3It is clear, to her eyes, that they were oblivious to everyone. During a fleeting second over dinner, Christine would laugh and his gaze snapped over. It would soften, infinitesimally, as if he remembered love for the first time.
And she knew that this man, so aloof and impenetrable, armed with a glower and a grimace, sending shiver after shiver, right to the shallow depths of her breath, could also laugh with a warmth that told of his deep love of the earth when she stood upon it.
So Meg wondered how it was, that a man she should rightfully outcast – a man who had a talent so merciless that he could kill, and had – was accepted by the most dainty and fragile woman she knew, a girl who had always known right and wrong, had succumbed to such brutal magnificence.
Christine had been buried long ago. In her place stood someone she hardly recognised. A woman, who looked for the moon and the stars in the arms of a man rightfully wanted. Christine, in love.
How many places did she say that he'd been banned from? How many people has he escaped from?
An innate urge wanted her to go to her friend and protect her from the man who'd stolen her heart. To bare her teeth. To yell, to scold him that he was wrong to endanger Christine, when it had been just her voice he'd been after. Yet, she had held her tongue, watching the shadow with an intensity of concealed mistrust.
But, when Christine had stepped through her door, glowing with a beauty that was breathless, and a man whose manner softened like the petals of a steely flower, Meg had escaped to the bathroom, dizzied by the sight.
Shock, a revelation that the man who could juggle knives in the living room, would also brush his fingers so tenderly against the shoulder of Christine's red crocheted sweater.
His look at Meg, so direct that it challenged the wobbly fear that hid in her stomach that entire evening. His eyes told her he knew. His words uttered were nothing more than a plea.
The fact that he cared enough for her approval rocked over like wave of a cold-water, depositing her on a bay that allowed her to see so differently.
Meg knew he would not truly hold her high in his regard. His stony fear was covered with a challenge, but she couldn't deny the tenderness that governed his actions towards Christine. A man in reality, it seemed.
It reminded her of a dog. A dog who would put its whole world on the shoulder of its owner, their human companion. Both chosen and pledged love and loyalty. A dog that had never known affection from another. Its teeth would bare and it would step closer to its master when a threat made itself clear.
But it would rather face death than let anything harm its companion. She still remembered when Christine had told her of his plan, his plan to disappear if she'd wished it, her solemn face streaked with ruin.
By judging the man who dutifully swallowed her food, and entertained with strong affection by Christine's side, who's eyes both threatened and adored in equal measure, and placed such a delicate emphasis on Christine's happiness, told her all that she needed to know. A sigh of his utter wonder as Christine skipped to the car, desperate for its heating.
His parting gift to her was a bow. It was the first time Meg had seen the mighty figure descend so low, and caught sight of the almost indiscernible tremor in his pose.
As he rose, Meg caught his eye and found the tears in her own where there shouldn't have been. Despite the initial fear, relief was the wind that eased the tight knot inside, and loosened the worry around her eyes. Though Christine had long outgrown Meg's blustery advice and their days spent living together, she'd always tried to keep to Christine out of trouble. Whether that was boys, or money, or her father's stricken absence - but now, Christine's flighty spirit had become earthbound, tied to a rock that Meg could see would move the world just for her affection. Something about seeing their happiness was just so heartwarming.
She's always deserved it.
"Wait here." she spluttered, thought flashing through. His eyes widened at her sudden exclamation, and Meg saw the faint curiosity in the flex of his fingers.
Rushing back inside, Meg flew to her room, swallowing hard as she pulled out the draw. I've kept this for too long. It's high time I return it.
She held it tightly in her palm, as she stood at the doorway. Her throat closed, tight with emotion.
"I've uh - She left this, when she moved out. I kept it, you know. Safe. So when the right guy came along, she'd have it back. I really wanted to give this when she had-" she paused, looking down, and admitted in a whisper, "But, it never felt right for some reason."
Shaking her head, her fingers squeezed what lay inside her palm, "Well, now I know," her voice cracked, a smile burning at the corners of her mouth, "I think you should give it her, you know. Just remember not to take forever, okay? I - uh - I want her to be happy."
Pressing the object into his hesitant palm, Meg sniffed, wiping the tears away with a nonchalant gesture.
The man before her stood stock still, eyes glued to the simple gold band.
He looked up, golden eyes akin with something unguarded.
"Thank you," his voice both tremulous and tender. He swallowed, digits arching over to encase it delicately, just how he touched her, too.
And with a final gesture, Meg sent him off with a single nod.
She'd shut the door before they had time to wave goodbye.
Christine couldn't see the tears rebelliously slipping past her cheek.
Three months later, the wedding invitation dropped through her letterbox.
Heyyyaaa! I know this is an odd one! I feel like Meg doesn't get much spotlight, especially about her take on Christine and Erik's relationship. This is when they've gone through all the issues and have come out on the other side. I find it hard to write fluff. It's not so natural to me, but I tried it through Meg as she's a lovely lens to explore Erik and Christine's relationship through. I feel like Meg would find it hard to think about them, but when she sees the way Erik cares for her, and wants Meg's approval, that it says a lot to her. And if Christine is safe and happy, what more could she do?
Thanks for reading! I hope it isn't to 'angsty' for fluff week! ^^ I seriously tried my best XD
I feel like I owe credit to some of the beautiful modern POTO fics on here, and how their 'Megs' reacted to Erik and Christine being a couple, because it helped me think about how someone of the 'real world' would accept it, with a healthy dose of 'Meg' in it too!
Thanks for reading, and have a lovely PHLUFFY day,
Enigma
P.S I did start writing a 'Meet Cute' but it kinda ended up being a 'Meet ANGST', so that's on hold for a moment XD
P.S.S I want to give a special thank-you to textsfromthefifthbasement for hosting this wonderful FLUFF week on tumblr!