Fic: Crumbling Walls Quinn/Amanda
Title: Crumbling Walls
Characters: Amanda King/Quinn McKinnon
Word Count: 2,127
Rating: R
Fandom: Harry Potter Universe but Original Characters
Author's Note: Unbetaed. Thanks to disparagingrant for helping with Quinn.
The scene through Flourish and Blott’s window of Quinn and Tricia laughing, both looking in a book, played over and over in Amanda’s mind as she approached her friend’s office. She knew that Tricia was in love with Blaise Zabini, but it didn’t stop the fear that was spreading through her. A fear that she’d never felt or expected to feel. That the one wizard she wanted to see her as more than friends with benefits wouldn’t. He got his intellectual and emotional needs met with Tricia, where Amanda knew she was the physical need.
They sparred when it came to the law, and he acknowledged her intelligence beyond T&A. Amanda just wasn’t sure if he saw her. They never laughed over a book, and to be honest she didn’t know what authors he liked. Their relationship was sex and the courtroom. She was just as guilty as he was for not sharing her life. Quinn didn’t know about her Welsh cottage either, or her love of gardening.
She knocked lightly on Tricia’s doorjamb, a small smile on her lips. “Hi, you have a minute?”
Tricia blinked a few times, clearing her mind from the case notes that she had been studying, and smiled when she saw Amanda standing there. “Of course. I always have a minute for you.”
Her brow furrowed, as she noticed Amanda’s body language. She may be wearing a smile, but it didn’t transfer to her eyes. “Everything all right?” Pushing back from her desk, Tricia stood and crossed the office to where Amanda stood with her back to the door.
Amanda took a deep breath, gathering her chaotic thoughts, not really knowing why she was there or what she thought Tricia would do about it. Maybe she just wanted a sounding board or an ear to listen, Amanda honestly didn’t know. Now that she was standing in Tricia’s office, she felt like an idiot.
“Erm, yeah. Everything’s fine.” She rolled her eyes as Tricia just cocked an eyebrow and stared at her. “Alright, fine. Everything isn’t fine. I just feel stupid.”
Tricia reached up and gave her friend’s arm a squeeze. There had to be something really wrong if Amanda was admitting to feeling stupid. “Don’t. Whatever it is, I want to help. You thought I could or you wouldn’t have come to see me.”
Sighing, Amanda ran a hand through her hair. “God, relationships are hard. I never doubted myself. I knew exactly what to expect with sex.” She closed her eyes for a moment before raising them to meet Tricia’s. “I’ve just come to the realization today that Quinn has the best of both worlds. You for his intellectual and emotional needs, and me…. well, we know what he has me for.”
A movement behind Amanda caught Tricia’s eyes and she glanced over her shoulder. Quinn stood in the open doorway, his mouth open, obvious that he’d heard what Amanda had said, but she didn’t give anything away to her best friend. Narrowing her eyes slightly to the handsome barrister, Tricia silently warned him to stay quiet.
“Amanda, you know Quinn doesn’t…” Tricia began but Amanda cut her off.
“I know you love Blaise and Quinn isn’t interested in you that way, but he doesn’t share that part of his life with me.” Amanda winced, “God, now I sound like a nagging fish wife.” She shook her head, “Never mind. Forget I even came here. It’s not like…” Silence fell between the friends until it was interrupted by Amanda’s muttered, “FUCK! Love hurts.”
Amanda turned to leave and stopped, shock filling her body, as she saw Quinn standing in the open doorway. From his body language, Amanda knew that he’d heard it all and she felt all the color leave her cheeks.
Tricia cleared her throat, “Right. I forgot Jacob Burgoon needed to talk to me.” She raised her wand and accioed her purse to her outstretched hand. “Manda, you can lock up.” She didn’t give her best friend a chance to refuse, before winking at Quinn as she passed him by, and left her office.
“Look, about what you heard…” Amanda trailed off, not knowing what to say and hating that she was vulnerable. Quinn had the ability to hurt her deeply, much more than her father ever could.
Her gaze traveled over his stiff shoulders to the muscle ticking in his jaw and felt the mask fall over her features. The life lesson from her father to never show a weakness or it’ll be exploited wrapped around her like a cloak.
Quinn’s mind was whirling from everything that Amanda had said. At first, he was angry that she actually thought all she was to him was a body and sex. He’d thought they’d moved on beyond that, but he also realized he hadn’t shared that part of himself with her. Just as she hadn’t shared that part of her life with him, they were both guilty of not pushing the envelope in their relationship. Of playing it safe, not wanting to scare the other way, but not any longer. Tonight, they were starting with a clean slate.
In his mind’s eye, he crossed the room with a small smile playing around the edges of his mouth, words glib on his tongue, before he leaned down and kissed either side of Amanda’s plump lips. In his mind, he did everything right, comforting her as he felt his love push away her fears.
But in reality, he was still across the room, his mind racing over her words. Silently, Quinn shut the door to Tricia’s office, his eyes never leaving Amanda and the Wizengamot mask that she held in place. It would be the first of many things he would remove. With a flick of his wrist, he cast a silence spell, and locked them in.
“Yeah, about what I heard…”
Amanda stiffened and cocked an eyebrow, just as she cocked her hip to the side. “You always listen at doorways to private conversations? That how McKinnon Law gets their information?” She knew it wasn’t fair and she was being bitchy, but too many years as Royce King’s daughter had her being offensive.
“I only listen at doorways when I hear that I have the best of both worlds. Tricia to fulfill one of my needs and you the other.” He cocked his eyebrow in retaliation to hers, “Is that right? Did I quote you correctly? Were you concerned that I didn’t view you as something more than a bed partner?”
Her eyes narrowed, hating that her words were thrown back at her. “Yes, that’s right. Amanda is a good fuck, hell even some laughs, but when it’s something serious let’s talk to Tricia. Want a good time, floo Amanda, if you want stimulating conversation about literature, floo Tricia.” Amanda hated how her voice cracked, and she refused to give into the emotion.
The muscle ticked in Quinn’s jaw again as he tried to get his emotions under control. He knew she was hurting and knew her enough to realize she was fighting herself as much as him. He was walking a very fine line, and Amanda was pushing his buttons. It didn’t help to know she was doing it on purpose, or the reason behind her pushing.
“Amanda.” Her name was said through clinched teeth. Reaching out, Quinn held her arm, refusing to shake her, though the temptation was great. “I don’t floo Tricia for intellectual stimulation. You stimulate my mind more than anyone ever could. You’re constantly keeping me on my toes, in and out of the court room. Circe, woman you’re more than enough for any wizard. You’re like lightning, I never know when or where you’ll strike next, and it’s exciting to watch.”
Quinn had moved close enough that his breath bounced off her cheek. His voice lowered to a warning menace. “Tricia means nothing to me.” He took a deep breath, as if he was physically struggling. “You, Amanda King, give me everything that my mind, body, heart and soul could ever need.”
Amanda had been expecting many things, but Quinn’s words shocked her to her core. Almost as intensely as seeing him standing in the doorway had. Heart and soul? She turned her head slightly, not wanting to hope, but also not able to stop herself. Never did she think that someone like Quinn would ever give his heart to her. It had been the basis of her fear, when she realized that she was in love with the handsome barrister. That fear had bubbled up to the surface seeing him laughing with Tricia. All of her insecurities were out in the open.
“Do I?” Her lips brushed against his skin as she spoke the words. “That’s good to know. I found out something about myself I didn’t know, I can be possessive of everything about you, Quinn McKinnon. I want it all. I want to stimulate your intellect was well as your body. I want to know what authors you like, what you do on Sunday mornings, what you do for fun, your hobbies.”
Taking the emotional leap, Amanda hoped that Quinn would catch her. “I want you to know that I love to garden and grow my own vegetables to cook. That I have a cottage in Wales that no one knows about except for Tricia.” Her lips curled into a small smile, teasing Quinn’s skin with their movement. “Well, the villagers know that AJ King stays there, but that’s it. They don’t know that it’s Amanda King, infamous daughter of Royce King. Or if they do, they ignore it. They just see me in my floppy gardening hat in the midst of my plants.”
“Is there a wizard version of that gardening hat that a QR McKinnon could be seen in, in the midst of your plants?” The words were whispered in her ear, his lips rubbing seductively against the shell. “Balthazar is my favorite author. I could read her day in and out and I don’t really care that half of her characters are muggles. It makes for an interesting mystery.” Quinn paused, his arms tightening around the beautiful blonde witch in his embrace.
“My Sundays are for chores and relaxing if I can. I never pick up casework if I can get away with it. I knew I was falling for you when I couldn’t stop replaying our argument of Tacitain versus Werpoole. No matter how much I wanted to not think about work, all I could think about was you. I want to spend all of my Sundays with you, Manda.”
If she hadn’t already given her heart to Quinn, Amanda would have just then. It wasn’t her body that he fell in love with, or her sense of fun and adventure. He’d known he was falling after an argument played over and over in his mind. While her doubts and fears didn’t evaporate, they certainly lessened with that knowledge.
Amanda felt her muscles relax as the tension slowly eased from her body and she wrapped her arms tight around Quinn’s waist. Turning her head, Amanda caught his lips in a soul deep kiss, pouring all of her emotions and desires into the silent communication.
“I never thought I would say this to anyone.” She pulled her lips away just enough so she could speak. Their warm breath intermingling. “I love you, Quinn McKinnon. Come with me to Wales this Sunday?” Her lips curled into a small smile as she took the last step around the wall of her heart. “I’ll even find a wizard hat to compliment mine when I garden.”
“Sunday?” Quinn punctuated the question with a soft kiss. “How about Saturday night and a lazy day in bed on Sunday morning in your cottage at Wales, followed by time in your garden?”
“Sounds like heaven.” Amanda’s teeth tugged on Quinn’s plump lower lip before soothing it with her tongue. “So does what I have in mind for now. Do you think you’ll be able to visit Tricia in her office and not visualize me naked on her couch if I take you right now? Or should we apparate to my flat where I can have my wicked way with you?”
Quinn chuckled deep in his chest, his hands lowering from Amanda’s waist to cup her arse, bringing her body closer. “As much as I want you right now, I’d rather have a large bed to take my time.” He reluctantly released one hand and reached for his wand to undo the silencing and locking spell. “Last one to your flat…”
He didn’t get to finish the sentiment before Amanda winked and apparated out of his arms with a soft pop, only her husky laughter remaining.
Characters: Amanda King/Quinn McKinnon
Word Count: 2,127
Rating: R
Fandom: Harry Potter Universe but Original Characters
Author's Note: Unbetaed. Thanks to disparagingrant for helping with Quinn.
The scene through Flourish and Blott’s window of Quinn and Tricia laughing, both looking in a book, played over and over in Amanda’s mind as she approached her friend’s office. She knew that Tricia was in love with Blaise Zabini, but it didn’t stop the fear that was spreading through her. A fear that she’d never felt or expected to feel. That the one wizard she wanted to see her as more than friends with benefits wouldn’t. He got his intellectual and emotional needs met with Tricia, where Amanda knew she was the physical need.
They sparred when it came to the law, and he acknowledged her intelligence beyond T&A. Amanda just wasn’t sure if he saw her. They never laughed over a book, and to be honest she didn’t know what authors he liked. Their relationship was sex and the courtroom. She was just as guilty as he was for not sharing her life. Quinn didn’t know about her Welsh cottage either, or her love of gardening.
She knocked lightly on Tricia’s doorjamb, a small smile on her lips. “Hi, you have a minute?”
Tricia blinked a few times, clearing her mind from the case notes that she had been studying, and smiled when she saw Amanda standing there. “Of course. I always have a minute for you.”
Her brow furrowed, as she noticed Amanda’s body language. She may be wearing a smile, but it didn’t transfer to her eyes. “Everything all right?” Pushing back from her desk, Tricia stood and crossed the office to where Amanda stood with her back to the door.
Amanda took a deep breath, gathering her chaotic thoughts, not really knowing why she was there or what she thought Tricia would do about it. Maybe she just wanted a sounding board or an ear to listen, Amanda honestly didn’t know. Now that she was standing in Tricia’s office, she felt like an idiot.
“Erm, yeah. Everything’s fine.” She rolled her eyes as Tricia just cocked an eyebrow and stared at her. “Alright, fine. Everything isn’t fine. I just feel stupid.”
Tricia reached up and gave her friend’s arm a squeeze. There had to be something really wrong if Amanda was admitting to feeling stupid. “Don’t. Whatever it is, I want to help. You thought I could or you wouldn’t have come to see me.”
Sighing, Amanda ran a hand through her hair. “God, relationships are hard. I never doubted myself. I knew exactly what to expect with sex.” She closed her eyes for a moment before raising them to meet Tricia’s. “I’ve just come to the realization today that Quinn has the best of both worlds. You for his intellectual and emotional needs, and me…. well, we know what he has me for.”
A movement behind Amanda caught Tricia’s eyes and she glanced over her shoulder. Quinn stood in the open doorway, his mouth open, obvious that he’d heard what Amanda had said, but she didn’t give anything away to her best friend. Narrowing her eyes slightly to the handsome barrister, Tricia silently warned him to stay quiet.
“Amanda, you know Quinn doesn’t…” Tricia began but Amanda cut her off.
“I know you love Blaise and Quinn isn’t interested in you that way, but he doesn’t share that part of his life with me.” Amanda winced, “God, now I sound like a nagging fish wife.” She shook her head, “Never mind. Forget I even came here. It’s not like…” Silence fell between the friends until it was interrupted by Amanda’s muttered, “FUCK! Love hurts.”
Amanda turned to leave and stopped, shock filling her body, as she saw Quinn standing in the open doorway. From his body language, Amanda knew that he’d heard it all and she felt all the color leave her cheeks.
Tricia cleared her throat, “Right. I forgot Jacob Burgoon needed to talk to me.” She raised her wand and accioed her purse to her outstretched hand. “Manda, you can lock up.” She didn’t give her best friend a chance to refuse, before winking at Quinn as she passed him by, and left her office.
“Look, about what you heard…” Amanda trailed off, not knowing what to say and hating that she was vulnerable. Quinn had the ability to hurt her deeply, much more than her father ever could.
Her gaze traveled over his stiff shoulders to the muscle ticking in his jaw and felt the mask fall over her features. The life lesson from her father to never show a weakness or it’ll be exploited wrapped around her like a cloak.
Quinn’s mind was whirling from everything that Amanda had said. At first, he was angry that she actually thought all she was to him was a body and sex. He’d thought they’d moved on beyond that, but he also realized he hadn’t shared that part of himself with her. Just as she hadn’t shared that part of her life with him, they were both guilty of not pushing the envelope in their relationship. Of playing it safe, not wanting to scare the other way, but not any longer. Tonight, they were starting with a clean slate.
In his mind’s eye, he crossed the room with a small smile playing around the edges of his mouth, words glib on his tongue, before he leaned down and kissed either side of Amanda’s plump lips. In his mind, he did everything right, comforting her as he felt his love push away her fears.
But in reality, he was still across the room, his mind racing over her words. Silently, Quinn shut the door to Tricia’s office, his eyes never leaving Amanda and the Wizengamot mask that she held in place. It would be the first of many things he would remove. With a flick of his wrist, he cast a silence spell, and locked them in.
“Yeah, about what I heard…”
Amanda stiffened and cocked an eyebrow, just as she cocked her hip to the side. “You always listen at doorways to private conversations? That how McKinnon Law gets their information?” She knew it wasn’t fair and she was being bitchy, but too many years as Royce King’s daughter had her being offensive.
“I only listen at doorways when I hear that I have the best of both worlds. Tricia to fulfill one of my needs and you the other.” He cocked his eyebrow in retaliation to hers, “Is that right? Did I quote you correctly? Were you concerned that I didn’t view you as something more than a bed partner?”
Her eyes narrowed, hating that her words were thrown back at her. “Yes, that’s right. Amanda is a good fuck, hell even some laughs, but when it’s something serious let’s talk to Tricia. Want a good time, floo Amanda, if you want stimulating conversation about literature, floo Tricia.” Amanda hated how her voice cracked, and she refused to give into the emotion.
The muscle ticked in Quinn’s jaw again as he tried to get his emotions under control. He knew she was hurting and knew her enough to realize she was fighting herself as much as him. He was walking a very fine line, and Amanda was pushing his buttons. It didn’t help to know she was doing it on purpose, or the reason behind her pushing.
“Amanda.” Her name was said through clinched teeth. Reaching out, Quinn held her arm, refusing to shake her, though the temptation was great. “I don’t floo Tricia for intellectual stimulation. You stimulate my mind more than anyone ever could. You’re constantly keeping me on my toes, in and out of the court room. Circe, woman you’re more than enough for any wizard. You’re like lightning, I never know when or where you’ll strike next, and it’s exciting to watch.”
Quinn had moved close enough that his breath bounced off her cheek. His voice lowered to a warning menace. “Tricia means nothing to me.” He took a deep breath, as if he was physically struggling. “You, Amanda King, give me everything that my mind, body, heart and soul could ever need.”
Amanda had been expecting many things, but Quinn’s words shocked her to her core. Almost as intensely as seeing him standing in the doorway had. Heart and soul? She turned her head slightly, not wanting to hope, but also not able to stop herself. Never did she think that someone like Quinn would ever give his heart to her. It had been the basis of her fear, when she realized that she was in love with the handsome barrister. That fear had bubbled up to the surface seeing him laughing with Tricia. All of her insecurities were out in the open.
“Do I?” Her lips brushed against his skin as she spoke the words. “That’s good to know. I found out something about myself I didn’t know, I can be possessive of everything about you, Quinn McKinnon. I want it all. I want to stimulate your intellect was well as your body. I want to know what authors you like, what you do on Sunday mornings, what you do for fun, your hobbies.”
Taking the emotional leap, Amanda hoped that Quinn would catch her. “I want you to know that I love to garden and grow my own vegetables to cook. That I have a cottage in Wales that no one knows about except for Tricia.” Her lips curled into a small smile, teasing Quinn’s skin with their movement. “Well, the villagers know that AJ King stays there, but that’s it. They don’t know that it’s Amanda King, infamous daughter of Royce King. Or if they do, they ignore it. They just see me in my floppy gardening hat in the midst of my plants.”
“Is there a wizard version of that gardening hat that a QR McKinnon could be seen in, in the midst of your plants?” The words were whispered in her ear, his lips rubbing seductively against the shell. “Balthazar is my favorite author. I could read her day in and out and I don’t really care that half of her characters are muggles. It makes for an interesting mystery.” Quinn paused, his arms tightening around the beautiful blonde witch in his embrace.
“My Sundays are for chores and relaxing if I can. I never pick up casework if I can get away with it. I knew I was falling for you when I couldn’t stop replaying our argument of Tacitain versus Werpoole. No matter how much I wanted to not think about work, all I could think about was you. I want to spend all of my Sundays with you, Manda.”
If she hadn’t already given her heart to Quinn, Amanda would have just then. It wasn’t her body that he fell in love with, or her sense of fun and adventure. He’d known he was falling after an argument played over and over in his mind. While her doubts and fears didn’t evaporate, they certainly lessened with that knowledge.
Amanda felt her muscles relax as the tension slowly eased from her body and she wrapped her arms tight around Quinn’s waist. Turning her head, Amanda caught his lips in a soul deep kiss, pouring all of her emotions and desires into the silent communication.
“I never thought I would say this to anyone.” She pulled her lips away just enough so she could speak. Their warm breath intermingling. “I love you, Quinn McKinnon. Come with me to Wales this Sunday?” Her lips curled into a small smile as she took the last step around the wall of her heart. “I’ll even find a wizard hat to compliment mine when I garden.”
“Sunday?” Quinn punctuated the question with a soft kiss. “How about Saturday night and a lazy day in bed on Sunday morning in your cottage at Wales, followed by time in your garden?”
“Sounds like heaven.” Amanda’s teeth tugged on Quinn’s plump lower lip before soothing it with her tongue. “So does what I have in mind for now. Do you think you’ll be able to visit Tricia in her office and not visualize me naked on her couch if I take you right now? Or should we apparate to my flat where I can have my wicked way with you?”
Quinn chuckled deep in his chest, his hands lowering from Amanda’s waist to cup her arse, bringing her body closer. “As much as I want you right now, I’d rather have a large bed to take my time.” He reluctantly released one hand and reached for his wand to undo the silencing and locking spell. “Last one to your flat…”
He didn’t get to finish the sentiment before Amanda winked and apparated out of his arms with a soft pop, only her husky laughter remaining.