#Fergus Gabehart

[booksviolinsandembroidery-moved]

Sweet Summer Vibes

Sammy was practically vibrating with excitement. His parents were home for a week in the summer and he couldn’t be happier, but he was waiting for something. His mother, Elissa, smiles at him from her comfy chair. “Sammy, why don’t you check on the cookies, sweetheart? They ought to be almost ready by now.” His head snaps around to look at her, his eyes wide.

“Okay!” Sam shoots out of his chair and into the kitchen to check on the sweets in the oven. Elissa chuckles, affectionately shaking her head at him. He was always such an energetic child. “Mama, can I take them out?”

“Yes, baby, go ahead.” As she’s finishing her sentence, the door handle jingles with the sound of keys turning the lock and the door swings open. Fergus, Samuel’s father, smiles broadly.

“Mmmm I smell Mama’s famous cookies. You two were quite busy while I was gone!” He chortles.

“Papa! Is he here?” Sam darts out of the kitchen and back into the living room and looks around his father. Sam jumps and squeals when he sees. His best friend, Laurent Dorian King, is standing behind Sam’s father and his face lights up when he sees Sam.

“Laulau!” It takes him about two seconds to cross the room and throw himself at his friend. Lau laughs and happily catches him, hugging him tightly. “Hey, Sammy.” Lau smiles widely and plants a kiss on the top of Sam’s head. Sam holds him tightly for a few more moments before stepping back to look up at Lau.

Huh…

Sam didn’t see that healing black eye before. His smile instantly vanishes, his entire face dropping, and his eyebrows furrow. “Lau what-”

“Why don’t we go drop your stuff off, son, and dig into some delicious smelling cookies?” Both boys’ attention is drawn to Fergus, who is fondly watching the two friends. Sam opens his mouth to argue but decides to drop it and backs up to let Lau further into the house. “I’m glad you could make it Lau. We’re gonna have so much fun.”

 Sam’s parents welcomed Lau into their home warmly, but it was easy to tell that when Lau wasn’t in the room, they were talking about him. There was no way either of them had missed the black eye.

 Later, after dinner, they all sit in the living room together with gentle 50s jazz and traditional pop music playing in the background. Elissa sits curled up with her husband on one couch and Sam is practically in Lau’s lap with his head fit snuggly under the boy’s chin; one of Lau’s thumbs rubs back and forth on Sam’s arm. The four talk softly about how their year has gone, what they’ve done and what they’re excited for in the future. It’s warm and comfortable. It’s so relaxing Sam is sure Lau is glad to have it.

At some point, one of Fergus’ favorite songs comes on and he can’t help but pull his wife up with him. His smile is loving as he guides her over to the middle of the living room for more room and he circles his arms around her to dance with her. Elissa is rolling her eyes at her husband’s antics with a smile on her own face as well. Fergus sings quietly along with the music as he and his wife sway together.

“Tall and tan and young and lovely,

the girl from Ipanema goes walkin…”

Sam can’t help but smile himself and looks up to Lau, who is watching the tender scene with curiosity and a hint of something else Sam quite put his finger on.

‘Does Lau dance too?’

Sam subconsciously reaches out with his legilimency and sees what must have been the last time Lau danced. He sees Lau’s mother’s smiling face and Sam’s heart aches for his best friend.

The Ravenclaw decides it’s about time Lau dances again and stands, tugging at Lau’s sleeve to get him to stand up as well. It snaps Lau out of his thoughts and Sam grins at him. “Come on, it’s a family tradition. You’re one of us now.”

The statement must strike something because Sam can see tears building up until Lau blinks them away, smiling. He nods and follows Sam to the middle of the room next to Sam’s parents, who regard them with caring smiles. Lau looks down at Sam, not sure where to put his hands, and Sam wraps his arms around his friend’s neck. Lau relaxes and rests his hands on Sam’s waist as Sam rests his head on the other’s chest. It’s really more swaying than dancing but none of them care. It’s soft and loving in a way Lau hasn’t experienced much since his mother died.

 The rest of the night is as laid back and Lau is set up in J’s old room. Sam lies awake in his own bed, his overactive mind refusing to shut off just yet. Then he remembers he never got to ask Lau about his eye.

Sam slips silently out of his room and cracks the door open to Lau’s. “Lau…?”

Lau is getting ready for bed, pulling back the blankets on the bed, shirtless, when he looks behind him at Sam who’s still in the doorway. Sam looks away quickly, his face reddening. “Can I come in?” Lau smirks.

“Well, you kind of already are, but sure. What’s up?”

Sam steps in and lightly closes the door so his parents don’t hear, eyebrows already knit together. “Well… I-…” He purses his lips. He thinks about what to say for a moment then looks up at Lau. He goes to say something but his voice catches in his throat when he sees the scars that litter Lau’s body. Really, he shouldn’t be surprised. He’s seen what a werewolf can do to someone and he’s seen the claws that Lau grows. It’s still not a happy sight to see. It makes Sam’s heart clench.

Sam goes up to Lau and sighs. “I wish I could make these go away…” He reaches out to touch a particularly harsh one but refrains.

Lau huffs. “They don’t bother me much…” It’s half a lie and Sam knows it but he doesn’t say anything. He just puts his hand back down at his side and looks Lau in the eyes.

“What happened to your eye?”

Lau recoils from Sam’s blunt question. “Sam I-”

“It was your dad, right?”

Lau’s shoulders fall and he refuses to meet Sam’s gaze but that doesn’t stop Sam from seeing the memory.

The animagus’ lip curls in disgust. “He deserves to die.”

Lau makes a face. “He wasn’t always like that… He used to carry me on his shoulders and sing lullabies…” His expression can only be described as bittersweet.

Sam heaves a heavy breath in frustration. “Lau, your father died with your mother and a monster took his place.”

Lau opens his mouth then shuts it. His face pinches together and Sam deflates, hugging him. “Sorry… I didn’t mean to be so harsh, I just… I can’t stand that he does that stuff to you. You deserve the world, Lau.”

Sam feels warm arms wrap around him. “I know, Sammy.”

They stay like that for a short while. It’s more comforting to Sam than any comfort blanket or stuffed animal ever was and he’s reluctant to let Lau go. When Lau moves away, Sam catches him and looks up at him pleadingly. “Can I stay?... I-… I don’t want any more nightmares… It helps to have someone… there. You know?”

Lau presses a kiss to Sam’s forehead. “Sure, Sammy…”

 In the morning, Sam’s parents find him curled up against Lau and sleeping more peacefully than he has in months.

Little something soft for @slytherin-puffskein bc I love him and Lau. I probably butchered Lau but it’s late and I was kinda hungry... Anyways I hope you at least somewhat like it.