|
|
Post by Victoria Bennett on Nov 30, 2011 11:46:08 GMT -5
The afternoon passed very slowly for Victoria. She actually did get some work to do (more research, of course), but it wasn't just boredom that made the day drag on forever. The real reason was that she was anxiously counting the seconds when she could go back to the hospital and visit Daniel. This set off all kinds of warning bells in her head, but she chose to ignore them. Yes, it should worry her that she was so anxious to see Daniel again and continue their banter. But it didn't. And why should it, really? They were both adults. Why couldn't she have a good time with an attractive, interesting, charming man, who just happened to be her co-worker?
She'd been catching up on her gossip during her long morning of nothing to do. She knew that half of the auror department seemed to have paired off. Ted Tonks and Andromeda Black were married now. Roland Ferrera and Riley Neves were a couple, and expecting a baby. There were rumors of a few others as well, including the two German aurors. So she didn't see anything wrong with having a little flirtation with Daniel. And that was all it was, right?
Finally, it was 5:00, and Victoria was out the door before the clock had finished its fifth chime. She went to the apparation area and apparated to an alleyway outside the best burger joint in London. There she bought two cheeseburgers, two orders of cheese fries, and two large milkshakes. Then she stuffed the food into her magically-enhanced purse and made her way to St. Mungo's.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel Leviner on Nov 30, 2011 23:59:47 GMT -5
The rest of the day, all Daniel could really do was just hang out in his room. It was fairly boring, however he did get up and walk around the hospital for a little bit. He was pretty sure he probably shouldn't have done it, but laying in bed was driving him nuts. Besides, a walk never hurt anyone.
Sean had gone already to return to work and once his brother left, Daniel started wondering. He was wondering if Sean was hiding something from him. It seemed like he was, but he knew if he started pushing then his brother would pull away. He couldn't have that happen.
In addition to wondering about his brother, the scene with Victoria earlier also replayed in his mind. There was a small smirk on his face when he thought about it. There was no doubt that he was interested in her, but Daniel was not one to admit it out loud. Yes, he had tricked her into a date. They would go to dinner regardless of who won and he was strongly considering Sean's advice of letting her win. Of course, he would pretend at first that he was strong and everything, but he figured he could ease off a little and have a little fun.
By the time Victoria returned, Daniel was sitting on the side of his bed since he just returned from a walk around his floor of the hospital. When he saw her blonde hair, Daniel smirked. "Well hello there Sweetheart."
|
|
|
|
Post by Victoria Bennett on Dec 2, 2011 0:07:22 GMT -5
Victoria stood in the doorway, her hand on her hip. He looked better than he had earlier, which wasn't to say that he'd looked so bad before. But he had a little more color in his cheeks, and just the fact that he was sitting up instead of lying back on a bed made him seem a little better.
"Well, it looks like you've been up to no good," she said with a grin. "Have you been harassing the nurses?"
She moved into the room, walking over and boldly sitting next to him on the bed. "I brought you something."
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel Leviner on Dec 2, 2011 21:12:15 GMT -5
Daniel gave her an innocent look. "Me? Up to no good? Never," he said with a smirk growing on his lips. "As for harassing the nurses, I've actually been pretty good. I have to save my harassment for someone else." He winked at her. He had no shame in flirting with her. In fact, strangely enough, it never crossed his mind to flirt with a nurse while he walked the hall. If Daniel really thought about, it might have scared him a little.
As Victoria sat beside him, Daniel moved over just a little to make sure that she had plenty of room to sit. "You brought me something," he repeated with a smile. "What sort of surprise do you have for me?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Victoria Bennett on Dec 2, 2011 22:18:21 GMT -5
"Oh really?" she teased, grinning back at him. "And who might be the lucky person you save your harassment for? I bet it's someone gorgeous, smart, and charming that can beat you in a fight." She tossed her hair over her shoulder for added effect, then added teasingly, "Like Sean! I bet you drive him crazy, don't you?"
She didn't know Sean very well, but anyone who saw the two brothers together could see their incredible bond. It almost made Victoria wish she had a sister. Almost. After all, she had her friends, and they were almost like sisters.
At his question, her eyes twinkled mischievously as she moved her bag onto her lap. "Only the best kind of surprise. The kind covered in melted cheese!" Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a grease-spotted paper bag. She quickly opened this and began to pull things out of it. "Cheeseburger, cheese fries, and a milkshake. I wasn't sure if you preferred chocolate or vanilla, so I got one of each... and I'll take whichever one you don't want."
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel Leviner on Dec 3, 2011 21:56:35 GMT -5
"Yes, it's Sean. I have to make sure to save my harassment for him. It's a duty as a big brother to harass a little brother." Daniel grinned. That was one great thing about his and Sean's relationship. They could tease and harass each other, only to have the other come back with a response. Sometimes their actions would become fairly childish, especially when they turned to pranks on each other.
"You're the best," he said with a wide grin on his face. Of course, Victoria just won him over a little more (although he would not admit this out loud) by her actually getting the same greasy food as he did. Of course it didn't have to be the same exact order, but her willingness to eat greasy food was interesting.
"I'll take the vanilla. I know how you females are with your chocolate," he teased. Daniel unwrapped his cheeseburger and put a fry in his mouth. "How was work without me? Terribly boring?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Victoria Bennett on Dec 4, 2011 23:45:33 GMT -5
"Something tells me that you take that duty very seriously," Victoria replied knowingly. "I just hope he gives back as good as he gets. But if not... well, I'll just have to see what I can do."
She flashed him a wicked grin that managed to mostly cover the blush that crept up on her cheeks when he complimented her. "I'm going to remember you said that... like, oh, when you're being a sore loser when I win our sparring match."
Victoria was lucky; she had a good metabolism, and that, along with her vigorous exercise routine, helped her to keep in shape in spite of her fondness for greasy, fattening foods. She didn't eat that way every day, but she wasn't going to avoid the things she loved, either.
"Perfect. I was hoping you'd prefer vanilla. Their chocolate shakes are to die for." She stuck the straw into her cup and took a quick drink. "I don't know what you mean. Work was fascinating. I just love doing everyone else's unwanted research..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel Leviner on Dec 5, 2011 10:06:14 GMT -5
"Of course I take that job seriously," Dan replied with a grin. "Someone has to give him a hard time. He does retaliate in some way, which makes it all the more fun. I like to see him get flustered sometimes." He laughed.
"Oh, I'm never a sore loser," he replied to her comment. "I'm just a great winner is all, and as for the sparring match, someone is highly confident that she can beat me. We'll see how well that goes." Daniel was teasing her. He thought about what Sean said and the thought had already crossed his mind before Sean told him to let Victoria win. However, Daniel was not going to tell her that he was just going to let her win.
He laughed at her sarcasm. "I'll take that as you have missed me tons and cannot wait until I get back," he said with a wink. "I don't blame you, that place can be sort of boring."
|
|
|
|
Post by Victoria Bennett on Dec 6, 2011 0:10:26 GMT -5
Victoria rolled her eyes at him as she ate a cheese fry. "Someone thinks very highly of himself, doesn't he?" she teased. "I promise you, my day does not revolve around you. I mean, yes, I have been looking forward to coming back here all afternoon, but obviously it was the cheeseburger I was looking forward to."
It wasn't true, though, and she was pretty sure he knew that. OK, yeah, the cheeseburger was good. But sharing it with him and continuing their banter was much more fun.
"When do you think they'll let you go home. You seem fine to me. You haven't tried to bite me at all since I've been here, and I'm showing quite a lot of neck." She grinned at him and pushed her hair back behind her shoulder, exposing her neck a little more for added effect.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel Leviner on Dec 6, 2011 12:32:54 GMT -5
"That's what you think sweetheart," Daniel said with a wink. "We both know very well that you were excited about coming back here to see me. You didn't have to, but you did. And that whole cheeseburger line? Come on now, is that the best excuse you came up with?" A smirk grew on his face as he teased her. "I think you like me." He was not completely blind to what was going on around him. Daniel was pretty observant.
He let out a laugh as she exposed her neck. "I don't bite," he said with a grin. "Not hard anyway." Daniel took a drink of his shake. "Besides, I think they're waiting because something or another about sensitivity to sunlight or something like that. I don't know. Maybe I'll get to go home tomorrow. Laying in the hospital is boring, but it has it's perks sometimes."
|
|
|
|
Post by Victoria Bennett on Dec 7, 2011 0:55:01 GMT -5
"Wow, your ego is so big, I'm surprised there's enough room in here for the three of us," Victoria retorted. "I mean, come on, this is a fantastic cheeseburger, don't you think? In fact, I think you like me a little more, just because I brought you one, don't you? They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach."
At this point, it was pretty obvious that they liked each other. But she wasn't going to give in so quickly. She was having fun with things the way they were. There wasn't any reason to rush things.
"Sensitivity to sunlight, huh? I can just see you wearing a really cool black trench coat with a hood and dark sunglasses... Like a spy or something."
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel Leviner on Dec 9, 2011 10:48:52 GMT -5
"Now who's ego is big," Daniel teased her. He liked flirting with her. He enjoyed her comebacks and smart remarks.
At the comment of looking like a spy, he rolled his eyes and laughed. "Do I really look like a trench coat guy to you," he said jokingly. "I much rather stick with my usual look. Sunglasses I can deal with." Daniel had yet to tell his parents about this whole incident, and he was more than likely not going to tell them. His mother would worry far too much and would probably suggest the same thing Victoria did.
"I'll be fine. I know you'd miss me if something ever bad happened." Daniel winked at her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Victoria Bennett on Dec 10, 2011 18:28:09 GMT -5
"Hmm. You're right," Victoria said thoughtfully. "You're more the leather jacket and sunglasses kind of guy. Sort of a James Dean--rebel without a cause type."
Which actually added to his appeal quite a bit. She could picture him riding a motorcycle or something.
"Something tells me you're also the type who'd go down fighting," she added. "You wouldn't give up over a little vampire nip... You'd fight the reaper himself if you had to."
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel Leviner on Dec 13, 2011 11:30:02 GMT -5
"I would fight the reaper if I had to. I can't give up anytime soon, there's too much that's going on here that I have to keep up with." Daniel smiled and gave her a wink."Besides, someone has to look over Sean and make sure he doesn't continue to beat himself up over things and someone has to watch over you to make sure you don't go being all loud with the wrong person." He teased her again and gently nudged her with his elbow.
Taking a bite out of his food (and using his manners to wipe his mouth for once), he turned to look at Victoria. "Thanks for the food. You saved me from the wonderful stuff they like to call hospital food."
|
|
|
|
Post by Victoria Bennett on Dec 13, 2011 23:54:35 GMT -5
"Hey, now," Victoria said loudly, putting her cheeseburger down and pointing her finger at him sternly. "I am not loud. How dare you accuse me of such a thing? Just because I talk too much sometimes, that doesn't mean I'm loud. And I don't need you to 'watch over' me. I think I'm the one who should watch over you, to make sure you don't get yourself into trouble. And of course, someone needs to make sure you don't die of starvation from having nothing to eat but lousy hospital food."
OK, yes, Victoria sometimes could be loud, but she didn't always realize it. She was aware of her tendency to talk too much, and that some people, like the German auror, for example, might not appreciate her exuberance. But she also wanted to make one thing clear--she did not need any man to take care of her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel Leviner on Dec 14, 2011 11:00:01 GMT -5
"You're being pretty loud right now sweetheart," Daniel said smoothly as he put a fry in his mouth. "I'm pretty sure the people 3 rooms down just heard you." He winked at her. "But I get it, you made your point of being strongly independent. And, by the way, I don't need someone to look after me. I've been getting myself into trouble ever since I was little. I believe I can still handle it." Of course there were plenty of times when Sean bailed him out. Sometimes Daniel couldn't hold his tongue and then there were times when he just went for it which sometimes led to trouble. He knew he could take care of himself however.
"By the way, you talking too much is not really a problem. It's kind of cute."
|
|
|
|
Post by Victoria Bennett on Dec 14, 2011 23:18:59 GMT -5
"I wasn't that loud," Victoria said in a sour tone, making a face at him before stuffing a fry in her mouth. "And I think you do need someone to look after you... Need I remind you which one of us is in the hospital right now?"
She was glad that he wasn't hurt badly, and that they could sit here and joke about it over cheeseburgers. Whether she realized it or not, she would have really missed him if something had happened to him. They might have only known each other for a short time, but already she was getting attached.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel Leviner on Dec 14, 2011 23:30:42 GMT -5
"Oh, so we're making faces at each other now? Cute." Daniel flashed her his grin. "And you think you can really look after me sweetheart? Besides I'm only in the hospital because," he paused for a moment. He did get himself into trouble, but it was alright. "because I was flown back through a door, and a vampire bit me while trying to escape."
He took a bite of his burger, causing ketchup and everything else being smeared across his face. Using his napkin, he wiped off his mouth as he looked back to Victoria. "I think I was doing alright until the thing decided to grab me. I must have had a bite me! bite me! sign over my head."
|
|
|
|
Post by Victoria Bennett on Dec 16, 2011 0:34:39 GMT -5
"Oh, is that all?" she said sarcastically. "Well, obviously, then, you're fine on your own."
Really, he could have been seriously hurt, and it sort of bothered her that he was so cavalier about it. She wondered if he was always like that, taking risks and getting into trouble because he enjoyed it. Or maybe he was just acting like it was no big deal because it was his way of coping with it... and if that were the case, she was OK with it.
"Maybe you were just looking particularly tasty," she cracked. "Like to her, you were just one big juicy cheeseburger. With lots of ketchup."
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel Leviner on Dec 21, 2011 22:01:25 GMT -5
Honestly, it was Daniel's way of coping with everything. He had to be cavalier about certain things. He was a big brother and he was always going to be a big brother. Ever since he and Sean were little, if Daniel ever got hurt, he would pretend that it wasn't some big deal. Sure, he was a tough guy and he held up that wall pretty well. Daniel couldn't remember the last person that saw him vulnerable. He thought he had to be strong no matter what. It was his role, even in his family.
"Oh, sweetheart has jokes too," he said teasingly. "I mean, I do know I'm sexy and irresistible, but taking a bite out of my neck is taking it a little too far. I didn't even have dinner with her first." Daniel grinned.
|
|
