RP: Happy Birthday, Viktor!

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

Date: 1. December, 2001
Characters: Alicia Spinnet and Viktor Krum
Setting: Viktor's house, fairly early morning
Content: TBD
Status: Open: Private, Complete


It had taken a bit of preparation, preparation that mostly consisted of asking casual questions here and there and conferring to the data available on the datapad. But after a couple of days' investigation and planning, Alicia believed herself ready to pull this off, and at least most of the things she needed acquired. The very few things – one only, actually – she needed, she believed she could use to keep Sasha otherwise occupied while Alicia attempted to carry out her carefully planned plan. Even if it didn't work, she was certain that she could still supply Viktor with a nice surprise for his birthday.

When she had failed to change her nightshift, she had at first been disappointed, but then she had thought it over and found a way to make it work for her. For all Viktor knew, he wouldn't be seeing her until sometime after noon, after she had caught up on her sleep. Yes, she still needed to sleep, but this way she could at least have breakfast with him, before she went to sleep, and then they could continue celebrating in the afternoon. The beep signaling an incoming message on her datapad was the only thing she was waiting for; with the promise of showing his daughter how to Transfigure a leaf into a sunflower, Alicia had arranged with one of the guards at the gate to send her a message when he saw Viktor this morning.

Waving a quick goodbye to the rest of the staff, Alicia Apparated to Viktor's house, knocked on the door and waited patiently until Sasha opened. She sent the little elf a warm smile, watching as it bounced on the balls of its tiny feet before its face fell and it announced that Master Viktor wasn't home. It took a bit of convincing, but finally Alicia was allowed in the kitchen. Oh, she had been allowed in the house, but being allowed to cook in the kitchen while Viktor was out? That had taken her pleading with the little elf and only when she had pulled out her trump had the tiny elf let her in: Alicia wanted to cook breakfast for Viktor and she really needed Sasha's help getting the right kind of yoghurt for this particular dish. Sasha had nodded eagerly and with a loud pop she had been gone, and Alicia had set to work.

The dish itself was easy enough to make, but it had taken a trip to Three's market to see the baker there before she had found the right kind of pastry dough that the recipe required. Even though the almost impossibly thin sheets of pastry dough had been harder to handle than she had first thought, it only took about half an hour to layer it with whisked mix of eggs and the white brine cheese the dairy vendor had recommended as an alternative to the sirene cheese she had originally wanted. Her attempts at decorating the dish with a nice pattern from the leftover dough, however, failed miserably, making her settle for simply cutting it out as directed into rectangular pieces and carefully spooning the melted butter into the cuts before she poured the sparkling water over it and let it soak while she took the freedom of going through Viktor's cupboards to find a nice bowl. Once the banitsa was in the oven, she checked her watched. If Viktor was sticking to his routine, she had about 20 minutes before he was back.

Without giving it much more consideration, she quickly jumped in the shower, wanting to get work washed off before Viktor returned, and 10 minutes later she was back in the kitchen wearing her denim shorts and pink fitted shirt, her hair brushed though still damp. Sasha had returned too, and as per Alicia's wishes she began preparing the yoghurt to Viktor's liking, while Alicia first set the table and then began cutting up the fresh fruits she had brought along.

Comments

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

He didn't think anything out of the ordinary when he passed the first guard tower and the guard on duty waved to him. His jogging routine was something he rarely deviated from - the only variation was when Alicia was able to run with him, something Viktor looked forward to as it was something else they could share. This 'relationship' business was still new to him, though he found he had little interest in more than a passing glance at other women. There were other joggers out and Viktor nodded in passing but didn't match strides, focused on his own goals that morning.

Growing up, Viktor would have spent the morning with his parents, having kaffee and pastries, talking about the future, and making plans. Since his parents death, he had not celebrated and usually took a drink later in the evening with his friends. Now, with Alicia in the picture, Viktor simply assumed he would include her in the evening plans, given her schedule at the medical center.

Rounding the last lap of the settlement track, Viktor was feeling the slight burn in his lungs, turning down the lane leading back to his home, his thoughts returning to what his day would encompass - with Alicia having the late shift, she would be sleeping most of the day so he had planned on going over to the Ark to visit with the kits with Miko. He slowed his step as he neared, working down to a paced walk until, finally, he was at his front door. Stepping inside, Viktor was surprised to find Alicia in the kitchen. "Alicia! You no sleep?" he asked, shutting the door behind him.

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

Sasha had just stopped stepping on her own feet from excitement over Alicia asking it to show her what to do with the yoghurt when she heard the front door open, shortly after followed by Viktor's voice. Immediately her heart started pounding, though it was nothing compared to the rush in her entire body when she actually saw him. He was sweaty and flushed from his run, but Good Godric if he wasn't the most alluring man she could think of at that moment.

"Not just yet," she beamed at him, quickly wiping her hands on a dish rag, before she made her way out of the kitchen area to meet him in the dining area. "I was hoping we could have breakfast together before I went to sleep, and then we could... celebrate later?" Standing this close to him, she was tempted to throw her arms around his neck, if it wasn't for the fact that he was wet and in need of a shower. "Happy birthday, my love." With a smile she leaned up and pressed a gentle, kiss to his lips. "I'd give you more, but you're..." gesturing with her hands she indicated the state in which he had returned with a teasing smirk. "Perhaps you'd like a shower? Breakfast will be done in ten minutes or so."

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

He had to admit that, deep down, Alicia looked very good in his kitchen. It was a base, male response, but one that he accepted - Viktor didn't believe that women had a specific place in life but he could agree that there was something satisfying to see the woman he cared about moving freely in his home - clearly cooking something for him... on his birthday! His grin widened as she crossed over to meet him, resting his hands on her hips as she kissed him, the soft velvet of her lips brushing his so temptingly.

"Dank you! Dis much surprise. Ah, da, da," Viktor agreed, pushing back the desire to take the kiss much further. Of course, she had sacrificed her sleep time to come here and do this for him. He pressed another warm kiss to her lips and then straightened with a nod of agreement. With a glance of regret, Viktor headed to his bedroom and through to his ensuite, starting the shower as he peeled off his t-shirt and running shorts, then stepping under the hot stream of water to lather up. It was a quick shower, just enough to wash and shampoo, then he was drying off.

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

"My pleasure," Alicia smiled up at him, happy to see that he liked her little surprise for him. If she had to be completely honest, the surprise part of it had just as much been a practical part, since if Viktor had known she was cooking him breakfast he might not have gone for a run and they would have spent the morning in bed instead while letting Sasha take care of the breakfast. Maybe. And then there was the fact, that if she hadn't been able to leave work that hour ahead of time, she wouldn't have had to cancel on him. But seeing his reaction to it, knowing that she had done something to make him smile like that made her feel happy.

She pursed her lips, meeting his kiss and with a sigh watched him go to his bedroom. How she wanted to go with him, join him under the warm spray of the shower and then let things go their way from there, but even if she was awake now, she knew that the moment she was laid down, her instinct to sleep would kick in, and she would rather hold off on the sleep a bit, to spend the morning with him than have it be over this soon. The all too familiar dull throb below her stomach at the thought of Viktor in the shower made her breathe deeply once more, before she returned to the kitchen to put the final touches to the breakfast.

Viktor returned just as she was setting the banitsa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banitsa) on the table, and seeing him made her smile brighten immediately. He wasn't sweaty anymore, and in a few steps she was in front of him again, this time without the hesitation when she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him the kiss she had wanted to give him when he had first returned from his run. The kiss was unhurried and deep, and Alicia poured every tiny bit of warm feelings she had for him into it. She savoured the taste that was so distinctly Viktor and that she had longed for since she had kissed him goodbye yesterday.

Slowly the kiss eased off and Alicia stood back down on her flat feet, looking up at him. "Happy birthday," she whispered, then cleared her throat and gestured to the breakfast on the table. "I didn't, well, I don't know how you prefer you banitsa, so I took the liberty of making my preferred version; warm and plain with eggs and cheese."

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

Pulling on jeans and a button-down shirt, Viktor quickly towel-dried his hair before leaving his bedroom, more interested in finding out what Alicia was cooking for him and being around her in general. The scent of pastry filled the air and he recognized the familiar note of banitsa, amazed that Alicia had taken the time to discover how to cook it and make it for him.

Folding his arms around her, Viktor lost himself in the sweet taste of her mouth under his, tangling his fingers in her long, soft hair, the warm slick of dancing tongues spiking the simmering desire higher. He couldn't get enough of the little witch, savoring the way she melted against his body. The exploring, tantalizing rhythm of their tangling tongues was entrancing, though Viktor retained the smallest grip of conscious control to draw back when there was a need for breath. He was breathing deeply when she drew back and cleared her throat.

"Most kind of you, Alicia," Viktor stated gruffly, threading his fingers between hers in a light hold of her hand. He knew Sasha was around somewhere and she would have lent Alicia her knowledge of how to prepare the banitsa but the fact that she had thought of it herself was beyond anything he could have dreamed up. "It smell delicious. Come," he gestured, drawing Alicia over to the table and holding her chair for her before taking his own. "It perfect! Dis very velcome surprise, loff."

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

"Mmm, just wait until you hear my ulterior motive, then we'll see how kind of me you find it," Alicia purred, quirking her eyebrow at Viktor, before he escorted her to the table. Thanking him, she sat down and pulled in the chair, waiting until he was seated as well. "Please, help yourself," with a gesture of her hand, she indicated the still steaming pan with the pastry before she looked over the table. "I had Sasha find you the right kind of yoghurt, I hope don't mind."

While Viktor served himself, Alicia watched him, curios to see how the dish had turned out. "Back in London, there was a small cafe right next to where I lived. Well, barely a cafe, really, it was tiny but they served food. I didn't dare go in there the first couple of months I lived there, because it was dark and shady and didn't look at all inviting and the man who was always standing in the door had this..." pulling her eyebrows together and the corners of her lips down, she tried to replicate the look on the man's face, "scowl on his face. Always. Didn't matter if it was raining or the sun was shining or if you smiled and said hello. He always looked like that." Taking the spatula once Viktor was done, she began serving herself, satisfied with the consistency, though she kept relaying her story. "Then the morning after my first nightshift at St. Mungo's, I'd Apparated to a nearby alley and was walking towards my flat and I was knackered and hungry and I just wanted to get home, eat and go to bed, and right as I reach the front door there this amazing aroma in the air of what I thought were Cornish Pasties. I eye the man in the doorway at the cafe for a moment and decide that whatever they're cooking up is more delicious than he is scary, so I go in and the cafe is everything I'd thought it would be. Small, dark, stains on the walls and the carpet, though there are, surprisingly quite a few people in there, so I sit down and I've barely done so before the man's at my table grunting something that I think might have been him asking me what I'll have, and I just managed 'your breakfast menu and coffee, pleaase', and then he's gone. Two minutes later, he comes back placing a cup of amazingly strong coffee, sloshing it over the rim, a huge portion of this freshly baked pastry and a bowl of yoghurt. 'Banitsa, 2 quid' he grunted and left to stand in the door again. It was delicious, so when I'd eaten what I could I left two and a half quid on the table, like the other guests did, and went back home to sleep." With a small shrug, she brushed her hair back and smiled up at Viktor. "It ended up being my routine on mornings after nightshifts and it wasn't until I was trying to find out how to cook you breakfast that I learned it was Bulgarian food they'd served there."

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

"Nyet, Sasha do as she vill," Viktor pointed out with a low grin. The elf wouldn't do anything that would harm him and very much enjoyed any time she could spend with Alicia so this was a win-win situation for him. He took his seat and hesitated even when she instructed him to start without her - it was impolite to do so but she launched into a curious tale so Viktor transferred several pieces of Banitsa to his plate, his stomach growling in appreciation.

He handed the serving tool over to her, amused and chuckling at her animated story. There had been several places in London where he and the team would go to after games when they were in town, and from Alicia's description, Viktor thought he might remember which of the cafes it had been. It was no longer relevant or important, however, not when she had gone to the trouble of making banitsa for him - for his birthday. Filling his fork, he took a healthy bite and grinned - she'd done a very good job recreating the dish. When he could speak without food in his mouth, he said. "No important dat it Bulgarian, vhat important dat you like."

"You do good, very good, muchly taste of home," Viktor praised warmly between bites. He took a taste of the yoghurt and nodded, still smiling. It was touching that she had done this for him when he would not have thought to do it for himself. "I no celebrate day for some time, since parents die. How vas vork? You tired, da?"

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

"Mmm, I loved it," Alicia grinned at Viktor, pleased that he liked the food. Taking a bite of her own, she tasted it and licked a crumb off her lip, before she took another bite, just to be certain that the taste wasn't affected by the toothpaste she had used before Viktor had returned from his run. It did, and though it wasn't exactly like she remembered it, it wasn't too bad either. His comment had been small, but it had made an immense sense of warmth fill her. She had never doubted that Viktor wanted nothing but the best for her, but hearing him say it outright, even if they were only talking about food, only made it real for her.

"It's a little bland," she admitted, "but I think that might be the cheese. It's the... shall we call it the local variant?" Stretching her legs out under the table, the feel of Viktor's feet under hers first surprised her, making her thigh muscle twitch as if ready to withdraw – she hadn't expected his feet to be there – but she quickly relaxed and instead slipped her foot between his. "I'm glad you like it," she told him softly, watching him eat for a moment before she continued with her own.

It saddened her to hear that Viktor hadn't celebrated his birthday since the deaths of his parents. Then again, she also understood how his loss could make him want to just let it pass. But Viktor was important to her, he had become an important part of her life, and celebrating his birthday with him, was only a small way for her to show him that. "Not even with your friends?" She knew he was close with his friends, that he saw them as a sort or family, which made her wonder why they had let his birthday go unnoticed for those past years.

"Well, there's no real nightlife here yet, so generally nightshifts are not that exciting," she told him, adding a few dollops of yoghurt to her banitsa. "Mainly it's simply taking care of the few patients that are there, which is administering pain Potions." The added yoghurt made the slightly bland banitsa pretty close to perfect for her, and after a couple more bites, she put down her fork and picked up her mug of coffee, nursing it in her hands while she leaned back in her chair. "Yeah, I'm tired, but nothing I haven't tried before. Once we're done, I'll get a few hours of sleep and then I can sleep tonight." Letting the steam from the mug waft up to her nose, she blinked slowly, though kept her gaze on Viktor. "What would you like to do today, Viktor?"

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

A small crease appeared over his eyebrows as he listened, understanding and nodding a moment later with a smile as he gestured to the banista. "Da, different taste of cheese for you, no for me. Vhen ve make banista in home, ve haff fresh cheese. No ding put in like dey do for long journey. For special day, ve use shtrudel or tikvenik - affel und pump-keen," he explained between bites. Viktor, himself, had not tried to make banista since coming through but there were several older Bulgarian grandmothers and mothers who made it every morning.

Viktor smiled wider when Alicia's small foot slipped against his - it was a tiny thing, but he liked the feel of her skin on his and the gentle intimacy that translated from the touch. He took a drink of the ayran and paused for a moment before answering Alicia. "Da, I spend evening vith friend. Later, ve go meet dem, for meal und drink at Marko home, vith all team und family."

"Sleep here," he instructed warmly, nodding toward his bedroom down the hallway. "I to Ark vith Miko, visit kits, den come home und sleep vith you." A nap would be a nice break in the day and it would give him the opportunity to be near her. He finished the banista on his dish, dipping the last few pieces in the dish of yoghurt. There would be more at the gathering, along with other varieties of pastry and meats. Reaching over, Viktor took her free hand in his, his thumb gently caressing her fingers. "I happy you haff boring night. I no vant crazy person close you."

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

"Mm," Alicia hummed, the thought of the sweet versions of this pastry making her mouth water, despite the fact that she was beginning to feel full already – it was, she found, surprisingly filling. "That sounds delicious." Unlike the coffee she had brought along, that she had rationed to make herself a cup of coffee a day, the chocolate and other sweets were under a different and rather stricter rationing; holidays and birthdays, and that was it, at least until local alternatives started appearing. Perhaps this was one of them? Well, it wasn't chocolate, but it was a beginning, at least.

Leaning back forward, placing the cup on the table as she rested her elbows on the edge of the table, she looked up to meet his eyes. "We're meeting your friends tonight?" It wasn't that much of a surprise, but it still made a gentle shiver course through her body. This was the equivalent to Viktor meeting her brother, and though she wanted and felt ready to meet his friends, it was still a big step for her.

Following Viktor's gesture, Alicia looked to the bedroom door. Her smile turned lazy and warm with the thought of his bed and the time they had already spent in it. She chuckled gently as she nodded. "I'll sleep here," she accepted his offer, "and then you can come back and kiss me awake when Miko's had enough of the kittens in the Ark." Of course, if they were going to see his friends tonight, she would have to go home at some point to change her clothes, since she doubted her old worn jeans and just-a-touch-too-short tank top wasn't completely suitable for an occasion like that. His caress of her fingers, however, gentle though it was, was also highly seductive. Or maybe it was just Viktor himself. Either way, it made her push away any thoughts of the afternoon's practicalities. "I wish I could promise you that I wouldn't ever be near a crazy person," she said, regret tinting her voice, since the last thing she wanted was to make him uncertain or worried about her. "But keep in mind; I've survived year long exposures to people far crazier than any you'll find in either of the settlements."

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

Viktor chuckled at her reaction and made a mental note to have Sasha find the local alternatives so Alicia could experience the differences. Bulgarian food wasn't considered in the same category as French foods but it was good, healthy, and surprisingly flavorful. That Alicia had already had some exposure to the foods helped but he was certain that she would find variations she enjoyed in all of them, given their flexibility. He picked up his coffee cup and took a drink, setting it to the side a moment later. "Da, it vill be much talk, all family," Viktor answered, giving her hand a small squeeze. "Ve be together."

Any other time, that sexy smile would have lead him to carry her into his bedroom but Viktor knew she was tired and it was more important that she get rest before their evening. "Finish, den ve lay together before I leaf, small sleep," Viktor stated firmly, picking up his ayran and drinking down the last of it. Setting the glass aside, he curled his free hand around the coffee cup. "I haff trust of you, da, but no trust of other vith you. I vould haff you safe, Alicia. I know you capable of protect but I vould vant protect for you, to keep all evil from our life together."

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

"All family," Alicia said softly, smiling at the thought and finding all the comfort she needed in Viktor's small squeeze of her hand. "I'm looking forward to meeting them." Had she had to meet them alone, she would have been nervous, but with Viktor there, said nervousness faded to simple jitters, though she really was looking forward to meeting them.

With a chuckle Alicia watched as Viktor drank down the remainder of the yoghurt drink Sasha had prepared for him. She tightened her fingers around his, finishing off her own coffee. His concerns for her safety, his protectiveness hadn't failed to amaze her, though she hadn't heard it as spelled out as specific as now. Brushing his knuckles against her cheek before she released his hand, Alicia got out of her chair and moved around the table to sit down sideways on Viktor's lap. "No nap before you leave," she said quietly, wrapping herself under his arm, resting her head against his shoulder and threading her fingers through his. "Let's just sit here for a few, and then I'll go crash until you come back. Then we can nap together."

Sighing contently she relaxed completely against Viktor's firm body. She could hear his heartbeat, every breath he took, each one of which confirmed to her that he was real, he was alive and he was the man that had come to mean more to her in a shorter time than she had thought possible; a man who wanted to protect her, despite the fact that she was perfectly capable of doing so on her own. "You make me feel safe," she muttered, "and anyone trying to do you any harm, will have to go through me." Being this close to him, with his arms around her, calm settled in her and try as she might, she couldn't keep her eyes open. But she could still listen with her eyes closed.

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

She surprised him by circling around the edge of the table and he realized a moment before she began to turn that she wanted to sit on his lap, moving to circle his arms around her waist as she snuggled against his chest. Viktor loved that she did things like this, it made him feel very masculine and, yet, loved at the same time. He knew she was proficient with her wand but she did things like this, cuddling into his protective embrace. Viktor chuckled again, warmly as he rested his cheek against her hair. "I can no refuse you," he murmured, sighing contently.

"I pity dey who vould cross you," Viktor replied, "No von vill harm our family, you haff my vord. Ve safe here. Haff new vorld for family, for children. Our family. Our children. Ve vill haff peace und freedom here, loff," he stated firmly, leaning against the back of the chair, his arms still curled around Alicia as she relaxed against him. He sensed she was falling asleep but he would not move until he was certain she was, then he would carry her into his bedroom so she could rest properly. As much as he adored this petite witch snuggling him, he knew that she would not get a good rest propped up.

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

Viktor's warm chuckle rumbled through his chest, making Alicia smile broadly. "But you're not supposed to refuse me," she teased him with a chuckle, "so you're doing it right, love." As much as she valued and took pride in her independence, she trusted Viktor implicitly and had no qualms about letting her guards down completely when she was with him. With him she didn't have to worry that snuggling like this, actively seeking his embrace made her seem weak.

Slowly, meditatively, she brushed the tips of her fingers up and down his forearm, listening to his assurances about their future together. She loved hearing him talk about their family, their children; it had become like favourite bedtime story, though it wasn't only at bedtime they would talk about it. "We'll keep them safe," she agreed with him. Never having been one to have trouble sleeping – actually she only needed a place she could make herself relatively comfortable – being tilted those last few degrees when Viktor leaned back, was enough for her to slip from not being able to keep her eyes open and into a light sleep. It didn't take long before her breathing was slow an deep and her caress of Viktor's forearm came to a stop, as her hand went slack.

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

Oh, but she didn't know just how right she was. Viktor adored this little witch, so much so, that he had a suspicion that he might love her. He would talk to the Baba's. It was the only way he could be certain to separate the deep desire he had for her with the emotional swing of longing. Even in moments like this, when she was sheltered in the protection of his embrace, Viktor felt a confusing tug on his heart.

"Da," he agreed softly, hearing the dip in her voice as he enjoyed the soft caress of her fingertips. Someday, he would be holding Alicia and their baby like this, he realized in a moment of both surprise and contentment. Viktor was content to hold her like this and he smiled when her fingers began to slow, then finally stop moving. After a few minutes, he shifted his grip, sliding his hand under her legs, easing them both off the chair.

She stirred with a sigh as he carried her into his bedroom, gently laying her down on the covers. Viktor sat down beside her, stroking her hair as he watched her sleep. She looked angelic and he felt lucky to have found her, lucky that Hermione had valued their friendship has she had, lucky that the portal had been discovered. So many factors had come together to bring them to the point they were at now. Viktor sighed, pressing a light kiss to her cheek before rising. Miko was waiting in the living room already and he knew the kits would enjoy her company.