are we to speak?

James rolled over so that Eli could lay on top of him, his arms wrapping fully around Elijah’s torso to hold him tightly. “You don’t want to take care of me?” he asked, pouting and turning slightly to press kisses against the side of Eli’s face. “And I’m never going to tell you it’s a great day, so you never have to worry about that. I’ll lie if I have to,” he teased, grinning brightly at Elijah as he pulled away just enough to look at him. “I love you, by the way. And I love that you’re here.”

“Thank you for letting me know.” It was odd, how people and media made America seem like such a wonderful place, but any of his friends who had visited it had came back and told him it wasn’t as great as it had seemed. More of a reason he really didn’t want to go anywhere near the country. “Okay, maybe not everything. And only certain people ever get to know what it smells like,and usually those people find out by complete accident.” He knew he had only been teasing, but it was indeed the truth. “Oh, definitely top secret. So secret that I have to tell you. It’s just some reading for work that I’m catching up on. New potions and such I have to know how to make for injuries that come in.”

“Noted. I will make sure to mark America off the places of the world to visit.” Nodding, he leaned forward against his knees. It really wasn’t a country he had been planning to visit anyways. His main list was to visit the wonders of the worlds, so the pyramids and such. Of course visit Paris at one point with Lily as well. “I am slightly offended you’re not subscribed. Because just for the low price of having my address and number, you could know absolutely everything about me.” He gave a small smile before a shrug shook his shoulders. “So much reading for this job I have, don’t think I’ve been able to rest much this week.”

“Unless you’ve got excellent company-- not worth it.” Eli shook his head. He blamed the fact he’d gone completely alone for the fact he hated it. Maybe he’d try again but with James being there too. “Everything about you?” His jaw dropped, “alright, alright, maybe I can muster up the galleons to subscribe to it.. I’ve been dying to know what your amortentia smells like.” Eli teased. “What’s the reading for? Assuming it’s not some super top secret thing you can’t tell me.”

“Hi,” he greeted with a grin, leaning in and pressing a kiss to Elijah’s cheek before looking up at the paper that Eli motioned to. “Do you need help with any of this? Because I’ve gotten a lot better at planning things since you were gone,” he said, his hand coming down to rub along Elijah’s side gently as he turned over, leaving a tender kiss on his lips. “Garbage, but I’m guessing you already knew that.”

“It’s my favorite place in the entire world.” Albus shrugged, looking over at him. “I mean, the pay’s better than any of the crumby jobs I’ve had before this but it’s not amazing. I don’t know, I just love it. Maybe it makes me a huge nerd but I just want to make one person like History of Magic.”

“at least it makes one of us.” eli scoffed. he enjoyed the school--- but not as much as albus seemed to, though he admired it. “i quite liked history of magic. probably my second favorite course. my first was potions but only because james was my partner.” he admitted, scratching the back of his head with a small laugh.

“I bet.” Albus nodded slightly, blinking a few times. “Don’t think I’d be able to do it honestly, be that far away for more than a week.” He trailed off, a small smile crossing his lips after a moment. “Hopefully then James will spend at least a bit less time pinning over you. But yeah, took over teaching History of Magic. Weird being back at Hogwarts.”

“I don’t think I’d be able to go back to Hogwarts.” Eli admitted with a laugh. “Head Boy was a fun gig, sure, but a professor? No way in bleeding hell. The pay’s gotta be good, right? Don’t tell me your the type to just do it for the kids.” He was joking, but deep down, Eli wished he was as passionate as that.

“Chipper, huh?” His eyebrows scrunched together a bit as he looked over him for a moment before rolling his eyes lightly as a smile took his lips. “That’s great to hear, I totally get you. Not that I’ve went to school in America or anything, but I understand. If that makes sense.” Honestly, his dad probably wouldn’t even let him go to school across seas. A chuckle sounded from him. “If chipper means absolutely exhausted, then sure, I’m incredibly chipper.”

“America sucks by the way. So backwards and their parties are nowhere near as good as ours.” Eli noted with a laugh. “Chipper can mean anything. But what’s got you so exhausted? Forgive me for not subscribing to the Scorpius Malfoy Fan Club-- I’m not very up to date as to what you’ve been up to.” He teased.

James watched Elijah for a moment before he pulled off his heavy boots—those were standard issue for aurors these days, and when James got home from work, he sometimes just didn’t have it in him to take them off, get undressed, and get into bed. He was more tired than usual these days—he always felt like he was just going from one thing to another rather than getting any down time for himself. That night, however, was for them—he actually had some down time, which meant that he was ready to just shower Elijah in affection. Carefully climbing on the bed so he could lie on top of Elijah, he gently plucked Elijah’s headphone from his ear before he pressed a kiss behind the same ear. “Busy planning?”

Eli flinched just slightly, not knowing James was even there until he felt the bed move. “Merlin.” He sighed, pushing his glasses on top his head as he looked back at James. “Yes, very. But I’m really beginning to consider kidnapping you and running away if it means I don’t have to deal with the bleeding seating chart.” Eli motioned to the paper floating on his left. “Though we can’t run off before taking the cake with us first.” He smirked before suddenly shifting onto his back so he could take James’ face in his hands and kiss him. “How was work?”

“I  said move because you’re in the way.” Wyatt said. “And I’m not one to give pity so I’m sorry if you’re hard of hearing, but I don’t care.” He said, rolling his eyes at the other in frustration. 

“Pity.” Eli sighed, still scribbling into his book. “Did you hear that?” His head tilted, “it was almost the sound of my heart breaking at your little display of disinterest.”

“james could care less about you ignoring me, i’m sure.” she wasn’t ever really quite sure what james thought of her, or if he approved of her actions or any of that. she knew that she didn’t need his approval, though it would feel nice. she looked over elijah’s shoulder, as if to try to catch a glimpse of what he was writing, but in actuality, she didn’t care all that much, it was more a failed attempt at small talk. she was never exactly the best at interactions that had no end goal.

“please-- if you’ve got weasley or potter tacked onto your name, he cares. loads.” eli admired james’ passion for his family, his own was rather small and to deal with all the cousins... eli gave him mad props. the silence grew between them, eli wasn’t great at conversation but he figured he’d at least try and make some. “you listen to any good music lately? i’ve been needing something fresh.”

Eli was lying on his stomach in their bed, wedding planner book in front of him with several pages scattered around and even levitating in the air above him. This was the only way to keep him from wreaking havoc on Order meetings by clinging to James. Hurt feelings and snarky comments would be avoided by just leaving Elijah to his own devices. His head nodded along to the music playing through the one headphone he had in his left ear, mumbling the words as he flipped through color swatches-- not at all realizing that James was standing in the doorway. 

Scorpius had been on his way back home when he spotted Eli sitting on the corner. It’s not like he had a curfew or anything, so he decided he’d stop to talk to him for a bit. “Oh, my bad.” Giving the other a small smile, he stepped to his other side, taking a seat as well. “How have you been?” Looking over at the other, he raised a brow curiously. It wasn’t often that he ran into people from school, except for the few he actually spoke to on almost a regular basis, which even then we’re at least a few.

“Chipper as usual.” Eli mused with a smirk. Mostly because anyone who knew him was well aware of the fact he was hardly ever chipper. “I’m almost graduated from my art school--- which is great because I hate going to school in America when everyone else is here.” He sighed. “What about you, Scorpius? Chipper as well?”

“yeah, wild, i know.” he might’ve been poking a bit of fun at the way that she barely left her house, except as to work. but the sun was out, so she too, was out. she was so caught up in her own insecurity that she hadn’t noticed herself standing on his bad side. she quickly corrected herself. “sorry, i’ve got to get better at that. how are you what are you writing?”

“i mean, i don’t get out much either.” eli trailed off with a smirk. he knew most of the wotter clan, thanks to james and to the fact that being head boy he made sure he had an eye kept on all of them. but he never once heard much noise from lucy, which was what made her interesting. “just words really... nothing-- meaningful.” eli shrugged. “and don’t worry about it, i don’t go around with a sign on my head. i’d just rather you not think i’m ignoring you. james would make me apologize.”