'The Boggarts Accomplice' - Meal For Two

[Sakura Gemini]

If she didn't know any better she would seriously think that the evening was somehow turning into a date. How this happened she knew could be attributed to the intervention of the establishment but the why laid firmly at Nicolas' door in her opinion. He was chivalrous and wonderful utterly handsome and ridiculously complimentary. She could not remember the last time she had allowed herself to simply relax and enjoy herself, not since Isabella had gone awol anyhow that was for sure.

"Nicolas King are you flirting with me?" she beamed at him unable to stop herself from thoroughly enjoying his company and knowing badly that she did not want this night to end for anything. As if for a moment her reply to his last statement needed a serious answer she held his gaze.
"I have no intention on running out on you" ever.

Of course the night did have to end, that went without saying and as the last piece of pie was devoured and spoons were laid to rest it seemed as if the end of the evening had come all too soon. The conversation had been quite frankly awesome in her view, she hung on his every word and hoped she had been an equal in the minor debates they had shared. Time could not stop tolling and soon she looked about, only to discover they were the only patrons left.
"Perhaps it's time we left now?" she smiled at him.

 

[Nicolas King]

"Some people would call me a fool if I didn't flirt with you." Nicolas began, smirking this response to Sakura's question, "I count myself many things - but a fool has yet to make that list." Nicolas concluded, as Sakura assured him that she had no intentions of running out on him. He smiled at this. Two blows to his ego, even if one had been for reasons of work, would likely have put him out for some time. He was truly enjoying Sakura's company now, and she seemed to have become much more comfortable around him. This would surely be an interesting dynamic to see how it carried through, if at all, in the office. Nicolas also thought, for a brief moment, of the repercussions should anything come of the evening. The risk of negative press in the prophet, concerns within the ministry itself, possibly losing his job, or her losing hers, or both. They'd certainly have to tread carefully, if the evening progressed well and arrangements were made for the future. He pushed this thought from his mind soon enough, however. The evening was still young, and there was plenty of discussion to be had between the pair. Worrying could be saved for another time - of that, he was sure.

"Perhaps." Nicolas agreed, having enjoyed the evening and the many and varied discussions with Sakura. She was certainly different than most people, and he perhaps would not have seen many things in her which he did that evening if it hadn't been for the extraordinary circumstances of the week preceding. Nicolas motioned for his cheque, which was brought to him promptly. He thanked the waiter, paying more than enough for his and Corinne's full meals, both of Sakura's drinks, the cake which was meant to be complimentary, a generous tip, and the troubles that some member of the restaurants had gone through to ensure Sakura's apparent fantasy didn't go unnoticed. The waiter thanked Nicolas kindly, then disappeared once more.

"Right, then." Nicolas began, rising from his seat and moving around to Sakura's side of the table, drawing her chair out from it slightly to allow her to stand freely, before walking with her to where she had hung her cloak and helping her to put it on. He held the door open for her, then realized he had come without a cloak, having expected to floo both ways. He chuckled lightly to himself, drew his wand and quickly charmed himself so as not to get cold or freeze to death in the deep Polish winter.

Nicolas stepped outside in to the cold with Sakura and was tempted, but for a moment, to ask if she was certain she didn't want his help looking for her friend that night. 'Of course she doesn't want your help now, you've just managed to keep her mind off it for long enough to see he relaxed and happy - don't go and screw that up now.' With this thought, Nicolas drew beside Sakura and smiled, "Away we go?" he asked, wrapping his arm around her waist and holding her near him, in preparation for the side-along apparition (but, of course, not much minding the closeness, either).

 

[Sakura Gemini]

She would not have called him a fool either, herself perhaps many times over and badly she wanted now to reach under the table and pinch herself sharply to make sure this was not all a dream. When time came to leave at last, Nicolas paid the bill and rose steadily from his seat. So used to sitting down for herself and never having anyone hold a chair for her, she found herself deeply touched when he did so. Smiling at him was becoming a habit now, but she could not stop the action no more than she could stop her heart from skipping when he was so near. Not only did he hold her chair for her but helped her with her cloak as well and then to show his chivalry knew no bounds he held the door open as well. Sakura was in grave danger of falling head over heels for this man and deduced as she watched him cast a charm on his own clothing, that she already had.

Once outside the blistering cold air hit them hard, as she shuddered he came along side of her and without any warning his arm was about her waist and she was being held close to him. Her heart drummed loudly again, in all the years she had been transported by side-along, this was the first time she was going to enjoy the experience. Her body automatically turned into him as she reached up and touched his upper arm. Feeling the sinewy muscle beneath her gaze went there directly. There was only a few inches difference in their heights, so she knew that if she moved her face now to look at him she would be tempted beyond reason to kiss him. This was not something she had ever instigated and no matter how close they seemed wrapped up in one another at that moment as they prepared for apparation; it was always something she had firmly believed the guy should do first. And yet she could not help but look up, her hazel eyes finding his brown.
"Away we go" she repeated breathlessly, the closeness doing nothing for her equilibrium.

 

[Nicolas King]

Nicolas smiled as Sakura seemed lost in the moment of his holding her. Sweeping a young woman off her feet as he had that evening was not something he had the privilege of doing very often, and he was quite taken aback that he still had this effect on anybody, let alone a witch like Sakura who could likely have anybody she wanted, should be used to such things, and apparently she was not. Nicolas returned the woman's soft gaze as she muttered her reply and started to move them from this locale to her home.

Nicolas held to Sakura as firmly as was accustomed for side-along apparition, assuring neither of their bodies parted while Sakura moved them from Poland to New Zealand. Trans-continental apparition was always quite a difficult task and the fact that she did it so easily and willing was another proof, for Nicolas, that she deserved the job that she would have in due time. The girl was still, technically, an Auror trainee, but soon enough her training would be completed and they would have to look over her completed application to decide whether or not she would stay in the Auror department. This was another thing to note in his mind for that day, as transcontinental apparition wasn't something one did very often (if ever at all).

Nicolas brought his mind back to the present moment as he felt them stop moving. With a slight sigh, and after a moment to steady themselves, he released his hold on Sakura and took a small step back from her, allowing her space (as he knew full well the effects of apparition differed from person to person and she may need a moment), then he drew slightly nearer and smiled a moment once more. "I'm obliged to thank you again for the wonderful evening." Nicolas began, his tone soft as he spoke.

 

[Sakura Gemini]

It had taken Sakura a good few months of perseverence to get the hang of apparating further than one end of New Zealand to the other. It had taken her what seemed like forever to actually intercontinental apparate. As far as she was aware her grandfather did it and this had goaded her to trying. Apparating after Isabella had been easier as she had made various pitstops inbetween countries to get exactly here but doubt riddled her now as she knew she had to attempt to get herself and Nicolas back home. So afraid in case she splinched him, Sakura had to pause and concentrate as she had never done before. The fact that he was so close and holding her was just another reason she had to focus.

As they moved through time and space arriving at last back at Obsidian, it didn't bother her that they were across the street from the Leaky instead of closer to it. This was good for her first ever side-along. She noted immediately that his hand moved from her and looking at him instantly she wondered if he was alright. A step closer he came as he thanked her for the evening. She could have melted at the sound of his voice. As if hypnotised she drew nearer too.

"You're alright? I didn't splinch you?" she couldn't very well reach out and start checking body parts no matter how appealing that sounded, her voice was as soft as his. Almost as if the intricate web of romance that had been spun back in Poland still lingered between them.
"I.. I should be thanking you. This is the first time in two weeks that I haven't spent every waking moment fretting over Bella. You're right, she'll let me know where she is when she's good and ready" she should move now, turn around and make her way across the road but her feet would no move. They kept her routed right in front of him, her gaze unable to waver from his perfect face.

 

[Nicolas King]

"If you had splinched me I wouldn't have thanked you for the evening." Nicolas began in jest as Sakura drew near to him as well, and seemed entirely caught up in the moment. "Well, I'm glad to have helped." Nicolas offered, bringing his hand to Sakura's face for a moment and brushing aside some hair from it, before holding it gently and admiring her. "I meant what I said in Poland, you know. You're more than beautiful."

Nicolas' mind froze for a moment. Perhaps he had gone too far, now? He should likely drop his hand and leave her to go on her way. He had obliged her dream for the evening, and that was well enough, wasn't it? Yes, it certainly was, so Nicolas pondered what the force within him was that coaxed him to push on, even be a little bit more daring than he had yet been. Nicolas overcame this force, however, and his hand dropped softly to his side. If he and Sakura were to have such meetings again in the future, which he now thought to arrange, there should be much to leave her looking forward to.

 

[Sakura Gemini]

The way the two seemed to gravitate towards one another felt almost spellbinding and Sakura could not help but chuckle softly as he spoke.
"Yes but you are also one of the most polite men I know and might just have been too polite to hurt my feelings but I am glad I didn't splinch you. That would have been... " she was too close to telling him he was amazing, wonderful and absolutely brilliant though none of those words seemed to do him justice, "a disaster indeed."

Nicolas's hand reached up to her face and her heart beat faster and louder than it had before. All she could do was close her eyes as it rested against her face. He thought she was beautiful and for a horrific moment she thought she was going to faint clean away. Her legs were already beginning to feel as if someone had hit her with a jelly leg jinx. Opening her eyes slowly again she smiled at him, wondering if he would kiss her but then his hand was moved away again and they stood surveying the other. Knowing she had to break the comfortable moments silence but wishing she didn't have too, she smiled.

"Thank you" and you are handsome and breathtaking and straight out of my dreams, "I best be getting back then. Take care Nicolas."
She did not know how else to end the evening, so unused to any of this or most especially the feelings that he inflamed within her. Were they now to simply go back to boss and employee? How would she react around him at work? Could she actually call him Nicolas there? As these thoughts circulated she took a tentative step away from him and towards the Leaky, though she was seriously loathe to do so.

 

[Nicolas King]

"You as well, Sakura." Nicolas responded after the woman opposite him broke their staring silence, thanked him (for what, exactly, he did not know), and turned to leave once more. Nicolas watched her as she walked away, toward the Leaky Cauldron, and stood where he was until she was hidden from sight behind the door of the establishment. He then apparated to his own home in New Zealand, his mind filled with thoughts of romance - thoughts which needed sorting out as quickly as possible. He could give Sakura this, however, she had successfully managed to keep his mind off of Thorine for quiet some time, but it was now Thorine and the circumstances that the situation he had just left was bedded in that flooded his mind once more.