acidpop25: "The Fall," PG-13
Title: The Fall
Author: acidpop25
Rating: PG-13 (I think)
Prompt Set: 50.4
Prompt: #29, "Fall"
Word Count: 295
Warnings: Angst
Summary: The only question becomes, how strong are you, really?
Notes: The narration here is deliberately ambiguous... I'm curious who people will think is telling the story, Harry or Percy. Dedicated to jellybean_slash, who inspired me with her amazing Harry/Tom and Harry/Lucius.
I. The fall, when it came, had dark edges.
The dim light of false dawn was casting blue-gold shadows in the bedroom that didn't seem to belong and glowing around the edges of his skin, highlighting the stray locks of hair, haloed. There were edges of something black on his forearm, sharp against pale skin, but I fell asleep again. Everything looks different at that time of day, hazy and half asleep. Nothing ever looks real.
II. The fall, when it came, was not a surprise to everyone.
There was always something about how he looked at Malfoy, like they weren't so different, really. Under the façades, they were two of a kind, more than he and I could ever be. When they would pass one another in the Ministry and he would ignore and Malfoy would sneer some insult, and their eyes would meet. Just for a moment.
Just one moment. But it was enough.
III. The fall, when it came, had been years in the making.
He had always been alone, isolated. In a room full of people, of raucous chatter and laughter and sociability, he never could fit. He couldn't really smile and he was no good at small talk, but kept the big talk to himself. But he always wanted, of course he wanted to blend in, wanted some kind of belonging. Needed it. And if being good and doing the right thing won't get you what you want, well... the only question becomes, how strong are you, really?
Not strong enough.
IV. The fall, when it came, was still a shock.
No one was ready. The Order were killed, or they fled.
I was not strong enough, either. Not for that.
I ran.
Author: acidpop25
Rating: PG-13 (I think)
Prompt Set: 50.4
Prompt: #29, "Fall"
Word Count: 295
Warnings: Angst
Summary: The only question becomes, how strong are you, really?
Notes: The narration here is deliberately ambiguous... I'm curious who people will think is telling the story, Harry or Percy. Dedicated to jellybean_slash, who inspired me with her amazing Harry/Tom and Harry/Lucius.
I. The fall, when it came, had dark edges.
The dim light of false dawn was casting blue-gold shadows in the bedroom that didn't seem to belong and glowing around the edges of his skin, highlighting the stray locks of hair, haloed. There were edges of something black on his forearm, sharp against pale skin, but I fell asleep again. Everything looks different at that time of day, hazy and half asleep. Nothing ever looks real.
II. The fall, when it came, was not a surprise to everyone.
There was always something about how he looked at Malfoy, like they weren't so different, really. Under the façades, they were two of a kind, more than he and I could ever be. When they would pass one another in the Ministry and he would ignore and Malfoy would sneer some insult, and their eyes would meet. Just for a moment.
Just one moment. But it was enough.
III. The fall, when it came, had been years in the making.
He had always been alone, isolated. In a room full of people, of raucous chatter and laughter and sociability, he never could fit. He couldn't really smile and he was no good at small talk, but kept the big talk to himself. But he always wanted, of course he wanted to blend in, wanted some kind of belonging. Needed it. And if being good and doing the right thing won't get you what you want, well... the only question becomes, how strong are you, really?
Not strong enough.
IV. The fall, when it came, was still a shock.
No one was ready. The Order were killed, or they fled.
I was not strong enough, either. Not for that.
I ran.