#csafiye

The air around the Barns was almost too fresh, the way it stung at Gideon’s lungs – but he knew that had more to do with the winding-and-bruisemaking conditioning drills of the morning. The magical training, led by Moody, was as brutal as ever, but at least it had more muscle memory built up around it after being in the Order for so long. Gideon was a bony, busy lad in his twenties; him waking up before dawn to run laps happened only as often as he got his five daily fruits and veg, and that was here at the Barns where they overlapped at the demand of his betters. 

Walking down from the main farmhouse felt strange. Gideon could remember himself as a new recruit stowed away in a bunk bed above Fabian not so long ago...but time had slipped away as he’d slipped further into the glow and draw of the Order. 

The sneaking aspect of seeking out the large red barn didn’t bother Gideon. He’d done too much mischief in his life to worry about Moody being passively annoyed at him as part of a larger group. But it still felt strangely like he was sneaking away from something looming back in his assigned bedroom – not that he’d allow himself to think it was anything other than the nursery’s creepy dolls. 

Light was pouring out of the cracked barn door, and Gideon felt warmed by it despite the already-warm summer air closed it heavy around him. He wasn’t sure who he was expecting to see as his first face when he passed over from grass to hay – but it surely wasn’t Safiye Fawley, drink in hand and dangerously close to mingling territory. 

“Is that a plastic cup?” Gideon asked, before he could help himself – with a wink and a wide smile on his face, even if he suspected a brusque brush-off was coming his way soon. “I think I saw some fine china gathering dust up at the house, if you’re in need.” 

— @safiyeece​