This Is So Soft And Sweet And Good - Tumblr Posts
Blossomed
“Thought I’d find you here.”
He opened one eye slowly, blinking at the bright light. “Oh no. My secret hiding spot is ruined.”
Laughter rang through the orchard as a heavy figure landed next to him. Draco wasn’t sure if he’s been asleep, exactly, but it felt like waking up; the world was a bit hazy, fuzzy around the edges. The smell of apple blossoms now fused into something heavier, orange and musky.
“Alberto said you like to come here before your shifts.”
He let out a long-suffering sigh. “Alberto talks too much.”
“Nah, he’s alright. I sort of bribed him into it. There were pies involved and everything, I didn’t leave the poor bloke much of a choice.”
Now Draco opened both eyes. Po—Harry was leaning against a trunk beside him, and his whole face was one big smile.
“Well, that,” was all Draco managed for a minute and a half. “I mean. That’s cheating.”
That made him laugh. “I didn’t realise it was against the rules.”
“There aren’t rules. I just thought… why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you ask about me?” Draco wrapped an arm around his knees. That was the tip of the iceberg, really, of all the questions burning on his tongue: why are you still here and surely they miss you back home and was it on purpose, the other night?
Harry frowned like he didn’t understand. “Because I wanted to see you?”
Draco shook his head, and the shadow of the wide brimmed hat danced above his eyes. “You were supposed to go back last week. You have your recipes, there’s nothing more on the island for you.”
“Nothing more?” green eyes opened wide, sad.
“What more would you—” swallowing didn’t use to be such an ordeal—“want?”
Harry took a deep breath, and the nerves that were so evident on him a second ago melted into something comfortable and warm, something fond. “I thought I made that clear.”
“You don’t… be serious.”
“I am.” He scooted closer on the ground, and Draco didn’t know whether to lean towards him or run away. “I thought you knew why I came to the restaurant every day.”
“You wanted… Alberto has the…”
A hand startled him, gentle under his chin. Draco was so entranced by the smile he missed it coming. “He gave me everything I needed the first week. After that, I only came for you.”
He could only blink in response. Harry tipped Draco’s hat upwards, so it wouldn’t hit his nose. Then, with a groan, removed it altogether.
“You have to know, don’t you? How I feel. After that night.”
That night, in this very orchard, with only the stars and the apples to bear witness, when they danced to the chirping of grasshoppers and flies until they collapsed on the warm ground. Draco blinked at the smiling, freckled face.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Are you joking?” Harry asked, although he was the one laughing. “I’ve been so obvious, everyone—oh, Draco. You’re such a brilliant, wonderful idiot.”
“Takes one,” he murmured before he had any time to think. “Wait, so. The reason you stayed is… what you wanted was…”
“You, you marvelous twit,” now they were both laughing, with awe and relief and bewilderment, “I wanted you. Of course, for you.”
The light was so bright without his hat, it was harder to make the surroundings. Only Harry’s face, so close; only the little lines around his eyes, the unwavering way his smile went even wider, even softer.
“Alberto thought maybe you were settling in,” Draco admitted breathlessly. “That you wanted to open your own place down here.”
“Or maybe work with you,” was Harry’s impossible, nonsensical reply, and he was entirely serious. Draco’s heart did something strange in his chest, tight and weightless.
“If Alberto agrees.”
They shared a quick, almost-chuckle. “If you’ll have me.”
“Yes.” He said the first without thinking. Then, after a minute: “Yes, of course.”
They looked at each other. The world smelled of apple blossom, of oranges and sweat and smiles and soft hands. The orchard rang with the raucous beating of his heart: a chaotic, elated melody, of summer, of happiness.