There will be slight smut in this fic so if you don't like that please skip this fic

There was a particular sense of quiet seeping into the home of the estranged Auror, Maceir Cystal. The two-story apartment wasn't always quiet at night, not because of the sounds of two people, the woman just lived a loud life. She'd gotten her fair share of noise complaints from her muggle neighbors, but how could they know about the baddies who managed to break into her apartment and slam her against the brick walls of her apartment. 

The bellows of rage escaped her lips and throat when a convict grabbed her by her hair and pulled her skull back.

But tonight was different.

The man was dressed in all back and had her pinned to her own staircase, pressing her skill against the floor and his knee pressed into the middle of her spine, causing her to stay still. Maceir growled through her dark brown hair and she bit down on the scar that crossed her lip. Her breathing heaved as the man in black leaned down to whisper in her ear.

Maceir would have had the shot to trap him if it wasn't for the dinner she'd been carrying in both hands. And now here she was, pressed against the stairs with food in her hair and a knife at her throat. 

Tonight it wasn't her own superb skills that would save her.

"Well little miss Scotland, looks like this is the end of the road for you."

"No, it Ain't!" The voice was loud and stern, filled with the power of a man who had seen things he never should have. He was too kind for these things. 

His cane slammed into the skull of the man and the black-dressed figure slumped on top of her. The shock of what had happened would forever startle Maceir, her head pressed against the soft carpet stairs of the apartment, her gasps of breath shook her entire body. The deadweight of the other man that pressed against her back and she didn't have the strength to yet throw him off of her.

But she didn't have to.

The struggling of her friend was easier to hear than it was to see. The sounds of him slumping to the ground next to her, the frantic shoving of the dead-weight on top of her, and worse of all the sounds of the intakes of breath from an already tired man. She gasped his name as soon as his hand met her cheek, "Jacob-"

As soon as the weight was lifted off of her, Maceir was pulled into a brutal hug, with the man's crooked nose buried into the crook between her neck and shoulder. Hesitantly, Maceir wrapped her arms around his shoulders, closing her eyes and clenching her teeth against her lips. Her rugged breaths we far more scared than they would have normally been after a situation like that.

"Gods, Mac and Cheesie..." Tail near about whimpered into her oversized sweater ", Oh my gods..."

Mac was the first to look up, glancing at the unconscious man in black and reaching her hand out to his neck. Tail grabbed her hand and drew it back between their bodies, "No, don't. Don't touch 'im."

"I need to see if he's alive, Tail..."

Maceir glanced at him with her honey golden eyes and he let go of her hand. The woman reached her hand out and pressed her fingers against the skin on the man's neck, his heartbeat was hard and strong despite his being knocked out. She let out a quiet sigh of relief and removed her hand from his neck.

"I need to send to the Ministry..."

Tail glanced up at her with a worried look on her face ", So they can arrest me?"

"Gods no... I won't let them take you..." Maceir pressed her hand to his cheek and their foreheads touched for the briefest of seconds, eyes both pressed closed. Maceir let out a sigh and then pressed her teeth together as she reached for her wand, the scuffle had sent it flying across the floor, then muttered the charm under her breath. The hummingbird that shot from the tip of her wand fluttered for a second, glanced at the pair, then zoomed off.

"It won't take them long, I have to hide you..."

Maceir rose to her feet and helped the one-legged man to his foot, then helped him up the stairs and towards the bathroom. He glanced at her, the scar across his face was large and crossed his nose, almost touching the corner of his right eye. Tail touched her face gently, and leaned forward, his nose pressing against her cheek and his warm breath touching her face. Maceir didn't think, the feeling on her back was his arm that she'd wrapped around his waist to pull him up. They'd never even thought to let go of each other.

Part of Maceir wanted to start singing, her heart thrummed in her chest and she couldn't find herself able to speak, let alone sing. Her fingers twined themselves in his shirt and pulled him closer to herself, allowing his thin frame to press to her own.

Without warning, his mouth was on hers. His nose pressed against the side of hers and a bitter-sweet sadness grew in Maceir's stomach. The warmth of his hand on her cheek, her arm around his waist. The feeling of right settled the bitter-sweet moments between them.

When Tail drew back, Maceir felt herself wanting to cry out for more of him. More of his touch, his attention, him.

Tail turned towards the bathroom and glanced at the light switch, not bothering to flick it up to turn the light on and settling himself on the seat of the toilet. The Auror rested her hip against the door frame and stared at him, not understanding her own emotion at the moment. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for the fraction of a second.

"I'll be back for you..."

"I know yeh will."

The door closed between them and she let out a quiet but long sigh. This wasn't happening. This was NOT happening, not to her. Tail was her best friend, her closest ally, someone she trusted with her life. Her life that he saved this very night.

The knock on her door almost startled her, making her jump ever so slightly. 

The Ministry.

She rushed down the stairs and shoved the man on his back, then made her way to the door. Crimson red-cloaked wizards with their wands already out entered her home, secured the reawakening criminal, then began their investigation. 

Where had Maceir been?

Where did he enter?

How did she subdue him?

"I'd been coming downstairs to feed the strays. I always take a plate out for them."

"He mush have got in through an upstairs window, I always leave one open before I go to bed."

"I hit the bastard round the head and he knocked himself out on the stairs."

Lies that the Ministry would believe over the words of a common criminal. After the Aurors left, the criminal magically silenced between them, Maceir let out a sigh of relief. Her eyes flitted to the floor above and she closed her eyes.

Don't let it be awkward.

Maceir returned to the stairs and picked up the plate that she'd been carrying, then went to place it next to the sink. She gazed towards the bathroom door and took a deep breath, "They're gone."

The door to the bathroom creaked open and the sounds of a hobbling footstep rang in her ears. It was almost eerie, how quiet the two of them were around each other. Maceir began to wash her dishes and clean up the mess around her. Tail hobbled over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't 'ave done that."

"Don't you dare be sorry, Tail," She almost snapped at him, her eyes filled with heat ", Don't you dare regret kissing me."

Tail took a step back, lifting a hand in the air ", I didn't say I regret it. I said I shouldn't 'ave done it. I know yah better than that."

She stared at him and raised a hand from the sink, dripping water onto the counter and the floor.

"Yeah... You know me... We've been living together for what? Three months now? Yeah, you know me." 

She snapped at him, her teeth bore like a wild animal. She turned away from him in an almost vicious way.

"I know yah toss and turn in yer sleep."

She stopped what she was doing.

"I know that yah change the flowers in yer vases every three days."

Maceir closed her eyes and tipped her head down, towards the sink water.

"I know that every night yah kneel by yer bed and pray for an Ania, Matalla, and Mayanfair. And I know that yah love them with all yer heart."

"So you know a few basic things about me, so what?"

She spoke quietly, heart still thrumming in her chest.

"I know that yah wonder every day if yah could have saved the last boy yah loved. I know that yah don't let the fellas who ask yah on dates take yah out because yeh don't wanna risk losing anyone else yah love."

Maceir stopped and opened her eyes. She hadn't been expecting to cry, but the tears came freely. "I know you too you know?"

Tail seemed to catch his breath, it stuck in his throat like sweet candy, he barely choked out the next words, " Yah do?"

"Yeah... I know that you stop and pet every stray cat you meet because you want them to feel some sort of home."

She turned to look at him, hands still wet.

"I know that you are scared, every day, that I am going to throw you out of here, but I'm not."

Maceir took a long stride towards him and pressed her hand to his cheek.

"I know that you are just as terrified as losing people as me because you lost your band when the war started. And you lost your control over yourself, and you lost your best friend to prison."

"And yeh'd be right..." Tail whispered as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I know that you care about me. You know that I care about you too, right?"

"I know."

They stood there, tight in each other's embrace. Her nose brushed the underside of his chin andhe let out a small sigh as he rested his chin on top of her head.

"Let me finish the dishes... Go get a shower and get that crap outta yer hair."

Maceir let out a small laugh and looked up at him with eyes shining with her tears. His hand rose to her cheek and he used his thumb to wipe away the tears under her eye. His hand lingered on her cheek and gently tipped her face towards his. His eyes were grey, tired, and stormy like a Scottish seaside on a dark day.

Maceir could only wonder how they got so dark and stormy. Years of battle? Trauma? Heartache? Maybe she'd be brave enough to ask him someday.

The man gently pushed her away and brushed her hair back, picking something out of it and tossing it into the sink. He smiled a tired smile at her and pressed a kiss to her forehead, "Go get yerself cleaned up."

"Okay..." She closed her eyes as he kissed her forehead, enjoying the feeling of his lips on her skin. She stepped away from him and held her arms out to keep him stable, then started towards her bedroom.

.     .     .

The shower had been refreshing, getting the chunks of food and plate out of her hair had been a relief. She opened the door to the bathroom, letting the steam build up flow out and into the rest of the house. 

She smelled a wonderful scent when she walked out, roasting carrots and potatoes, sweet corn, and chicken. She stepped out with the oversized nightshirt hanging over her knees, peeking around the wall and watching as Tail poured the carrots and potatoes onto two plates. He -glanced up at the door opening and gave her a soft smile.

"I made you a Lil something while you was in the shower..." He held out a full plate to her and smiled ", Hope yah don't mind, I started eatin."

"No, I don't mind at all, Thank you."

She took the plate from him and stared at the heaping pile of food on her plate. Hunger pangs had ceased a while back, and she set the plate down. He looked at her, almost quizzically, then picked it up and placed it safely in the microwave.

"Sorry."

"Naw... Don't be sorry. I get yer tired, it's been a long night."

She nodded and turned towards her large bedroom, then stopped, turning towards Tail. 

"I don't wanna be alone tonight..." She almost whispered, "... Come with me?"

Tail pressed his lips together, then nodded at her, setting his own plate in the microwave and then hobbling after her in a slow, almost agonizing way. She reached her hand out for him to take it and he pressed his fingers into the palms of her hand. 

They walked into her room, Tail struggling to get himself onto her bed next to her. Maceir slipped into bed next to him and threw the covers over both of them, snuggling close to his chest and burying her nose into his neck, and staying there. His long hands brushed her hair behind her ear and caressed her cheek, thumb brushing against her cheekbone.

Maceir closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax, to be welcome in this restored feeling she hadn't felt in a long, long time. She glanced up, peeking through the cracks she'd allowed herself to see, and saw Tail watching her, his eyes soft and caring as he watched her. His hand had not stopped stroking her wet hair, he was looking at her in such a way that she'd only seen once before.

"You look at me the way Kiram did..." She said quietly and her hand reached up, brushing his scruffy cheek with her index finger.

"And how he did look at yah?"

She took a deep breath and pressed her eye tightly shut before looking up at him again, "Like you're in love with me... Kiram looked at me as if I were the moon... Like I was the most beautiful light he'd ever seen. No matter how I changed myself to look."

He smiled and kissed the top of her head.

"Metamorphmagus women change 'emselves to be how they want ter be. I never seen yah change herself to go out 'round the block. Fortunately, yeh are beautiful with or without yer powers, and I'd wager money one that one."

She glances at the other, he pressed a kiss to her cheek and let his kisses trail along her jawbone, along her neck. She shivered, trying to press it down with no success. Tail stopped and then brushed his hand along her shoulder, pulling her closer to him with his opposing hand.

"You would? What if you are wrong?"

"I don't think I'm much wrong on this one. I'd wager er' coin I have that the yeh I'm looking is the real Maceir."

She smiled softly and propped her head up on her arm, reaching the other one over and pulling Tail closer by the waist. He drew in a sharp breath and pressed her hand against his waist, brushing her thumb against his skin. 

"Well... This is me... Brown hair, gold eyes, and scars. Not as pretty as some women."

Tail tipped her head toward his face and pressed his mouth against hers. Maceir felt herself press into Tail's thin frame, his hand lifted her leg over his waist, keeping her propped there the way his missing leg could not. Her hands pressed against both sides of his face, his lips parted and gently as he bit her bottom lip. He then pressed his lips to her cheek a little too.

"No... Yer is beautiful in every way Miss. Cystal, don't yeh ever think otherwise."

Maceir closed her eyes and she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his once more. They embraced together and let their hands wander the other's bodies. Her leg slipped off of his waist and she swung her leg over him, resting her weight on his chest. Tail reached his hands up and took her face in both of this hands.

"Beautiful... Yeh are beautiful, lass..."

Maceir let out a tiny gasp as Tail pulled her face closer to him and pressed her mouth against his own, letting his tongue flick over her lip and gently slid his hand over the back of her neck, pulling her neck closer to him. The auror let out a heavy breath of air and slid herself over his pelvis, He let out a soft groan and took in a deep breath.

"M-mac..." He whispered her name against her cheek ", Mac... I love you..."

Maceir drew in a deep breath and grabbed her companion's hands, pressing them to her side, "Tail, darling... I love you..."

Tail pressed his body upward and flipped the woman on her back, using his one leg to keep himself propped on a tripod, he pressed his mouth against her collar bone, gently nibbling her skin. She let out a tiny whimpering huff and he bend himself to her neck. Maceir removed Tail from her, lifting her shirt over her head and tossing it to the side.

The man just stared at her, admiration filling his eyes and a smile crossing his face. His hands reached out and pressed against her sides, the tips of his thumb pressed under her breast and his pinky pressed against the inside of her thighs. Maceir shivered and lowered her head to the man's face, the stubble of his beard brushed against her cheek as he kissed her collar to her breast, muttering words of praise into her skin. The girl smiled softly and wrapped her fingers into his hair, brushing out the dirty blonde locks.

His fingers fiddled with the edge of her underwear and Maceir felt her face go red, Tail stared up at her with shining eyes and a soft smile on his lips.

"We can stay like this if yah want..."

"Stay like this?"

"Trapped so ter speak..." Tail whispered to her, running his thumb over her thigh ", Stuck on this line of friends... and well... more than friends."

Maceir pressed a kiss to his cheek, then rested her face next to his with their noses pressing together, "No lines... I don't want to draw lines with you."

"We can stop whenever yeh want to."

She raised an eyebrow at him ", And what about you? What if you want to stop?"

"How could I ever want ter stop loving yah?"

Maceir's hands ran down his chest and pressed against the loops of his jeans, his hands pressed the undergarments off her waist and down her long tanned legs. The amputee's face reddened as she carefully slid his jeans over his waist and over the stub of his knee. Maceir rested her hand against the scarred flesh on his knee, tracing the scars from the curse that severed the limb forever. Her eyes were soft and she lowered her head, pressing her lips against the scars, "Dashing..."

"Hideous."

"Hardly."

He stared at her and sat up, pulling her back onto his body. Maceir hadn't felt like this in years, part of her was terrified at the feeling, she dreaded the possibility of hurting him. But the way Tail looked at her, there was no way she would hurt him, and he knew it. Tail pressed himself up and against her, causing the woman to gasp at the shock of him between her thighs.

"Are yah sure yeh want me?"

Se looked at him, studying his hard-cut face, then pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose.

"I want you..."

Tail slid himself into Maceir with a gasp from both parties. Maceir grit her teeth and let out the smallest of moans. She tipped her body forward so that she and the Coin Brother were chest to chest, her arms boxing his head in. The heat of shared bodies was roaring, a crackling flame in the night that was burnt with passion, with desire, and longing. 

But understanding flowed between them like a cooling river.

Maceir lowed herself onto Tail and let out a small groan of pleasure, Tail closed his eyes and pressed his lips together. They stayed like that for some time, breaths warm on each other's face before Maceir rocked her hips slightly, causing the man to groan with pleasure. He soon matched her movements, pushing his pelvis up when she moved down on him and vice versa. The blonde mane sat up, arching his good leg so that Maceir was still in his lap, he was still with her, but he cradled her body in his own.

Maceir rested her head on his chest and let out a sigh, letting the thrumming heartbeat pull her attention as they sat, closer than they had ever been to each other. Her legs wrapped around his waist and back, comfortable and relaxed with his warmth.

His hand slipped into her hair and he inhaled deeply with his nose pressed into her brown hairline. He smiled against her forehead and sighed, "Thank yah, Mac..."

"Thank you? Thank you for what?"

"Giving me a chance... Not just here... But-"

"But when I took you in?"

"Yeh... So... Thank yah..."

She looked up at him and pressed her lips to his, reaching to take his face in her small delicate hands.

"Don't thank me..."