the_debt_of_time

Locking Charm that the older Sirius had put on it. Slowly, she removed the goblin-made
heirloom from her skin, smiled, and reached for Sirius's hand. She placed the bracelet
around his wrist. "Courage and craft. You have new House words, Sirius."
"You're too good for me." Sirius frowned as he looked into her eyes, not even
glancing at the gift she had just given him as he ran gentle fingers against her cheeks, jaw,
and the line of her neck.
She smirked up at him. "I said you were precious, not perfect."
Though he did not return her expression, she saw a brief glimpse of amusement in
his eyes. As the moment faded, however, she began to see it again: fear. The walls were
going back up. He had exposed too much, showed too much weakness to her, and that left
him vulnerable and open to hurt.
"I need you," she whispered before he had a chance to lock her out completely.
Caught off-guard by the statement, Sirius's wet eyes widened. "Mia, nothing's
changed. I'm still―"
"Mine. You're the end, Sirius," Mia cut him off. "However, I'm nothing if not logical
and practical. I don't expect epic love stories where I'm some pure princess locked in a
tower, and you're the charming prince come to save me." She pushed a fallen lock of hair
from his face so his eyes remained unobstructed from her view. "We're both Gryffindors
who fought a little too hard to stay out of Slytherin, which means we are not perfect. I
am anything but pure, and while you are charming," she began, chuckling when his
expression briefly turned smug, "I don't expect you to come riding in on a white horse."
"Black horse?" he suggested with a softened smirk.
"Maybe one day. When we're older and smarter and this war is over. For now, we
live in a shitty world filled with Dark Magic and Death Eaters, and I'm struggling to find
any good reason to not have my fill of you now because we'll only be this age together for
such a short time."
She fought back the burning anxiety in her chest. It already felt like time was running
out for them. She gently scratched her nails against the front of his worn t-shirt. "I've
already lived a life full of regrets based on overthinking things. I want to live in the moment,
this moment. I have no expectations, Sirius, not tonight, but haven't we waited long
enough?"
"I need you," he finally blurted out, echoing her pleading from earlier.