{I h o p e y o u d o n t m i n d} ash

Ashley found that he loved her confidence most. She was so feisty, fiery, and interesting and he couldn’t get enough. Despite himself, he wondered if he was legitimately falling for this girl he had never even taken to bed. Or kissed. Or even, technically, flirted with—other than their banter, which didn’t necessarily count. It was strange, this feeling. Different. He hadn’t felt this drawn to a woman since he first met Nadia. There had been something about Nadia that made Ashley pause, want to know more, and want to see more of her. The same was true with Roslyn. Ashley saw her every day at work, but this wasn’t enough to satisfy him. She was electric and addictive, and he wanted to experience her properly—filter off, personal.   
  
“Ah yes, I suppose you’re right. It would be hard-pressed for you to take advantage considering I’d have you on every surface of this apartment if you were so kind.” He teased, tongue-in-cheek, but he also meant it 100% and would absolutely prove it if she let him. Of course, given his current injury, he probably couldn’t support her on some of his favorite surfaces.  
  
His grin widened as she agreed to his date. Was that really what it was? He supposed if it quacked like a duck…. Well, maybe it was a date? “Fine, fine. I’ll be a good boy.” He decided, finally, entirely to appease her. “But you better not stand me up for our date, Ros. My brother is very protective. He’ll getcha.” He teased.  
  
He was happy to know that Indiana would be graduating soon. He had intentionally rented a two-bedroom flat (though bedroom #2 was dangerously sparse at present), knowing that Indy would most likely want to live with him after graduation (if only to silence Ashley’s nagging and, admittedly, begging). He had a plan for Indiana and him, a life of two brothers against the world. When Roslyn was no-longer his babysitter, once he had passed his probationary period, perhaps he would be allowed to train/partner with his magizoologist brother for jobs, travel, and go back to doing things his own way. As much as he loved the idea of working with Indiana full-time (and having his brother back, after the years of being so far apart), he knew he would miss spending his days with Ros, making jokes and doing things their own way, too.  
 
Wistful, he sighed. “You know, he’s just about to graduate from Magizoology school.” He began. “Should be moving in pretty soon. He’s the smart one.” He explained, then laughed. “I’m the pretty one, though.” He grinned a bit as he thought about it, and what Indiana would have to say about that particular jibe. He had heard it before—even from girls they were competing over. Ashley had a je ne sais quoi with the ladies that Indiana lacked, though he was great with women, too. Ashley was just, well, charming and handsome in a way not many could compete. Rugged, manly, with a low deep south United States drawl—Ashley was a catch here.  He was foreign and fiery and interested in interesting things.  
 
“I think once we’re not partners anymore, once your punishment is finally over, he might be partnering with me at the Ministry. Wow, we’ll be a duo. I haven’t worked with Indy since I was… what, seventeen? I just think about it all the time. We were always so close, you know?” How strong was this liquor coffee? “I used to split our favorite breakfast cereals so he’d get the toy in the box, and… steal him Christmas presents when mom and dad forgot it was a holiday outside. I really wanted to make sure Indy was always taken care of. Selfish bastard, really. He took it for granted, and never seemed to notice or care that I would bend over backwards for him. Of course, my sister Cheyenne always did notice that kind of thing, and while I love her dearly, she’s so much younger that I didn’t get to bond with her the same way. She’s eighteen now, fresh Ilvermorny grad. She’s living in Las Vegas, bartending of all things, faking her age and making ridiculous money from drunk gamblers in tips and hustling pool. Atta girl.” He laughed. 
 
“Sorry, I’m rambling on and on. You probably don’t want to know my family history. I’ll save it for the first date.” He winked lightly, moved to stretch out his back and moved a bit too quickly, straining his injured arm. “Oh Jesus, ow.” He managed, face in a grimace. “I will not remember saying this later, but you’re right. This smarts way worse than I thought.” 

Roslyn didn't consider herself oblivious in most things, but she could be incredibly stupid when it came to relationships. She was bad at them, was the problem. Never in the same place as the other person, for one, be it physically or emotionally. Or they ended up wanting different things. She supposed from her end it was difficult for her to figure out what someone wanted from her. It was easier for just to expect they only wanted sex and just leave it at that. Uncomplicated, for the most part. There was a time in her life when that hadn't suited her and she gave her heart away too easily. Now, well, it was a struggle to navigate how she felt past just feeling of attraction or friendship. She knew how she treated Fergie could blur the lines a bit, but he was the only man she made that sort of exception for.

Fergie had been there before, and after, and if she had any say at all he'd continue to be her constant through the years. It hadn't occurred to her that, maybe, she could have that in a romantic partner. Fergie and Edith were... perfect, actually, and while she didn't have an envious bone in her body she found herself wistful. Could something so great be meant for her? That thought was really too terrifying thing to contemplate, actually, and she did with it what she did with anything else she couldn't properly synthesize or get a grip on. She bottled it down to be uncorked at a later date.

A small grin worked its way past her lips, teal eyes peeking up from under dark eyelashes, as she flashed him a look. It was cute he thought he'd have her, and not the other way around. She hummed, arching an eyebrow, as she took her time to glance at him. "Quite bold of you to assume you can get me to do anything, actually." also bold to assume he'd have his brain operating at full capacity by the time she was done with him. As with everything Roslyn Hayes tended to be a bit... assertive, in her every day life. She couldn't help the chortle that escaped her throat at his words, though. "You? A good boy? Are you concussed?" she asked, blinking at him suspiciously, before she laughed.

Ash being remotely well-behaved seemed like an impossibility. "Glad to know at least one Morigan didn't pass on the brain gene." she teased, suitably impressed. "At least you're pretty." she agreed solemnly, though there was a teasing glint in her eye. She didn't think much of his joke, assuming quite incorrectly he wasn't serious. When had their partnership become just her punishment, exactly? She was distracted from that thought at his next words and she couldn't help laughing along, thinking of her own family. "I'm the youngest myself, but my cousin is little brother enough for me to mother him and his friends a lot. Gryffindors can be reckless, you know." she said with a smug grin.

It was ... very sweet that he seemed to care for his siblings so much, though. An admirable trait, actually. "Are you alright?" she asked, a concern puckering of her eyebrows on display as she leaned forward. "Bollocks, let's get you to bed you stubborn man." she muttered, getting up and hovering over him. "I'll clean up, c'mon." she added, biting her lip. He very much needed to rest and not overdo it today.

Despite himself, Ashley let Roslyn take him to bed. “Fine, fine.” He agreed. “Thanks for this though, Ros. It was nice having you bring me breakfast, you know?” He smiled at her, warmly. “And don’t forget Friday. It’s a date.” He smiled, clarifying.

He slid into bed and let her mother him a little bit, but when she finally left, he sighed and stared at the ceiling. How fucked was he, really? She could keep up with his jabs, she could keep up with his flirts and knew exactly what she wanted. He couldn’t promise to not fall in love with her if he hadn’t already.

He sighed, thinking of Indy. He looked forward to his brother joining him…. But if that meant losing Ros as a partner… what would he do?

He felt himself start to drift as the thoughts left his head.

[End]

"You're welcome, not just get some actual rest." she murmured, hoping he'd take her bloody advice. She still felt sort of guilty for not telling him it was her birthday but, really, her choice had been obvious here. It was bad enough just getting him to comply on a normal holiday, she wasn't sure how bad he'd be if she actually told him. There was always next year though, assuming he was still in the UK at that point...

"Sure, sure, whatever you want." she told him, still amused that he seemed so insistent, but still figuring it was mostly for show. They spent time together all the time without calling them dates, after-all. "Sleep well, ya mook." she murmured, laughing a bit as he seemed to dose off. She made her way out of his bedroom, closing the door softly behind her, as she took stock of the mess they'd made. With a couple of flicks of her wrist mostly everything was tidied and put away. She left the glittering "Happy St.Patricks Day!" garland hung up because she figured it added some color to his rather sterile looking space.

She made him quite a few sandwiches before placing them in the cold box for him to eat when he was hungry later and with that she was off.

{out!}