Jasper Michael Augustine]

He was running, his chest heaving as he hurtled after the man he was to bring in, the man who had killed three different people. Jasper despised people like that and it was what had driven him to become a Hit Wizard so long ago. He had wanted to become an Auror eventually and that hadn't wholly changed, but this was fun and fast paced enough for the man. "Get back here!" he howled as he skidded about another corner and came face to face with three other men. Well then, he had not been expecting an ambush, that was for shit sure. Snarling he backed up and drew his wand, seeing the man disappearing behind the other wall of the alley. Damn it. "STUPEFY!" hexes and jinxes and counters flew everywhere as the men dueled down by Diagon and Nocturne alley where he had found the first man wheeling a dealing with a few others. 

Jasper suddenly felt like his chest was going to explode as he was hit with a hex and his legs came out from under him. It wasn't he was petrified, it was he had been hit with the Jelly leg curse. Shit. Jasper managed to roll to his side and shoot another curse at the remaining man and took his shot. "Incarcerous!" The man went down and Jasper lay there, panting. The other two were on the list he was sure and his breath came in short bursts. He'd deliver these two and go back out after the other man he'd lost. He didn't know how long he'd laid there, but he could finally feel his legs and he scooted the two men together and transported all three of them, himself included, to the Ministry where he was due to drop them at. "Caught these two while chasing the other. No doubt they're on your list." He growled and the man nodded, checking the list and grinning a little. 

"That they are, Mr. Augustine." With that Jasper turned and hit the floo network, no matter how much he hated the feeling and was delivered home. He stumbled out of the living room fire and spluttered, dusting himself off. "Ugh, I hate using the floo." Coughing again he stood to his full 6'1" and sighed, flopping down to the couch. He'd clean it before Avery knew his dirty, bloody self was on it. He just wanted to relax for a moment before climbing into the shower to bathe. A yawn escaped the man but he knew he couldn't sleep just yet, he still had a man to catch that he would have to start at square one with. A groan slipped past his lips as he realized that, suddenly. It had taken him ages to find that blasted monster and now he would need to do all of the leg work again. "Awesome." It was snarled out as he leaned back his eyes sliding closed. "What rubbish." He never even heard his girlfriend or even opened his eyes, being three steps from sleep when and if she finally found him. 

Words: 515
Tagged: AVERY ALEXANDRA KING

[AVERY ALEXANDRA KING]

Her day at work had been long and not particularly pleasant. Avery sat on her bed, her long brunette hair wet and tussled, hanging messily around her shoulders as she contemplated everything that had happened. She had lost a patient today. It was not entirely uncommon for this to happen in a hospital, but it was relatively uncommon for the brilliant young witch. She had, like everyone else, lost her share of patients in her time as a healer, but not so many as most of the others. She wasn't sure if this was owing to her skills as a healer, her stubbornness and refusal to accept that there was nothing else that could be done, or sheer dumb luck. Perhaps it was a combination. Whatever the reason, she had managed to avoid the pits of this misery more often than most. It was never pleasant for anyone to lose a patient, even knowing that they had done everything they possibly could have done. It was, however, worse for the young girl, who, despite her stoic demeanor and ability to hide her emotions behind walls and a carefully constructed mask, felt things more deeply than most. She cared more than she cared to admit, and losing someone hurt more than she would ever admit. This was only made worse by the fact that, even knowing that she had done everything she could and had done everything right, she still felt like she had failed in some way. It wasn't a personal failure, but it still felt like one.

She was so immersed in her own thoughts that she barely heard the noise when Jasper came home through the floo. She thought she heard him coughing and muttering something. She jumped up from the bed and started heading toward the door when she realized she was still wrapped in a towel. She shrugged it off. It didn't matter anyways. She opened the door and walked toward he living room to find Jasper laying on the couch, dirty and... was that blood? Her eyes widened slightly as she she hurried over to him. "Jas? Are you okay?" she fought to keep her voice from sounding too terribly worried. She swallowed back the panic that rose unbidden in her throat, as it always did ever since that day. She saw blood, but it wasn't much, which helped her nerves a little as she looked him over to find no injuries that were terrifyingly extensive. She huffed a sigh of relief as she managed to sit herself on what was left of the edge of the couch, looking down at him and telling herself that he would be okay, she didn't have to worry.

She hated worrying so much, she hated feeling like this, she hated the nightmares that haunted her sleep whenever he was gone. She knew it wasn't really rationale, and she hated to be irrational, but after everything that had happened, was it really irrational? Or was it simply an expected consequence of a terrible situation? She didn't know the answer, but honestly she didn't care. She just wished she could move past it. It was getting better, or at least she always thought it was, until he came home hours late and she found herself fearing the worst, or he came home a little bloody and she felt like her heart would explode from all the worry that rose at the sight. The nightmares were a little better, at least. She never had them when he was here, when she knew she didn't have to worry, only when he was gone. That was an improvement, anyways. She pushed away the thoughts, reminding herself that he was right there next to her, and he was okay, if a bit dirty and bloody. She ran her fingers gently across his cheek and let the warmth of the touch ease her. "You're a mess, you know that?" she allowed a small smile to grace her lips as she teased him lightly, feeling the fears slowly melt away. "What am I going to do with you?"

Words: 683
Tags: Jasper Michael Augustine

[Jasper Michael Augustine]

Jasper jumped like a rabbit when she came rushing in and fought not to shift into the wolf like he had a tendency to do when he was startled. It was a defensive reflex for the man now, easier to get away, easier to wound. The voice calmed him though once he realized who it was. "Av, yeah, I'm fine. Just ran into an ambush." He shrugged and grunted at a stab of pain. He'd apparently hit that shoulder on the way down or something. "I got hit with a few hexes, they even nailed me with the Jelly Leg jinx. Got them with a body bind and the incarcerous hex. Brought them in, but lost the man I'd originally been chasing. Damn them." The last words was growled out and he leaned his head on her lap. "Aren't I always a mess when I come home?" His voice was deep, husky and warm as he leaned against her exposed leg flesh, inhaling gently, she was clean and it smelled amazing, then again, she always smelled amazing. "You smell good." He rumbled out and fought the urge to carry her upstairs.

Jasper wasn't pure of mind, but he had only ever been with Avery in his whole life, not that it bothered him. A smile broke out across his face as she talked and he shifted to look up at her from where he rested in her lap. "Dunno, what are you going to do with me." His eyes danced with barely contained mischief and his grin was wide and fox like. "We should go to the Broomsticks tomorrow for old times sake, maybe?" He didn't bother doe eyeing her this time, knowing she might have work. He got the evening off the next day and he had wanted that to be a surprise for her. It radiated she was stressed a bit and she needed out he thought. Avery was by no means an open book, but Jasper had always been able to pick up on what she was feeling and it had made his life a little easier when it came to his stoic girlfriend. You need to quit being a coward and propose, ass. The little voice chided him, like it always did and he told it firmly to shut up and stuffed it down.

He looked back down to his own lap and then back up to her. "Unless you have to work." He wanted to ask what was wrong and decided to sit up and lean into her personal space. "What happened today at work, babe. Something up?" Jasper was intuitive and he always caught her worry when he came home late, but he always checked it wasn't something more. He usually checked on her because he knew a healer was a high stress job, much like his own, only he didn't mourn when someone he was chasing died. Most of them deserved it. He laid a hand on the side of her cheek and then removed it, apologizing a bit at the mild dirt on his hand and rubbed it on his jeans again and looked into her eyes, searching them. "I am sorry I come home so late, I'm sorry I make you worry." His voice was low and he meant it, he loved Avery and never wanted to hurt her, or even make her worry.

"We both have jobs that might kill us in the end, you mentally and me...well, if I take the wrong hex." Gently he leaned in and kissed her, it was a fleeting thing, soft and sweet. "Although, coming home to you every single time gives me something to fight to live for." He softly laid his forehead against hers and grinned. "If I get you dirty again, I'll clean up the mess." It sounded dirty, but it wasn't how he meant it. Although, why tell her that? It was funny to watch her blush and maybe, just maybe it would help her calm down a little. A meow caught his attention as Ashe leaped up into his lap and he stroked her velvety fur and grinned at Avery again. "Look, both my ladies come to see if I'm okay. I really am the luckiest man on earth."

Words:711
Tagged:AVERY ALEXANDRA KING

[AVERY ALEXANDRA KING]

Avery caught the grunt when he moved before explaining what had happened. She peered over at his shoulder, gathering that it was what was hurting him. "Hurt your shoulder?" she asked with a tilt of her head. She was very observant and excellent at deducing things in general, but particularly when it came to injuries, and even more so when it came to him. She smiled when he laid his head in her lap and she stroked his hair gently. "I'm sorry your man got away." she said gently. She chuckled a little at his comment about always being a mess when he came home. "Mmm, yes, I suppose you are. But I guess that's why you have me, to fix you back up." she half teased. She smiled at his comment. "Yeah? Well, I'm glad you think so." she winked playfully.

The mischief he was barely containing wasn't hidden to her. She chuckled, "Mmm, I haven't the slightest idea what I'll do with you. Although, I could think of a few things." she gave him a somewhat impish grin, her words somewhere between teasing an serious, making it difficult to tell which it was, or perhaps it was both. She tilted her head in question when he said they should go to the Broomstick tomorrow. He had no doubt caught that there was something on her mind, something besides him coming home late and dirty, that was bothering her. He was right. How he always managed to pick up on these things still amazed her. He was the only one that could read her. She wasn't sure if it was because he was just that good or because she let her guard down around him. Probably a mix of both. Either way, it had always been both amazing and frustrating all at once, although she had gotten over the frustrated part long ago.

She broke from her slightly distracted thoughts when he mentioned work and she shook her head. "No, I'm off tomorrow." she replied, giving him a small smile. There it was. The question that was bound to come. She didn't mind him in her personal space, he was the only one she didn't mind being there. Actually, she rather enjoyed it. "I lost a patient today." she admitted, no longer surprised by how easily she opened up to him. "She was too young. About our age, actually. Her boyfriend was there." she paused and sighed, looking up at the ceiling and realizing now why this had struck even deeper for her than most cases. Because the patient was her own age, and left behind someone she loved, someone who loved her, who now had to live without her. "I don't know if I'm more sorry to her or to him." she admitted, looking back down at him. "It's stupid, I know. I have nothing to be sorry for. There was nothing that anyone could have done for her. So why do I still feel this way?" she asked, as though he would actually know the answer. Somewhere inside her, some part of her wanted to cry, but she didn't. She rarely did. She could count on one hand the number of things that had been enough to bring her to tears. It wasn't because she never felt like crying, she was simply so used to not crying that it had become her natural response.

She chuckled a little when he quickly removed his hand from her cheek and apologized for the dirt. It didn't bother her, really. She simply enjoyed the touch, never mind the dirt. It soothed her unbelievably. His blue eyes met hers and she stared into them, drowning in the for a moment before he spoke. "I know, darling. I know you don't do it by choice." she gave him a smile and leaned over, kissing him on the forehead, even though that, too, was a little dirty. "I suppose it can't be helped. I'm sure someday I'll get over my irrationally excessive fear of losing you." she chuckled at herself, although she was somewhat serious. It was her way of admitting just how deep that fear ran, yet playing it off as a joke so it didn't drag them both down. "I'm fairly certain that I'll never get over the fear of losing you, though." she admitted with a small, somewhat sheepish smile. "And of course we can go tomorrow." she smiled gently and leaned over to kiss his head once more. "Do you not have work?" she questioned curiously.

She felt the painful reality of his words sink in and she nodded gently, but her thoughts were cut off by the kiss that seemingly erased them all. She returned the kiss, wishing it had lasted a little longer. She smiled at his next words. "Good. You'd better keep coming back, or else I'll have to hunt you down and drag you back." she was teasing, of course, aside from the fact that she did want him to keep coming back. His forehead against hers didn't bother her in the slightest, dirty or not. She laughed at the comment and felt her cheeks grow warm as her mind went off wondering exactly what he meant by that comment. She decided to run with it, whether or not he meant it that way. "Yeah? Well, good. You get something dirty, you have to clean it up." she gave him a playful look and a mischievous smile. She laughed when Ashe meowed and jumped into his lap. She leaned over and gave the cat a stroke before looking back at him and smiling. "Yes you are, and don't you forget it." she teased and winked playfully before leaning over and giving him a kiss, this time it was deeper and longer. When the kiss broke she pulled back only enough to stare into his eyes. "For the record, I'm the luckiest girl in the world." she smiled brightly and kissed his nose. "I love you, Jas."

Words: 1001
Tags: Jasper Michael Augustine

[Jasper Michael Augustine]

He nodded as she asked about his shoulder and sighed. “Landed on it once I lost my legs to that jinx.” He grunted and sighed a little, once again. “Yeah, me too, it had taken me months to find him and now I have to start from square one all over again for this. He's slippery as a snake and even worse to find.” He let his head hit the back of the couch gently and rolled his eyes to hers. He grinned though and nodded. “Exactly. I think the shoulder is just bruised, I don't think I did any real damage to myself this time.” This time. He left the word hanging and huffed to himself. He really did not mean to keep getting hurt, let alone worrying her.

He beamed though when she got flirty right back and he shoved himself up, grunting again as the bruised shoulder pulled a little. “Oh? What things, exactly?” He gave her a knowing look and a look filled his eyes that told her that he might know exactly what she meant, but he wanted to hear her say it. He loved when she got as mischievous as he did, it just made the night all that more interesting. He watched her tilt her head and mocked her by doing the same thing as she thought and he chuckled. “I have the evening off. You know we haven't been on a proper date in a while and I felt we should. Figured we both need it about now.” He was sure something was up and it was indeed due to the fact that she didn't have any walls around him.

Good, so she was off as well. His face fell when she stated she lost a patient today and he bundled her into his lap, cuddling her close. “Oh baby.” He murmured in her ear and nuzzled her neck gently. He made soft soothing noises as she talked, listening to every word and feeling his heart wrench as she talked. What would it be like to lose her? Hell, he already knew and he was shit sure it would be worse if he knew he would never get her back. “Both I'd imagine.” It was mumbled against her neck as stated she wasn't sure who she felt more sorry to. “Honey, I'm sure that you did everything you could. I know that statement doesn't make it any better, but still.” He kissed her neck softly and nuzzled against her again. “Sweetie, it's because you're a kind soul, you give your all, you put all of your heart and soul into your work, so it's jarring when you lose someone.” He shifted a little to look up at her, so she could see the love and sincerity in his blue eyes.

When she switched back to his work he nodded. “Nope, wouldn't dare to it on purpose. It kills me that I worry you, kills me that I come home late and know you haven't slept.” Gently he moved her so she was now seated beside him and he tucked her to him again. “I swear I'll make sure there is no dirt on you before we go to bed.” He watched her sheepishly and then blinked as she explained why she was so twitchy about it. “We both almost lost the other long ago and we both remember that night in full.” He kissed her gently and then pulled away again, smiling. “You had best not get over it, that will mean that you've gotten used to idea that I might not come home.” His words were serious, but it smile was a little sad. “I really hope that you never do get over it, as mean as that sounds.” He sighed and nuzzled against her again. “Good.” It was grunted out when she stated that she would more than likely never get over it, that's what he wanted to hear. There it was, the agreement to go to the Broomsticks. “Thankfully they did give me tomorrow night off, it'll be good to come home and fall asleep together at a normal time.” It really was, ahh, the little things.

“Of course I'll keep coming back, love. I'd be insane not to.” He grinned and kissed her again, fiercely. He pulled away to chuckle at her and kissed her nose. “I believe you would too.” He had no doubt she would hunt him down as surely as he hunted criminals and brought them back to justice. He grinned wickedly though as she ran with his comment and his mind hit the gutter. “Oh, I'll be sure to.” He tugged her to him again and kissed down her neck, nuzzling a little in between, trying to drive her up the wall. He was indeed the luckiest man in the world and he quit being a pest when the cat showed up. “Trust me, I wouldn't forget it for the world. I'd be lost without you and Ashe.” He meant it and he let her see it as she stroked the cat and kissed her again, deeply, mumbling an 'I love you more.' against her lips as his eyes fluttered closed. He was on cloud nine and he wouldn't change it for the world.

Words: 881
Tagged: AVERY ALEXANDRA KING

[AVERY ALEXANDRA KING]

Avery looked over at it and kissed his cheek. "I'll fix it for you later." she smiled. "I'd fix you now but my wand is all the way in there." she gestured towards the bedroom with her head. "Not really much room to hide it in a towel." she chuckled. "I'm sorry he got away. But you'll catch up to him again. After all, you are the most stubborn and persistent person I know. Maybe even more than me, and that's saying something." she laughed lightly, trying to ease the mood. "If you're determined to catch him, I don't think there's anywhere on this earth he can hide forever." she was serious but she smiled almost playfully and kissed his forehead. She chuckled at the comment about his shoulder and smiled. "Well, at least it's just a bruise, then. Better than getting yourself all beat up and bloody. That's an easy fix." she replied and tried not to think of the possibility of him coming home all beat up and bloody.

Avery smiled, her face holding an innocent look that was in stark contrast to the mischievous glint that hid behind her green eyes. "I think you know exactly what I mean." she teased, her eyes dancing with mischief, yet holding an 'I'm completely innocent' look all at once. "Like maybe this." she leaned over and gave him a kiss that was somewhere between playful and passionate. "Or..." she climbed over into his lap, giving him a playful, flirty look before kissing him again. "Shall I go on?" she teased with a playful grin before kissing his nose. She gave him a playful glare when he mocked her by tilting his head as she did. She poked his abdomen and pouted playfully. "Don't make fun of me." she pouted, although she wouldn't know what to do with herself if he didn't tease her. It was more fun this way. She loved it, but she loved to tease right back. "Good. We really could use a proper date about now." she grinned, the idea of getting to spend that time with him making her all the more happy.

She complied when he pulled her close and she snuggled up to him easily, happy to feel the warmth and comfort that the embrace brought. It soothed her and made her all but forget her worries. She nodded when he said that he was sure she had done everything she could. It was true, she had. It didn't change the fact that the girl was still dead, but knowing that it wasn't by her own fault helped, and hearing it from someone else, particularly from him, helped more than trying to tell herself that. She enjoyed the touches and kisses and let them ease her mind and bring her comfort, chasing away the fears that this had brought to surface, the fear of losing him. She nodded as he spoke, still somehow amazed at how well he understood her, and entirely glad for it. No one else knew just how deeply she really cared about things, or how she put her all into everything she did, which meant that things hurt more when they went wrong. She was glad that he understood, and she was thankful for the words. She smiled a little when he pulled back to stare into her eyes and she saw the sincerity and love in those blue eyes she loved so much. "Thank you, love." she smiled, giving him a gentle kiss and a big hug.

She moved easily when he moved her next to him and tucked her against him and she nuzzled into him, not caring that he was a bit dirty. "I know, baby. It's not your fault." she replied sincerely. She chuckled when he said he would make sure that there was no dirt on her when they went to bed. "I'll hold you to that." she teased, giving him a playful, if somewhat sheepish smile. She nodded when he spoke about how they had nearly lost each other. She still remembered that night as though it were yesterday, and her nightmares would never let her forget. She smiled into the kiss and returned the kiss with a soft one of her own before he pulled away. "That will never happen, darling." she assured him with a soft smile. There was no way that could happen. She would never get used to that idea, it would never get easier, but she didn't want it to. She smiled, "Good. It will be nice, won't it? Life's little pleasures." she chuckled. "I'll take it when I can get it." she smiled.

"Good. I don't think you're that insane." she teased. "You better believe it. You know I would hunt you down more fiercely than you hunt your targets." she laughed, but it was true. She wouldn't let him go without a fight, and they both knew what happened when she got her mind set on something, especially when he was involved. There was nothing in the world she wouldn't do. She grinned at his comment. "See that you do." she teased playfully as he tugged her to him and she giggled a little until he kissed her neck and she felt far too many feelings flooding through her. "Jas..." it was part giggled, part moaned and all love and affection. She knew he was trying to drive her up the wall, but it was working. She was helpless to resist, even if she wanted to, but she didn't. She beamed at his words. "You'd better not. But then, I won't let you forget." she teased and gave him a playful wink before he kissed her once more and she returned the kiss deeply, with all the passion she had. She smiled a little at his mumbled comment about loving her more. She was positive that wasn't possible, but she didn't bother to argue. Her eyes fluttered shut as she kissed him, content where she was, wrapped up in his arms. Nothing else mattered, and nothing made her happier than being lost in him.

Words: 1017
Tags: Jasper Michael Augustine