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slumber
Recipient:rachelleneveu
Title: take your time (coming home)
Pairing: Roger/Cho
Rating: G
Word Count: 1300
Summary: Thirteen years of friendship in thirteen drabbles.
Author's Notes:rachelleneveu, you had such great pairings I had trouble picking, but I've always flirted with Roger/Cho so in the end, I couldn't resist going with them. I hope you enjoy this! Thank you, Crystal, for running this fest, and as always, C, thank you!
1992.
Roger doesn't think Chang should Seek for Ravenclaw. He tells Stretton this, but "No one else tried out" is a rock-solid rebuttal. "Also, you just got off reserve. Piss off."
Roger ignores that last part and eyes Chang, imagining all the ways her little bones could break upon first contact with a bludger. She's fast, but she's no bigger than Audrey, and she has to be agile always -- it takes just one hit. Ask Bundy.
"Welcome to the team," he says. "Come here with your broom tomorrow." The least he could do is make sure she stays on it.
1993.
"Good luck, Harry."
Roger watches as Potter turns an interesting shade of red. "Looks like someone's got a crush," he drawls, earning himself a good smack on the arm. "Oy! These are scoring hands you're damaging!"
"Oh, don't be a prat." Cho says, flushing. "He's just being nice."
"I don't see the Chosen One being nice to any of the other pretty girls in school," he points out. "Maybe you can use your feminine wiles and--"
"Roger!"
He takes off laughing, and is even more amused when Cho wins the game and refuses to look him in the eye after.
1994.
"Boys, please," Roger says amid the team's Yule Ball chatter. "There's a lady among us."
Dorny snorts. "Shut it, Davies, we haven't all managed a date like you."
"You have?" Cho asks, surprised.
"Don't look so shocked. I'm quite a catch, you know."
"No, I'm -- I just didn't know you liked anyone, that's all."
"I wasn't about to say no to Fleur Delacour." He high-fives Dorny and Summerby, who whoop and cheer. Noticing Cho's silence, he adds, "Don't worry, someone'll ask you." He knows; Diggory cornered him earlier to make sure Cho didn't have a date yet, after all.
1995.
"Cho, I never got to say, I'm--"
"Please don't say it."
"Okay. If you need to talk, you know you can, right? With me, to me, at me? Or we can go to Puddifoot's, if you need a distraction--"
"I appreciate it, I do." He thinks there's no reason she has to force a smile but she does. She tries. "I need to go, there's a--"
"DA meeting?" Roger lowers his voice. "Cho, should you really get involved in that?" "Why don't you, Roger?"
"It won't bring him back," he says, as gently as he can.
She slaps him anyway.
1996.
"Roger?"
He grins. "Cho! Came to see my little sister," he explains, patting Audrey's hair, ignoring her glare for Cho's bright smile. "How've you been?"
"Good! And how's Puddlemere?"
"It's been great. Hope I get to play soon."
"I'm sure you will. You've always--"
"Cho, we're gonna be late."
Roger didn't even see the boy beside her. "Who's this?"
"Er, you remember Michael Corner?"
"Her boyfriend," Corner adds, glowering.
"Of course," he lies. "Well, it's good to see you both."
He watches them walk away, forgets himself when he says, "She looks really good." Audrey snorts. "Caught on, have you?"
1997.
Someone knocks urgently.
Roger exchanges a glance with Audrey, who runs upstairs while Roger goes through the possibilities: a neighbor or co-worker (he hasn't made friends), the postman (at night?), the Commission...
He draws his wand -- he hasn't used it for fear of being tracked, but he hasn't forgotten how -- though when the door opens Cho's there: relieved, exhausted, a warm weight against his chest.
"Cho--"
"It's happening," she says, determined. "The Order -- we need everyone's help." "I have to keep Audrey safe."
"Hidden?"
"It won't bring him back."
"But he should be the last innocent life we lose."
1998.
"From Puddlemere reserve to a Muggle firm mail room to magical reconstruction," Roger sighs, shaking his head.
"Yes, you're building up quite the CV." Beside him, Cho chuckles, wand steady as she levitates a fallen pillar back to place, Roger casting the charm to bind it together. It's slow, careful work, made harder with classes back in session and scheduled around sections of the castle, but they can smile again, now. They can joke around, again.
"For next year I was thinking of taking on the stage, maybe." "Shacklebolt's still looking for Aurors."
"I know."
Cho hesitates. "I'm considering it."
1999.
"Alright there, Rog?"
He takes her proffered hand, lets her pull him to his feet before he bends over, wheezing. "You're still tinier than my sister. Are your bones made of steel or something?"
The smile he receives is haughty, playful, worth getting knocked out for. "Aw, don't feel so bad, I did train that year you were packing on weight in that 9-to-5."
She pats his stomach lightly, laughing when he sputters. "I was in hiding."
"Tell you what," she says. "Come here with your wand tomorrow. We'll work on making sure you stay an Auror, yeah?"
2000.
Post-war Auroring, it turns out, means desk work and office gossip. Roger stops by Cho's desk during an afternoon lull, leaning down conspiratorially. "Hey. You know the Auror's Ball?"
Cho looks interested. "Yeah?"
"There's a pool."
"Oh."
"On Goldstein and Patil. Want in?"
Cho mutters something under her breath. "Leave them alone, Rog."
"There's also one on McLaggen's date. My money's on Vane, she's--"
"Too late, he's asked me," she snaps, tone sharp enough to make him frown before her words actually sink in.
"Wait, what? You're interested in him?"
Cho shrugs. "Bet he won't spend the evening gossiping."
2001.
"So why did you and Cormac break it off again?"
"Ugh, did you have to start with that?" Cho ignores the beer he offers in favor of a bottle of red. "Romilda happened."
Roger winces. "I'm sorry, Cho--"
"Don't be. It wasn't serious, I mean -- he's Cormac." Cho frowns. "It's just--"
"Still stings the ego, yeah?"
"Yeah." She's silent for a moment, then: "I wish you were still there."
"I wish I was too."
"No. No, you don't." She looks up. "You're better off playing Quidditch again. I'm really happy for you, Rog."
He smiles. "But I miss you too."
2002.
"Are you sure I look alright?"
Roger shakes his head. "You don't look alright, Cho. You look beautiful."
She flushes, then clears her throat and smiles. "Thanks. I'm glad you could come."
"My best friend's getting an award for kicking ass. I'm not about to miss it. Besides--"
"Besides?"
He grins at her sheepishly. "I may need a plus-one for the Puddlemere Christmas party?"
"Is this because you're trying to shake off that PR lady?"
"Farley is wiley. Be glad I'm not asking for you to come as my security detail."
Cho rolls her eyes. "You're such a baby."
2003.
"So when exactly--"
"Last year's Ball."
Roger blinks. "They had a pool three years ago! They didn't get together until--"
"Nope." Cho looks at the slow-dancing pair. "And now they're married."
"That escalated quickly."
"I'm just glad they got there."
Roger doesn't say anything until the first song fades to the second. "Hey. Dance with me?"
Cho's hand feels small in his, her waist warm through the fabric of her dress. Her smile turns uncertain at the look on his face. "What?"
Roger shakes his head. "Just thinking."
She doesn't press. He wonders whether they'll get there at all.
2004.
It doesn't take a drunken night out, in the end. Not a jealous lover, or the romance surrounding a wedding, or the threat of war looming ahead. There is no grand gesture or long, heartfelt confession.
There is just a quiet evening, like countless others they've spent together, with some drinks and a movie on the telly Roger insists on keeping in his flat. Cho nearly falling asleep on his shoulder. A Summoned blanket to tuck her with. His lips on her temple, her slender fingers around his wrist.
She whispers, "Don't go."
"I don't ever plan to," he promises.
slumberRecipient:
rachelleneveu Title: take your time (coming home)
Pairing: Roger/Cho
Rating: G
Word Count: 1300
Summary: Thirteen years of friendship in thirteen drabbles.
Author's Notes:
rachelleneveu, you had such great pairings I had trouble picking, but I've always flirted with Roger/Cho so in the end, I couldn't resist going with them. I hope you enjoy this! Thank you, Crystal, for running this fest, and as always, C, thank you!1992.
Roger doesn't think Chang should Seek for Ravenclaw. He tells Stretton this, but "No one else tried out" is a rock-solid rebuttal. "Also, you just got off reserve. Piss off."
Roger ignores that last part and eyes Chang, imagining all the ways her little bones could break upon first contact with a bludger. She's fast, but she's no bigger than Audrey, and she has to be agile always -- it takes just one hit. Ask Bundy.
"Welcome to the team," he says. "Come here with your broom tomorrow." The least he could do is make sure she stays on it.
1993.
"Good luck, Harry."
Roger watches as Potter turns an interesting shade of red. "Looks like someone's got a crush," he drawls, earning himself a good smack on the arm. "Oy! These are scoring hands you're damaging!"
"Oh, don't be a prat." Cho says, flushing. "He's just being nice."
"I don't see the Chosen One being nice to any of the other pretty girls in school," he points out. "Maybe you can use your feminine wiles and--"
"Roger!"
He takes off laughing, and is even more amused when Cho wins the game and refuses to look him in the eye after.
1994.
"Boys, please," Roger says amid the team's Yule Ball chatter. "There's a lady among us."
Dorny snorts. "Shut it, Davies, we haven't all managed a date like you."
"You have?" Cho asks, surprised.
"Don't look so shocked. I'm quite a catch, you know."
"No, I'm -- I just didn't know you liked anyone, that's all."
"I wasn't about to say no to Fleur Delacour." He high-fives Dorny and Summerby, who whoop and cheer. Noticing Cho's silence, he adds, "Don't worry, someone'll ask you." He knows; Diggory cornered him earlier to make sure Cho didn't have a date yet, after all.
1995.
"Cho, I never got to say, I'm--"
"Please don't say it."
"Okay. If you need to talk, you know you can, right? With me, to me, at me? Or we can go to Puddifoot's, if you need a distraction--"
"I appreciate it, I do." He thinks there's no reason she has to force a smile but she does. She tries. "I need to go, there's a--"
"DA meeting?" Roger lowers his voice. "Cho, should you really get involved in that?" "Why don't you, Roger?"
"It won't bring him back," he says, as gently as he can.
She slaps him anyway.
1996.
"Roger?"
He grins. "Cho! Came to see my little sister," he explains, patting Audrey's hair, ignoring her glare for Cho's bright smile. "How've you been?"
"Good! And how's Puddlemere?"
"It's been great. Hope I get to play soon."
"I'm sure you will. You've always--"
"Cho, we're gonna be late."
Roger didn't even see the boy beside her. "Who's this?"
"Er, you remember Michael Corner?"
"Her boyfriend," Corner adds, glowering.
"Of course," he lies. "Well, it's good to see you both."
He watches them walk away, forgets himself when he says, "She looks really good." Audrey snorts. "Caught on, have you?"
1997.
Someone knocks urgently.
Roger exchanges a glance with Audrey, who runs upstairs while Roger goes through the possibilities: a neighbor or co-worker (he hasn't made friends), the postman (at night?), the Commission...
He draws his wand -- he hasn't used it for fear of being tracked, but he hasn't forgotten how -- though when the door opens Cho's there: relieved, exhausted, a warm weight against his chest.
"Cho--"
"It's happening," she says, determined. "The Order -- we need everyone's help." "I have to keep Audrey safe."
"Hidden?"
"It won't bring him back."
"But he should be the last innocent life we lose."
1998.
"From Puddlemere reserve to a Muggle firm mail room to magical reconstruction," Roger sighs, shaking his head.
"Yes, you're building up quite the CV." Beside him, Cho chuckles, wand steady as she levitates a fallen pillar back to place, Roger casting the charm to bind it together. It's slow, careful work, made harder with classes back in session and scheduled around sections of the castle, but they can smile again, now. They can joke around, again.
"For next year I was thinking of taking on the stage, maybe." "Shacklebolt's still looking for Aurors."
"I know."
Cho hesitates. "I'm considering it."
1999.
"Alright there, Rog?"
He takes her proffered hand, lets her pull him to his feet before he bends over, wheezing. "You're still tinier than my sister. Are your bones made of steel or something?"
The smile he receives is haughty, playful, worth getting knocked out for. "Aw, don't feel so bad, I did train that year you were packing on weight in that 9-to-5."
She pats his stomach lightly, laughing when he sputters. "I was in hiding."
"Tell you what," she says. "Come here with your wand tomorrow. We'll work on making sure you stay an Auror, yeah?"
2000.
Post-war Auroring, it turns out, means desk work and office gossip. Roger stops by Cho's desk during an afternoon lull, leaning down conspiratorially. "Hey. You know the Auror's Ball?"
Cho looks interested. "Yeah?"
"There's a pool."
"Oh."
"On Goldstein and Patil. Want in?"
Cho mutters something under her breath. "Leave them alone, Rog."
"There's also one on McLaggen's date. My money's on Vane, she's--"
"Too late, he's asked me," she snaps, tone sharp enough to make him frown before her words actually sink in.
"Wait, what? You're interested in him?"
Cho shrugs. "Bet he won't spend the evening gossiping."
2001.
"So why did you and Cormac break it off again?"
"Ugh, did you have to start with that?" Cho ignores the beer he offers in favor of a bottle of red. "Romilda happened."
Roger winces. "I'm sorry, Cho--"
"Don't be. It wasn't serious, I mean -- he's Cormac." Cho frowns. "It's just--"
"Still stings the ego, yeah?"
"Yeah." She's silent for a moment, then: "I wish you were still there."
"I wish I was too."
"No. No, you don't." She looks up. "You're better off playing Quidditch again. I'm really happy for you, Rog."
He smiles. "But I miss you too."
2002.
"Are you sure I look alright?"
Roger shakes his head. "You don't look alright, Cho. You look beautiful."
She flushes, then clears her throat and smiles. "Thanks. I'm glad you could come."
"My best friend's getting an award for kicking ass. I'm not about to miss it. Besides--"
"Besides?"
He grins at her sheepishly. "I may need a plus-one for the Puddlemere Christmas party?"
"Is this because you're trying to shake off that PR lady?"
"Farley is wiley. Be glad I'm not asking for you to come as my security detail."
Cho rolls her eyes. "You're such a baby."
2003.
"So when exactly--"
"Last year's Ball."
Roger blinks. "They had a pool three years ago! They didn't get together until--"
"Nope." Cho looks at the slow-dancing pair. "And now they're married."
"That escalated quickly."
"I'm just glad they got there."
Roger doesn't say anything until the first song fades to the second. "Hey. Dance with me?"
Cho's hand feels small in his, her waist warm through the fabric of her dress. Her smile turns uncertain at the look on his face. "What?"
Roger shakes his head. "Just thinking."
She doesn't press. He wonders whether they'll get there at all.
2004.
It doesn't take a drunken night out, in the end. Not a jealous lover, or the romance surrounding a wedding, or the threat of war looming ahead. There is no grand gesture or long, heartfelt confession.
There is just a quiet evening, like countless others they've spent together, with some drinks and a movie on the telly Roger insists on keeping in his flat. Cho nearly falling asleep on his shoulder. A Summoned blanket to tuck her with. His lips on her temple, her slender fingers around his wrist.
She whispers, "Don't go."
"I don't ever plan to," he promises.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-01 08:59 pm (UTC)