Random Marcus/Katie..and others...
Random fic I've been writing for no apparent reason. I started it ages ago to answer a challenge and then I dropped it. I've been picking it up the last couple nights for some reason. Idunno. Not spell checked so you get to laugh at my errors.
Katie Bell stared suspiciously at the brightly wrapped wicker basket that had magically appeared on her windowsill. She had just turned to the pantry to get the apricots that the recipe she was trying called for and when she came back to the counter with them the basket had been there.
And it was twitching.
"Angie!" She called, making sure to keep her eyes on the moving basket. Instinctively she found herself raising an apricot filled hand.
"Yes, Madame Housewife?" Angelina appeared in the doorway that led to the kitchen, stretching slowly as a yawn overcame her.
"You've gotten another package." Katie nodded to the window, taking a step back.
That announcement had Angelina wary and focused.
"Is it booby trapped?" She asked quietly, her body suddenly tense.
"I don't know. It's moving a little." Katie replied, handing Angelina an apricot to arm herself with.
The two girls watched the basket shake until finally the blue satin ribbon holding the lid closed fell away. Unconciously they raised their apricots, legs poised for flight.
Two big, round eyes peeked out at them from the basket, followed by a spindly, black tail.
Angelina swallowed, taking another step back. "Is it a snake?"
Katie frowned and moved forward to get a better view. A sudden blur of white and black leapt towards her face, causing both girls to scream. Angelina threw her apricot, hitting Katie on the forehead. The spider monkey that had emerged from the basket screamed with them, clinging to Katie's neck and shoulders.
"Get it off! Get it off!" Katie danced madly about the kitchen, slapping at her shoulders and neck.
The monkey continued screaming, crawling all over Katie's upper body to avoid the slaps, before leaping onto Angelina. Angelina handled the attentions of the spider monkey with as much finesse as Katie.
Eventually, both girls calmed down enough to realize that the occupant of the basket was neither a snake nor a danger to them. In fact, he seemed quite cute.
"I think I'll name him Peaches, in honor of our first meeting." Angelina grinned to the little monkey, trying to offer it a piece of Katie's apricot.
"Those are apricots." Katie corrected, her attention back on her recipe.
"Apricot is even better." Angelina practically cooed to her new pet.
Katie rolled her eyes. "Who do you think sent him? Another fan?"
"I don't know." Angela frowned, settling the newly named Apricot comfortably on her shoulders. "I'll have to check my latest interviews and see if I mentioned anything about wanting a monkey as a child."
The last time Angelina had mentioned in an interview that her favorite flower was lilies and her favorite bird was the ostrich, the apartment she shared with Katie Bell had been filled to the brim with lillies and every piece of ostrich paraphanelia in Wizarding London.
Devoted fans appeared to live for making their favorite Quidditch stars happy. Katie could remember all of the occasions where she had flowers, candy, and gifts thrusted upon her whenever she walked out her front door.
Those days were gone now, save for a few scattered incidents. Katie hadn't played professionally for two years now. Angelina was going steady in her fourth year of playing, popular as ever.
Angelina left the kitchen, talking to the distracted Apricot. Katie was left to chop her own apricots. She couldn't squash the little worm of jealousy that seemed to be growing in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't as if Katie had never recieved attention from fans. And she certainly didn't want a monkey.
No, I just want to be able to play again. Is that too much to ask?
Sighing, she dropped the halved apricots into a pan before looking to her cookbook for the next step.
"Katie! Help!" Came a strangled cry from the living room, nearly drowned out by the screams of a frantic monkey.
Images of a berserk spider monkey trying to choke Angelina had Katie rushing into the living room, chopping knife still in hand. There had been occasions where athletes had been sent poisoned chocolates.
Maybe the lunatics have moved on to assassin monkeys?
"He's tangled in my hair." Angelina sat on their new leather couch, struggling with a panicked monkey.
Shaking her head, Katie set the knife down and moved to help monkey and friend.
Marcus shook the water from his robes, mouth turning up into his customary sneer. He hated the rain. Made for awful flying weather. Looking around the warmly lit, crowded pub, he spotted his agent and friend (the closest person he could call a friend) Terence Higgs.
Higgs was a good agent, always got Marcus into the deals he wanted, never made him do any cheesy promotions. He was a so-so friend, mostly just liked to listen to himself talk.
"Hey old man, have a seat." He gestured to the remaining empty chair as Marcus approached.
Marcus sat, stretching out his legs and adjusting his robes so they would drip on the floor. He motioned to the server who was working the floor and after a few seconds a glass of firewhiskey appeared on the table in front of him.
"So what's the deal Higgs?" Marcus asked before taking a sip of his drink. He never really liked that small talk shite.
"Well Flint, it seems someone is not too fond of you." Terence gave him a wide grin, his hand curled around the handle of his mug.
"Tell me something I don't know." Marcus snorted, leaning back in his chair.
"No, they really don't like you." Terence leaned forward, making up for the space Marcus put between them.
"I really don't care." Marcus sighed, finishing his drink off.
"You recieved a letter today in the Fan Owl office. A popper." Terence waited for the reaction.
Marcus merely frowned. "What did it pop?"
"Nightbloom dust."
"Shite."
"Exactly."
Nightbloom dust was a very fine, delicate powder with dreadful consequences. The victim could develop symptoms anywhere from major burn rashes to a coma-induced sleep. Marcus's frown deepened. "Any leads?"
"None. Unregistered owl." The agent pushed away his empty glass, pulling out a parchment and quill. "Make any new enemies recently?"
"Just the entire German team." Marcus answered after few seconds thought, "And Holland."
Terence shook his head as he wrote, "No, this was an outsider."
"How can you tell?" Marcus moved forward to read what Terence was writing.
"They sent it to the Fan Office. Everyone in the League knows that owls go to the Fan Office before being sent to the players. Ever since that incident with the laxatives three years ago anyway."
"Bloody hell, what ever happened to calling a bloke out? Settling it like gentlemen the old fashion way, a duel to the death." Marcus grumbled, glaring down into his drink.
"You're losing your roots Flint. You're talking like a Gryffindor." Terence smirked, scratching more notes on his parchment.
"Well at least I know that the bastard after me is Slytherin. Some comfort in that." Marcus eyed Terence's parchment. "What is all of that you're writing, I haven't said a thing."
"You aren't my only client you know. I have to warn my other players too, in case the bastard is targeting me through them."
Marcus snatched the parchment from his hands, his curiosity itching slightly. His dark eyes scanned the list of names quickly.
Terence sighed and watched him mildly, taking the opportunity to order a second drink.
"Angelina Johnson? I didn't know you had her." Marcus raised his eyebrows.
The agent smiled, a certain look of pride crossing his face. "One of my best, she is."
Marcus snorted, "You've been wanking off to her since sixth year."
"Which one, your first or second?" Terence sneered back, snatching the parchment from him.
Marcus let the insult pass, content with flustering his friend enough to snap at him. He knew that Johnson was one of Higg's weaknesses. Silly thing that, to have a girl for a weakness.
Even as Marcus thought that, he couldn't help the little nagging voice in his head that was pulling at him to ask about her. He knew that Higg's still had her on the roster, though she hadn't played in forever.
"So you're warning all of your clients?" Marcus asked conversationally.
Terence nodded, eyes back on his writing. "I'll make my rounds tonight, ask them if they've recieved anything odd lately."
Marcus flexed his jaw, eyeing his glass and debating a couple things in his head. One was if he should have another drink or not and the other was if he should even bother checking up on her. He decided on both, quickly ordering another drink and downing it in record speed.
"I'll go along with you then." He informed Terence.
The other man blinked at him, eyebrow raising. "Uh, that's alright mate, I've got it handled."
Anger sprung to life in Marcus. He was almost relieved that Terence had protested and gave him the opportunity to fight out some of this nervous energy that had suddenly developed.
"Is it your life that was threatened?" Marcus snapped, not giving Terence time to reply. "No, so I think it's my right to join in the investigation."
"Hardly an investigation." Terence scoffed, eyes widening as Marcus produced money from his pocket and left it on the table.
"Higgs, where's your professionalism? You're suppose to keep the clients happy." Marcus sneered, dragging the agent off his chair and out the door by his collar.
"Didn't realize one of my clients was starkers." Terence muttered before they Apparated to the first name on the list.
Katie was not too impressed with her Apricot Surprise recipe she had gotten from her Great Aunt Dorothy. Not only did it smell awful but it seemed to have obtained the consistency of cement. She didn't even bother trying it. Sighing, she flung her oven mitts on the stove and walked into the living room to flop down on the sofa.
All of this cooking was just another hobby she was trying out. Knitting, crossword puzzles, air hockey, and stamp collecting were all duds as well. Nothing could compare to Quidditch. The feeling of flying, the exhiliration of scoring a goal. It just couldn't be beaten.
"No luck?" Angelina asked, taking a seat next to her. The newly christened Apricot was perched comfortably on her shoulder, nibbling on something. The monkey's tail was wrapped around her neck like a fuzzy black choker.
"Not unless you want to break your teeth." Katie replied with a grim smile and then had a thoughtful look. "Or someone else's."
Angelina smiled contentedly as she scratched the monkey's head. "I think Alicia and I are going out tonight. Would you like to come?"
Katie looked at her dancing penguin pajamas and tank top with a frown. "I don't think so. Don't you have practice tomorrow?"
Angelina shrugged and stood, supposedly to go and get ready. "I may call in sick."
Katie bit her teeth. She loved Angie dearly, but sometimes the girl was just dense. Katie would give anything to have to go practice tomorrow morning. She would give practically anything to play again.
The buzzer rang to the front door and Katie pushed herself up with a resolved sigh. No more moping around. No more wishing for things that couldn't be. She told herself this a million times a day and maybe if she continued she would actually feel that way.
The buzzer rang again, sounding almost impatient. "I'm coming!" Katie shouted, thinking it was probably Ali. Katie walked as quickly as she could, which wasn't that fast. She had only managed to walk with a cane a few weeks ago and as a result she had to be careful as she picked her way acrossed the flat.
Falling was embarassing and could cause her leg to spasm horribly, which would leave her bed bound for at least a day. The buzzer rang twice in quick succession.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" She yelled at the door, brow furrowing in annoyance.
She opened it without glancing in the peep hole, which was lucky for those on the other side.
"Usually I'm in bed when women scream that at me." Marcus Flint greeted her with a smirk.
Katie stood unmoving, shock and confusion evident only by her lack of response.
He hadn't changed a bit. Still tall and hulking. Still handsome in that ugly, "I don't care what anyone thinks" way. Still staring at her in a manner that Katie could never figure out.
"Evening, Bell. Is Johnson around?" Terrence Higgs spoke up and it was the first Katie noticed him.
"What are you doing here, Higgs?" Katie asked, deciding to focus on the less mind numbing issue.
"Well, given my previous question, looking for Johnson. This is her flat, isn't it?" The agent questioned, poking his head through the doorway curiously.
"Our flat." Katie clarified darkly, gaze staying on Flint. He returned the stare silently.
"Well, is she here?" Terence asked again, slipping quickly past Katie and into the room.
"Yes, but I didn't say you could come in." Katie gritted out, turning quickly to follow Higgs. The instinctual wariness of Slytherins hadn't left her since Hogwarts, especially not with these particular Slytherins.
She turned a little too quickly and was suddenly falling to the floor. A rush of adrenaline that had nothing to do with excitement and everything to do with fear filled her. Intense pain was awaiting her at the arrival on the floor along with the embarassment of her weakness being apparent to everyone.
Katie Bell stared suspiciously at the brightly wrapped wicker basket that had magically appeared on her windowsill. She had just turned to the pantry to get the apricots that the recipe she was trying called for and when she came back to the counter with them the basket had been there.
And it was twitching.
"Angie!" She called, making sure to keep her eyes on the moving basket. Instinctively she found herself raising an apricot filled hand.
"Yes, Madame Housewife?" Angelina appeared in the doorway that led to the kitchen, stretching slowly as a yawn overcame her.
"You've gotten another package." Katie nodded to the window, taking a step back.
That announcement had Angelina wary and focused.
"Is it booby trapped?" She asked quietly, her body suddenly tense.
"I don't know. It's moving a little." Katie replied, handing Angelina an apricot to arm herself with.
The two girls watched the basket shake until finally the blue satin ribbon holding the lid closed fell away. Unconciously they raised their apricots, legs poised for flight.
Two big, round eyes peeked out at them from the basket, followed by a spindly, black tail.
Angelina swallowed, taking another step back. "Is it a snake?"
Katie frowned and moved forward to get a better view. A sudden blur of white and black leapt towards her face, causing both girls to scream. Angelina threw her apricot, hitting Katie on the forehead. The spider monkey that had emerged from the basket screamed with them, clinging to Katie's neck and shoulders.
"Get it off! Get it off!" Katie danced madly about the kitchen, slapping at her shoulders and neck.
The monkey continued screaming, crawling all over Katie's upper body to avoid the slaps, before leaping onto Angelina. Angelina handled the attentions of the spider monkey with as much finesse as Katie.
Eventually, both girls calmed down enough to realize that the occupant of the basket was neither a snake nor a danger to them. In fact, he seemed quite cute.
"I think I'll name him Peaches, in honor of our first meeting." Angelina grinned to the little monkey, trying to offer it a piece of Katie's apricot.
"Those are apricots." Katie corrected, her attention back on her recipe.
"Apricot is even better." Angelina practically cooed to her new pet.
Katie rolled her eyes. "Who do you think sent him? Another fan?"
"I don't know." Angela frowned, settling the newly named Apricot comfortably on her shoulders. "I'll have to check my latest interviews and see if I mentioned anything about wanting a monkey as a child."
The last time Angelina had mentioned in an interview that her favorite flower was lilies and her favorite bird was the ostrich, the apartment she shared with Katie Bell had been filled to the brim with lillies and every piece of ostrich paraphanelia in Wizarding London.
Devoted fans appeared to live for making their favorite Quidditch stars happy. Katie could remember all of the occasions where she had flowers, candy, and gifts thrusted upon her whenever she walked out her front door.
Those days were gone now, save for a few scattered incidents. Katie hadn't played professionally for two years now. Angelina was going steady in her fourth year of playing, popular as ever.
Angelina left the kitchen, talking to the distracted Apricot. Katie was left to chop her own apricots. She couldn't squash the little worm of jealousy that seemed to be growing in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't as if Katie had never recieved attention from fans. And she certainly didn't want a monkey.
No, I just want to be able to play again. Is that too much to ask?
Sighing, she dropped the halved apricots into a pan before looking to her cookbook for the next step.
"Katie! Help!" Came a strangled cry from the living room, nearly drowned out by the screams of a frantic monkey.
Images of a berserk spider monkey trying to choke Angelina had Katie rushing into the living room, chopping knife still in hand. There had been occasions where athletes had been sent poisoned chocolates.
Maybe the lunatics have moved on to assassin monkeys?
"He's tangled in my hair." Angelina sat on their new leather couch, struggling with a panicked monkey.
Shaking her head, Katie set the knife down and moved to help monkey and friend.
Marcus shook the water from his robes, mouth turning up into his customary sneer. He hated the rain. Made for awful flying weather. Looking around the warmly lit, crowded pub, he spotted his agent and friend (the closest person he could call a friend) Terence Higgs.
Higgs was a good agent, always got Marcus into the deals he wanted, never made him do any cheesy promotions. He was a so-so friend, mostly just liked to listen to himself talk.
"Hey old man, have a seat." He gestured to the remaining empty chair as Marcus approached.
Marcus sat, stretching out his legs and adjusting his robes so they would drip on the floor. He motioned to the server who was working the floor and after a few seconds a glass of firewhiskey appeared on the table in front of him.
"So what's the deal Higgs?" Marcus asked before taking a sip of his drink. He never really liked that small talk shite.
"Well Flint, it seems someone is not too fond of you." Terence gave him a wide grin, his hand curled around the handle of his mug.
"Tell me something I don't know." Marcus snorted, leaning back in his chair.
"No, they really don't like you." Terence leaned forward, making up for the space Marcus put between them.
"I really don't care." Marcus sighed, finishing his drink off.
"You recieved a letter today in the Fan Owl office. A popper." Terence waited for the reaction.
Marcus merely frowned. "What did it pop?"
"Nightbloom dust."
"Shite."
"Exactly."
Nightbloom dust was a very fine, delicate powder with dreadful consequences. The victim could develop symptoms anywhere from major burn rashes to a coma-induced sleep. Marcus's frown deepened. "Any leads?"
"None. Unregistered owl." The agent pushed away his empty glass, pulling out a parchment and quill. "Make any new enemies recently?"
"Just the entire German team." Marcus answered after few seconds thought, "And Holland."
Terence shook his head as he wrote, "No, this was an outsider."
"How can you tell?" Marcus moved forward to read what Terence was writing.
"They sent it to the Fan Office. Everyone in the League knows that owls go to the Fan Office before being sent to the players. Ever since that incident with the laxatives three years ago anyway."
"Bloody hell, what ever happened to calling a bloke out? Settling it like gentlemen the old fashion way, a duel to the death." Marcus grumbled, glaring down into his drink.
"You're losing your roots Flint. You're talking like a Gryffindor." Terence smirked, scratching more notes on his parchment.
"Well at least I know that the bastard after me is Slytherin. Some comfort in that." Marcus eyed Terence's parchment. "What is all of that you're writing, I haven't said a thing."
"You aren't my only client you know. I have to warn my other players too, in case the bastard is targeting me through them."
Marcus snatched the parchment from his hands, his curiosity itching slightly. His dark eyes scanned the list of names quickly.
Terence sighed and watched him mildly, taking the opportunity to order a second drink.
"Angelina Johnson? I didn't know you had her." Marcus raised his eyebrows.
The agent smiled, a certain look of pride crossing his face. "One of my best, she is."
Marcus snorted, "You've been wanking off to her since sixth year."
"Which one, your first or second?" Terence sneered back, snatching the parchment from him.
Marcus let the insult pass, content with flustering his friend enough to snap at him. He knew that Johnson was one of Higg's weaknesses. Silly thing that, to have a girl for a weakness.
Even as Marcus thought that, he couldn't help the little nagging voice in his head that was pulling at him to ask about her. He knew that Higg's still had her on the roster, though she hadn't played in forever.
"So you're warning all of your clients?" Marcus asked conversationally.
Terence nodded, eyes back on his writing. "I'll make my rounds tonight, ask them if they've recieved anything odd lately."
Marcus flexed his jaw, eyeing his glass and debating a couple things in his head. One was if he should have another drink or not and the other was if he should even bother checking up on her. He decided on both, quickly ordering another drink and downing it in record speed.
"I'll go along with you then." He informed Terence.
The other man blinked at him, eyebrow raising. "Uh, that's alright mate, I've got it handled."
Anger sprung to life in Marcus. He was almost relieved that Terence had protested and gave him the opportunity to fight out some of this nervous energy that had suddenly developed.
"Is it your life that was threatened?" Marcus snapped, not giving Terence time to reply. "No, so I think it's my right to join in the investigation."
"Hardly an investigation." Terence scoffed, eyes widening as Marcus produced money from his pocket and left it on the table.
"Higgs, where's your professionalism? You're suppose to keep the clients happy." Marcus sneered, dragging the agent off his chair and out the door by his collar.
"Didn't realize one of my clients was starkers." Terence muttered before they Apparated to the first name on the list.
Katie was not too impressed with her Apricot Surprise recipe she had gotten from her Great Aunt Dorothy. Not only did it smell awful but it seemed to have obtained the consistency of cement. She didn't even bother trying it. Sighing, she flung her oven mitts on the stove and walked into the living room to flop down on the sofa.
All of this cooking was just another hobby she was trying out. Knitting, crossword puzzles, air hockey, and stamp collecting were all duds as well. Nothing could compare to Quidditch. The feeling of flying, the exhiliration of scoring a goal. It just couldn't be beaten.
"No luck?" Angelina asked, taking a seat next to her. The newly christened Apricot was perched comfortably on her shoulder, nibbling on something. The monkey's tail was wrapped around her neck like a fuzzy black choker.
"Not unless you want to break your teeth." Katie replied with a grim smile and then had a thoughtful look. "Or someone else's."
Angelina smiled contentedly as she scratched the monkey's head. "I think Alicia and I are going out tonight. Would you like to come?"
Katie looked at her dancing penguin pajamas and tank top with a frown. "I don't think so. Don't you have practice tomorrow?"
Angelina shrugged and stood, supposedly to go and get ready. "I may call in sick."
Katie bit her teeth. She loved Angie dearly, but sometimes the girl was just dense. Katie would give anything to have to go practice tomorrow morning. She would give practically anything to play again.
The buzzer rang to the front door and Katie pushed herself up with a resolved sigh. No more moping around. No more wishing for things that couldn't be. She told herself this a million times a day and maybe if she continued she would actually feel that way.
The buzzer rang again, sounding almost impatient. "I'm coming!" Katie shouted, thinking it was probably Ali. Katie walked as quickly as she could, which wasn't that fast. She had only managed to walk with a cane a few weeks ago and as a result she had to be careful as she picked her way acrossed the flat.
Falling was embarassing and could cause her leg to spasm horribly, which would leave her bed bound for at least a day. The buzzer rang twice in quick succession.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" She yelled at the door, brow furrowing in annoyance.
She opened it without glancing in the peep hole, which was lucky for those on the other side.
"Usually I'm in bed when women scream that at me." Marcus Flint greeted her with a smirk.
Katie stood unmoving, shock and confusion evident only by her lack of response.
He hadn't changed a bit. Still tall and hulking. Still handsome in that ugly, "I don't care what anyone thinks" way. Still staring at her in a manner that Katie could never figure out.
"Evening, Bell. Is Johnson around?" Terrence Higgs spoke up and it was the first Katie noticed him.
"What are you doing here, Higgs?" Katie asked, deciding to focus on the less mind numbing issue.
"Well, given my previous question, looking for Johnson. This is her flat, isn't it?" The agent questioned, poking his head through the doorway curiously.
"Our flat." Katie clarified darkly, gaze staying on Flint. He returned the stare silently.
"Well, is she here?" Terence asked again, slipping quickly past Katie and into the room.
"Yes, but I didn't say you could come in." Katie gritted out, turning quickly to follow Higgs. The instinctual wariness of Slytherins hadn't left her since Hogwarts, especially not with these particular Slytherins.
She turned a little too quickly and was suddenly falling to the floor. A rush of adrenaline that had nothing to do with excitement and everything to do with fear filled her. Intense pain was awaiting her at the arrival on the floor along with the embarassment of her weakness being apparent to everyone.