` I Can't Do It Alone ! [Meissa]

[MALLEUS MALEFICA]

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THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG
THIS AIN'T A BROKEN HEARTED HOMIE SINGING ONLY 'CAUSE HE'S LONELY
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The crowded streets of London were somewhat of a solace to Malleus Malefica. As he gazed upon all of the faces around him, he could see the misery hidden behind every false smile, every unwelcome handshake, every hostile hug. It was honestly the reason he loved London so much. He could stand in the middle of every street and gaze upon the pain of muggles for hours. Of course, for every person he saw, he thought about how lucky they should consider themselves. Half of them were still oblivious to the existence of the wizarding world, and even those that knew of it continued about their daily business thinking that everything in the world was peachy what with Voldemort locked up. If only they knew the truth. What on earth made them think that the Dark Lord's loyal followers would just blend into the background, making a mediocre life for themself? If Mal had done that, he would be no different than the scumbags that rubbed shoulders with him as they passed on the street. Filth, He thought, a truly evil look passing into the eyes of a stranger. His anger was replaced by amusement as he continued to watch the middle-aged woman speed up and almost run in the opposite direction to his clearly psychopathic gaze.

Usually, this was a regular habit for Mal. He would happily sit here for hours, in his favourite spot on Tottenham Court Road, imagining the many things he could do to the pathetic passing muggles, anything that would wake them from their ignorance. Of course, their time would once again come, but it was never there and then, like he wished it would be everytime he sat there. However, today he actually had a reason to be here. He was meeting up with his closest, and probably only true friend, Meissa. The mere thought of his childhood friend put a smile on his face. They were the children who were inseparable from a young age, the pair that everyone said would end up married one day. They'd laughed it off back then, the thought of a significant other something that neither one was interested in at all. However, now that he was twenty one, the idea didn't seem that bad to him anymore. Unfortunately though, the only person he trusted in the world was his best friend, and the only girl that he reports to. It was rather funny that Meissa ended up being his superior in the Death Eaters. Naturally, the two of them practically run the group together without any disagreements, but if it came to it, she could easily play the authority card on him.

Suddenly, Malleus thought about something. Why had he asked Meissa to meet him here? Was it because he'd just got back from business in Italy? There was nothing quite like a celebratory drinking session after a successful assassination. Sure, that could've been it. It didn't really matter either way, she was on her way. He hadn't said who it was when he sent her the owl, but he knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't ignore an letter from an anonymous sender, especially at the proposition of drinks too. She loved the mystery of such things too much. It would probably be a surprise for her to see him standing in the square, as he'd been gone for a long time, and he was always out of contact when on a job. Just then, a thought crossed his mind. He was a incredibly talented metamorphagus, he could play with her mind a bit before revealing himself! A mischievous grin crossed his face as he changed his appearance in a matter of seconds.

It happened so quickly that nobody around even noticed what had happened. Of course, Malleus was wearing one of his many hoodies, naturally with the hood up, so people wouldn't have noticed the slight changes he made to his face to be unrecognisable even they'd been concentrating. He changed enough to look like a completely different person, yet he kept his two most distinguishable features, his eyes and smile, just to try and confuse her a little. Why didn't I think of this before? He asked himself, wondering why, in all their years, he'd never tried to pull this prank on Meissa before.

Now unfortunately, it was just a waiting game. As Mal had never been a particularly patient person, he decided to play one of his favourite games: Meat puppet. The object was simple. Place an Imperius curse on an unsuspecting victim, and once under his control, he would make that person pick a fight with another muggle. With a malicious grin on his face, he began to look for his victim. He didn't take long for him to find the skinniest, geekiest person in possibly the entirety of London. Perfect! He thought, chuckling internally at the potential of this, Imperio! The spell slid through his wand, that happened to be hidden in the sleeve of his jacket, and silently took over his victims mind. Once connected to the poor muggle, he began to play his sadistic little game, shoving anyone that walked past, waiting for someone to take the bait. What a great way to pass time while I wait... He thought to himself, laughing as a larger man finally took a swinger at his puppet, stealing glances every now and then to see if Meissa was approaching.

[MEISSA AURELIA RIDDLE]

SO TELL ME BABY, THAT THIS HOUSE IS NOT A GRAVEYARD
TELL ME HOW TO STAY STRONG AND CARRY YOU HOME
over corpses of her long-lost father and her unborn daughters
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The situation that had befallen the brunette girl who cut through the crowded streets of London with an unmistakable look of disgust fixed on her delicate features, was extremely common in her world. Not a day went by that an unfamiliar bird would settle on the white lacquered surface of her kitchens window sill. After regarding her with honey coloured eyes, this mornings visitor had refused to be ignored, launching itself through the slightly open window in order to fly around the mansions lofty ceiling. To have such a bird rush her in such a way was an immense insult to a woman such as herself, and she had attempted to ignore it for as long as she possibly could. Though things that seemed determined to rush you always seemed equally determined not to be ignored and after battered in with her arms in what she could only describe as self defense, she had settled herself at the magnificent mahogany centre piece that served as the kitchen island and allowed it to land painfully gracefully in a highly mocking way before her, clicking its beak and circling slowly until happy the previous danger had passed. Reluctance had slowed her movements, childishly so, and a stubbornness that was born in her DNA shone in her chocolate brown eyes. Reaching out she plucked the small piece of parchment that was attached to the slender leg of the owl, twisting the cords that bound it there before pulling back quickly, expecting the pale and proud bird to rise up instantly and batter her to death in a cruel irony that she would undoubtedly deserve. To her surprise however it had remained upon its stony perch of the cutting block, blinking patiently as it peered at her once more with those unnerving eyes. With no way to sway its decision she had unraveled the small roll and read the few lines of scrawled writing quickly. The handwriting was unrecognizable like many of the letters she received, but characters had jumped out at her as familiar, niggling at her memory as if she should make the link immediately. For a few minutes she had sat there in her kitchen, re reading the note but ignoring its meaning which was rather familiar and mundane.

Of course a girl like Meissa could not spend her entire day, mindlessly staring at ink strokes until they blurred uncomfortably before her eyes, spiraling their meaning into nothingness, and she had risen from the table and proceeded to continue her day with a shower, a change of clothes and some dinner. That had been over four hours ago, and those has been the events that brought the usually busy Riddle to the uncomfortably full streets of London. When she was a child she had adored the sites of the great city, admiring the architecture that leapt out at her with its beauty at every turn, even now she remembered riding the huge stone lions in Trafalgar Square and chasing the pigeons through Hyde Park, such times of innocence were like dreams to her now, the naivety of youth was perfect in her history, but there was no place for it now and there had been no return visits to those magnificent beasts she had fallen in love with so quickly. There had been no space in her for filling with fairy tales and wonder and Meissa's mother had made sure there were no seedlings planted that could damage or cloud her views once the weight of her position in this world was brought into the light. Now as she walked swiftly, heels audibly crashing into the unsuspecting cobbles beneath her, she didn't even allow her eyes to stray to such sites, pushing the childish emotions down far from where they could be unearthed by another.

Tucked safely inside the deep pocket of her coat was the note that had been addressed to her this very morning, the puzzling handwriting still bothering her conscious mind as she concentrated on keeping her hands fixed in the dark depths of her clothes. The very presence of those around her was beginning to grate on the girl, and it was obvious how uncomfortable she felt in such a situation. Inside her twin feelings of disgust and hatred were swirling through her inch of her, causing her fingers to stiffen and her fists to clench into a ball. The fixed gaze of her eyes was more for her own safety than that of those around her as the practiced art of picking her way through a group without physically touching another became her main goal. Though many a time she had found herself wondering whether the pleasure of bringing every muggle around her to their knees and drawing from them a sound of delicious pain and terror to dance through the air to her hungry ears could ever be worth the years inside the locked cells of Azkaban. At least she would be able to bond with her dear father in such a situation. Of course logic was the painful crasher of such a fantasy and Meissa left the chatter filled infestation with no more pleasure than she had entered.

Checking the expensive watch that snaked around her wrist, it's watch a blatant representation of the serpentine house she loved so much, she assessed her situation. Of course she was on time, that was a given, but as she scanned those around her it took her a moment to gage those that littered the pavement around her. There was only one that stood out as any interest, and from this man who stood, face half hidden beneath the outcrop of his hooded jacket, Meissa could sense an unmistakably feeling of power, whether it be magic or sheer charisma she could not tell but there was little doubt in her mind that this was who had beckoned her in such a impolite way. Once more followed by the symphony of her heels she stepped towards him, closing the distance until she stopped two foot from him. From here she could assess the face of the man, pick out any familiarities and scan her memory for any previous meetings, but the usually simple task hit a snag as her eyes settled on the features beneath the gloom.

In her life there were few moments that caused her to hesitate in an uncertain way, but as the mismatched features of this stranger played with the workings of her brain, leading her on journeys with lose ends and summoning memories that shouldn't fit, there was nothing she could do but stare. There of course would be repercussions, and when she finally gave into the puzzle a look of intense distaste and even sneaking anger settled over her face. The mystery of the handwriting and now this man were far too many problems for her to attempt to solve without brute force or potentially illegal magic. Ignoring his little game she spoke, her voice crisp and unfriendly, a simple reaction to anyone who sought to mess with her in such a way. Who are you?

[MALLEUS MALEFICA]

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THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG
THIS AIN'T A BROKEN HEARTED HOMIE SINGING ONLY 'CAUSE HE'S LONELY
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There was something deliciously amusing about being in completely control of a man's mind, yet still seeing the utter confusion on his face, or seeing the inner struggle to stop what's happening. It was honestly one of the best feelings that Malleus could think of it. Of course, there were many others, some being higher on the list than this, but considering that this was what was happening right now, he was consumed by it. A chuckle passed his lips as the bigger guy, the one who's mind wasn't being controlled by a sick, sadistic bastard, landed a particularly brutal sucker punch to the other guy's nose, resulting in a loud crack, and a fountain of scarlet liquid. The blood that feel from the guy's nose, landed messily, spraying in all directions, but finally pooling at their feet. Agony coursed through the stranger's body language, yet he still couldn't stop himself from fighting back. For some unknown reason to himself, he just kept hitting back, rather ineffectively.

Finally, however, the reason Mal was here right now decided to appear, quite dramatically. As always, she had a less than friendly approach, although he was expecting this, considering he was concealing his identity from her. Of course, he wasn't going to do be doing so for long. He knew better than anyone that he had almost exactly 5 minutes to the second to reveal himself before some form of illegal curse was hurled his way, public area or no, it wouldn't matter to her. This was one of the many reason they were so close. They were one and the same. Even the way she spat her words at him was the same as how he would talk to someone he didn't know, but he still had a few minutes left to mess around. "That's not very polite," He said, not removing his eyes from his current meat puppet victim, "I spend all this time writing you a nice anonymous letter, asking you to meet me in the middle of a crowded public place so we can go for drinks, and this is how you greet me?" He knew that this would set her off if he didn't do something else to confuse her again.

In a matter of moments, Malleus broke the spell from his muggle victim, watching as his body crumpled to the ground, well and truly unconscious. Satisfied, he finally turned his attention to Meissa. As always, she was dressed to the nines, and looking absolutely stunning. It was moments like this that made him want to just grab her there and then, and hav-- Shaking his head, he stopped the thoughts from going any further, knowing he had a very short time to reveal himself. "So... did you miss me?" He asked, his eyes staring into hers, before he winked at her. If she was on the ball, she would see this action and it would definitely throw her off her game again. He had a distinct wink that he used only for her, part cheeky, part devious.

Mal began to wonder about her reaction to seeing him back, after all, they were practically inseparable and he had been gone for a good month. He could see a variety of scenarios, but there was only really one way to find out which would enfold. Concentrating on his original image, he was back to his normal, tattooed self within a matter of seconds. A cheeky grin crossed his face, as he continued to stare into her face, watching for any kind of reaction.

Standing up, Mal checked his pockets, making sure that everything he left the house with this morning was still present in their locations. Wallet, iPod, keys... Gooood to goooo He thought to himself, a small smile settling upon his lips. "So how about those drinks huh?" He said, putting his hands in his pockets and slowly wandering off, trusting Meissa to follow after him. It was getting dark now, the sun was setting in the distance and a slight breeze was whipping up around the streets, sending a comforting shiver down his spine. With a grin, he turned around for a moment, checking to see that he was being followed. "So where's our destination tonight, my love?" He asked, a cheeky smile still set upon his face as he thought ahead of the night that was ahead of them.

[MEISSA AURELIA RIDDLE]

SO TELL ME BABY, THAT THIS HOUSE IS NOT A GRAVEYARD
TELL ME HOW TO STAY STRONG AND CARRY YOU HOME
over corpses of her long-lost father and her unborn daughters
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The ruckus that had broken out behind her did nothing to touch the consciousness or grab the attention of the diminutive beauty as she kept her icy glare fixed on the infuriating man that had bidden her forth that day. Steely resolve only served to enhance the effect she had on those around her, the hardening of her eyes did not hint at false violence nor did the way her body held itself, hint at false confidence. Meissa Riddle did truly believe that she was gods gift to the world, and who was about to tell her otherwise?

With a patience that was far too generous for the man she waited before him, eyes fixed on his face in an attempt to look annoyed where as she was really studying the familiar lines and contours furiously, trying to work the cogs inside her mind so that the working parts would turn and produce the source of her confusion. The unknown had never gone down well with her, and the furiousness she felt at her own short comings when it came to situations like this would only be magnified on the poor victim that was in her vicinity, in this case it was the stranger with the face that just wouldn't stop haunting her. When he finally finished his little game he turned back to her, still shrouded in the shadows of his good he was hidden partly from those around her, but she recognized the hint of amusement he was having at her expense. I reserve my darling nature for those that do not seek to torment my mind with narrowed eyes the words that flew from her lips were laced with a thread of danger that only a fool would see as idle. Anonymity does nothing but to stir my curiosity, it takes much more than a few childish games to hold it. The tone hinted at the threatening boredom that was ensuing, to belittle a person before her eyes and then act nonchalant was always an infuriating tactic after all.

Behind her she heard the small thud as a mans head crashed against the pavement, his lifeless body no longer animated by an alien spell that his body could biologically explain, simultaneously she felt the swell of magic that was emanating from the man before her disappear like a bubble had been pierced leaving the air around them cleared and her breath easier to take. A small part of her, deep inside the blackness that was the soul of the woman in the street, was glad that the spell had been broken, not that she was squeamish in anyway and not that she disagreed in the torture of those unworthy of magic, but it had been niggling at her since she had presented herself that she had not held this mans entire attention, not only was she the daughter of Tom Riddle and arguably one of the most dangerous people many would have the pleasure of meeting, she was a woman, and it was simply unacceptable that a man be able to look past her. It only served to shorten the length of her fuse.

Finally done with the games, she heightened herself and peered into those strangely familiar eyes, a venomous quip on he tongue ready to slice into the delicate skin of him but in a very ungentlemanly way, he interrupted her, and what he interrupted her with was enough to silence her once more, as the bottom half of her mouth hung open, slack with confusion. Did she miss him? How could she miss him when she didn't know who the hell he was? Many undignified words passed through her mind as she gaped at him, unable to hide the shock that decorated her delicate features in every line. Observing did not help though, no matter how hard she stared at the features of his face and no matter which way she turned her head there were no clues, except those that did no fit. As if to make matters worse he followed his ambiguous question with a small wink, a wink that could not be misplace.

If anyone had ever seen the start of a storm, the swirl of the clouds and the electricity that danced in the storm, they would recognise the rise in the anger that blew through the small female form. In a very undignified and insatiable way she reached forward and pushed the hard chest of the man with all her strength, which unfortunately was not enough to make him move. As his features melted before her eyes, confirming the suspicions that the his wink had planted in his mind she almost screamed through gritted teeth, a sound full of annoyance at both herself and him. I can't believe you did that even to her own ears she sounded like a silly school girl who'd been shown up by a teasing friend, but if she could act such a way in front of anyone, that someone was now, finally stood before her in all his glory.

As her eyes were finally allowed to see every inch of the body that was almost as known to her as her own she felt a small smile curl her lips as she stepped back, smoothing herself down after her show of emotion. Secretly, though she had been made a fool of, she was glad that the stranger had melted into the features of her childhood friend. Real emotion shone through her eyes as the revelation that she had truly missed the sight of him hit her, since they had been young her had been by her side, but his extended mission had left her feeling empty and even more irate than usual. Shaking her head she let out a sigh, deciding to let the subject lie before she turned to follow his footsteps down the street. I trust in your impeccable judgment speaking with a slightly annoyance that was completely fake she gave a shrug, hands shoved into the depths of her pockets as she resisted the urge to pull him into a tight hug that would surprise many. And in relation to your previous question her eyes danced with amusement as she gave him a smirk, breaking the facade of irritation. I missed you immensely.

[MALLEUS MALEFICA]

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THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG
THIS AIN'T A BROKEN HEARTED HOMIE SINGING ONLY 'CAUSE HE'S LONELY
----------

Standing there in all his glory, Malleus grinned, taking in everything around him. The near-dead body not 10 feet away, the confused crowd around them staring at said body... But most importantly, the look on Meissa's face as she finally clued in to who he was. It was sheer confusion, mixed with affection, and anger at being tricked for so long. Even as she attempted to shove him, all he could do was chuckle. She bearly even moved him, let alone push him to the ground as she had clearly attempted to. Lifting his hand, he waved a single finger to and forth, a smirk dragging the corner of his lips in a diagonal direction. "Now now," He said, a playful look dancing across his eyes, "You still attempt that but it never works... When will you learn woman?" He stuck his tongue out at her, his smirk turning to a genuine smile.

It had been far too long since Malleus had seen into the eyes of Meissa, seeing something that she only allowed him to see. Affection. Other than her sister, he was really the only person in the world that she actually cared about. Of course, he could handle himself, but he had no doubt that were anything to befall him, Meissa would be the first person there to do whatever it was that needed to be done. It was for this reason that he would do absolutely anything for her. After growing up with her, growing up with the one and only Dark Lord as a sort of father figure, it was no wonder the two of them were one and the same. However, the look on her face now was one he'd never seen. She truly had no idea it was him beneath that guise. No matter how many times he tried while they grew up, she always knew it was him, except today. Was it the fact he'd been gone so long and she had grown used to not seeing him around? Probable. One thing was for certain though, this moment would be savoured for as long as his calloused heart continued to beat.

No matter how much Malleus enjoyed this moment though, he could tell better than anybody when she was pissed off, and he had definitely bought that out in her just then. Lifting one of his arms, he gently placed a hooked finger beneath her chin, directing her gaze to his face. With her full attention, he smiled soothingly, poking his tongue out. "You gotta admit, it's about time I got you with that little gift of mine!" He said, mischief clear in his face, "Would you really deny me such a victory, my love?" Chucking, he let her face go, instead using the same finger to flick the end of her nose in an annoyingly playful manner. He knew she hated it when he did that, but mostly because she couldn't ever say no when he did it. It was almost like a secret weapon of his, except it wasn't exactly a secret, as they both knew the effects of the simple action.

As the two of them walked away from the square they were in, Malleus slowed, allowing her to catch up with him. "Well then, my impeccable judgement knows exactly where to go!" He exclaimed, lifting his arm and draping it over her shoulder, pulling her in closer and directing her as he turned, heading towards a bar he was all too familiar with. They walked for a little while, his arm still draped over her shoulder, his wrist limp, allowing his hand to simply hang off her shoulder. "That's what I like to hear!" He said, angling his head so he was looking at her. To any normal person, it would've looked like he was about confess how he missed her also, but that wasn't the case for Mal. "Now, to a night of drunken adventures!" He shouted, picking up speed as he headed down a slightly narrower road, becoming enshrouded in shadows as the tall buildings around them blocked off the setting sun's light.

Smiling to himself, Malleus continued to stroll down the road, the feel of his arm around Meissa oddly comforting. It was strange how someone who usually showed no emotion other than hate could be so comfortable around another human being. He wasn't usually happy unless he was allowing years of suppressed hatred out on some poor victim, yet with her around, he was a completely different person, yet entirely the same also. They were both charged by their power and hatred for others, yet somewhere amongst it all, they found a place of peace and tranquility, whenever they were together. No matter how much he searched for it, he couldn't find it anywhere, other than in the company of the woman at his side. Whether it was just because they were best friends, or because along with all his other emotions, he had suppressed feelings for Meissa a long time ago that were now surfacing with his age and maturity. Who knew? It was the sort of thing that only time would tell. Or maybe a few drinks at a dingy bar... He thought, smirking as his eyes adjusted to the change in light, seeing their destination finally.

The bar, going by the name of The Black Plague, was a small, underground pub, the only part of it visible from street level was the dirty sign posted above the steps leading down to the entrance. He loved this place because it was unknown by both muggles and wizards alike, and anyone that did happen to stumble upon it usually tended to keep themselves to themselves, not trusting anybody around them. It was perfect for Malleus and Meissa to just sit, catch up on the lost few months, and drink themselves into a stupor. Finally pulling his arm back from her shoulders, he gestured for her to descend the narrow stairway first, following close behind and entering the pub.

[MEISSA AURELIA RIDDLE]

SO TELL ME BABY, THAT THIS HOUSE IS NOT A GRAVEYARD
TELL ME HOW TO STAY STRONG AND CARRY YOU HOME
over corpses of her long-lost father and her unborn daughters
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Meissa had all but forgotten the little slight to her, she was too enthralled by his presence to hold such a grudge for more than a minute or so, though she had to admit she would have liked to have moved him back at least a few steps with the force of her hands. Yet any annoyance she would have felt for anyone else at such a thing, of indeed, being referred to as 'woman,' melted away immediately as his protruding tongue came out to tease her, with a laugh that was surprisingly high and clean for a girl such as herself, she matched the chuckle that was rolling from his chest. To give up would be to admit defeat giving him a meaningful glance she smirked, And you of all people know how much I hate to lose! the smile refused to leave her lips as she gave a slight shake of her head, feeling suddenly lighter by the simple thing as having him close to her after all this time.

Ignoring his swaying finger she gave a quick roll to her glistening green eyes, And she pressed, emphasizing greatly on the short word I don't think that was a fair fight, preying on the heart of a lonely, forgotten girl with a wicked grin she dropped her attempt at tugging on the heart strings of Mal, something that few people could even hope to do. It didn't bother her that her mind hadn't processed such a trick, it didn't show the lack of guard she was using at the moment, after all it was completely explainable in her mind. After such a long time of her closest friend being absence from her life, she had made a hard decision, too many minutes of her day had been spent worrying about him, wondering where he was, and much to her annoyance; painfully missing him, she had become an irritation to herself for gods sake! The only solution she could possibly muster was to push past such human emotions and mould herself back into the ice queen that many knew her to be. Though it had been hard she had pushed all thoughts of her general into the back of her mind, surely if she didn't think about him so much, she wouldn't miss him. It hadn't been quite as affective as she had hoped, but it had meant he wasn't at front of her mind in such situations as today. Of course, she would never relay such emotion back to him, the pride would burst from his every pore if he were to knew.

Being pulled from her mental hypothesis was a relief, the tendency to over complicate things and dissect too closely was a habit she did not enjoy. Flickering her eyes up to his own she allowed his fingertips, roughened from toil and age to tilt her face upwards. As his tongue made it's second appearance of the day she gave a small smile, nothing but the tugging sensation at the edges of her slightly rouged lips. Usually she would have smashed any hopes of another of having the pulled the wool over her eyes, but she conceded, a slight sigh slipping from between her now parted lips. I suppose I can let you have it once as she spoke, she was aware that he would know how much of a struggle it had been for her to admit that she had just been proved to be slightly less than perfect. Unfortunately, he had to push his luck, just as he always did and as she felt her nose move uncomfortably and the slight vibration that always made her want to sneeze spread from the tip she pushed diminutive hands against him again, this time only searching to make contact and hit him than move his body.

With a slight pout to her lips after such an action, she flicked her gaze to him from out of the corner of he eye, loathe to see his no doubt chuckling reaction to another one of her childish out bursts. Even though she was in public technically, she felt at ease being such a way around him, of course if the crowds that swarmed around them help anyone other than unwitting muggles, then she might think twice about it. With heels clicking loudly she remained content to follow him up the busy street of London, faintly hoping he wasn't going to pull another trick on her or, heaven for bid, direct them to some awful destination such as the Leaky Cauldron. With barely a conscious thought she moulded herself to the shape of his body as his arm draped over her shoulder and through her thick dark curls. Tucked into the crook of his arm she must have looked much smaller than she appeared.

At his reaction to her moment of weakness, and her admittance that she had genuinely missed his presence she flashed him a scathing look. Meissa didn't require the spoken words to reach her ears to know he felt the same, but every now and again it would have been nice to hear it. Not feeling any need to vocalize her indignation she settled once more back into his arms, comfortable until he decided to infuriatingly change the pace and shouted far too close to her ear. With her mouth opened in a small 'o' of protest, the sound of her stilettos increased to a frequency she would have much not preferred as they made their way down another dingy alley of London, one of thousands that she would pass in her life time. Let's hope I survive this the muttered words were half muffled by her intentionally but they were simply for the hell of it, never did she feel unsafe with him around.

With no obvious end in sight to their journey she craned her neck to catch a glimpse of his face, spotting the smirk that lurked their, full of the promises of the plans he had for her to come. Meissa knew that smile, it meant he fully intended on plying her with copious amounts of alcohol and rejoicing in the way her small, feminine body reacted badly to the entire situation. She had often suspected, that such a thing was his favourite pass time, except of course for mutilation and murder. Before she had time to chastise him for such at thing her attention was caught by the appearance of a questionable looking door that appeared to be where they were heading. How delightful she mused quietly as she read the name of the small, what she guessed, was a bar.

Feeling the movement of his arm and the suddenly cold touch of the air that rushed to fill the space he had moments ago occupied she eyed the small door, admittedly, it had it's charms, she could see why he had chosen it, but if the glass she was served was not clean, there would be harsh words exchanged. Ladies first I take it. Giving him the benefit of the doubt she stepped forward, pushing lightly on the cool heavy door and stepping into the gloomy stairwell.

[MALLEUS MALEFICA]

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THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG

THIS AIN'T A BROKEN HEARTED HOMIE SINGING
ONLY 'CAUSE HE'S LONELY
----------

Malleus couldn't help but laugh at her response to his statement on giving up. It was so typical of Meissa to say such a thing. They both knew that she had nothing to prove to him, yet whenever they were together, more often than not there would be a moment or two that would involve Meissa trying to one up him on strength, speed, wit, or anything else like that. They were perfectly equal in all aspects, yet somehow when it was just the two of the them, he more often than not came out victorious. "You're so stubborn," He said, his smirk rapidly turning to a grin at the latter half of her sentence, "And if you hate to lose, why do you do it so much?" This would set her off, that much he knew, but as usual, he was poking the bear. There were few things he enjoyed more than winding up Meissa, and it was mostly due to the fact that he was the one and only person in this entire world that could say something, and get away with it by simply flashing a grin, sticking his tongue out, or winking at her. He had figured out these simple techniques a long time ago, and used them to their full advantage tenfold.

With a scoff, Malleus sent an amused look in Meissa's direction. "You're preaching to me about fair fights?" He asked rhetorically, smirking slightly, "My love, did you forget who you're talking to?" He grinned, and looked into her eyes for a second, seeing something that looked like sincerity. Had she truly missed him as much as he had missed her? Sure, he'd been easily distracted by work, as killing another human being and getting away with a clean escape took alot of preparation and practice. However, the thought of his best friend still slipped up every now and then, bringing an odd sense of longing to his unused heart. It was bizarre how even though he disappeared alot, this time he truly missed someone. It made sense for it to be Meissa, due to the fact that if there was anyone he would develop feelings for, it would be her, and only her. Suddenly, and very uncharacteristically, Malleus slipped his arms around her slight frame, pulling her in closer to his own skinny torso. "Trust me," He whispered in her ear, "You weren't forgotten."

Letting go, Malleus went right back into his normal self, feeling slightly odd after his show of affection. It wasn't a feeling of disgust, like he thought it would be, it was just... different. Something mildly enjoyable. Why did this girl suddenly have such an effect on him? It was entirely too confusing for him to understand, so instead he decided to just go with the flow and see what happened. Smiling, he began to think about how hard it must've been for Meissa to give him the satisfaction of finally fooling her with his illusions. Yet, naturally, this stop him from being his usual cheeky self, which caused another attempt at revenge from her. Unfortunately, this time he wasn't exactly expecting the pressure upon his chest, and it took a few backward steps to balance himself once again. "Looks like we're both finally victorious tonight huh?" He commented, a mixture of shock and pride apparent in his facial features.

As they walked along the streets of the busy city, Malleus caught her looking at him through her peripheral vision, though the emotion in her eyes was difficult to read. Yet he soon ignored the looks as she sunk closer to his body, their shapes forming one as she sapped away his body heat. Their footsteps were in sync, and all thoughts of the thriving streets around them melted away into oblivion. As far as he was concerned, it was just the two of them, the soft bumps from his shoes in contrast to the clicks of her stilettos against the cold, hard concrete.

As he looked down again, Malleus saw a look of almost anger in Meissa's eyes at his lack of a mutual response. Grinning to himself, he looked back up, concentrating on where they were going, as he was doing all the leading. "Okay fine," He began, keeping his eyes forward, "If you must know, I missed you immensely also." It may have been unoriginal, but why fix what isn't broken? It worked well enough for her, so it would do for him also. As they turned down the dark alleyway, he had to chuckle at her muttered words, probably not intended for his ears to hear. "Whats this? Meissa Riddle anxious of a mere bar?" He asked, knowing he'd definitely get some sort of sarcastic or violent reaction in return, "Don't worry, I'll look after you." He felt a grin spread across his face as he leant over slightly, kissing the top of her head lightly. He often showed these small signs of affection, but now they made completely different kind of thoughts run through his mind.

Shaking his head, Malleus threw the recent thoughts of various other places he could plant his lips and followed Meissa into the dingy, yet oddly comfortable bar. "Always a gentleman," He commented quietly, trying his hardest to keep his eyes up and forward as he followed her in. As the warmth of the pub any exposed skin, he smiled, a familiar smile full of plans for the night ahead of them. Without any hesitation, he headed straight for the bar, where a large, hairy man stood expectantly. "A'ight mate," he nodded at the barman, "I'll take two shots of whiskey for starters, and a pitcher of beer." After a few moments, the shots were ready. Picking them up, he handed one over to Meissa and grinned. "To one hell of a night of catching up!" He said, raising the small glass slightly in cheers.

[MEISSA AURELIA RIDDLE]

SO TELL ME BABY, THAT THIS HOUSE IS NOT A GRAVEYARD
TELL ME HOW TO STAY STRONG AND CARRY YOU HOME
over corpses of her long-lost father and her unborn daughters
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

With a wave of her hand she dismissed his words, though she managed to do it in such away that he could never accuse her of rudeness, not that she suspected he ever might hint at such a thing, he knew how hard she tried to be polite. Anyone could insult, demean and hurt through rude insults and outcries, but it took real talent to bring your enemies down with painfully polite quips and truths that never failed to hit where they hurt. With a brilliant smile she regarded him once more, ignoring his little stubborn dig, of course she as stubborn, what upper class princess wasn't? Even if she hadn't been, what Ministry Official wasn't? Everything in her life demanded such a personality trait for her, and it was such a fun thing to execute. Though his next words were not ignorable, her childish pride would not allow it and in a mirror of his famed little action her tongue protruded from her mouth, a darting pink flash before she spoke I never lose, not really with a mischievous twinkle evident in her eye she gave another dismissive wave of her hand, subject closed, she did not lose, defeat was not in a Riddle's dictionary.

Throughout his endless stream of teasing she just kept her mouth curled in a firm smile, that if anyone were to see would immediately make them think she was condescending him with such an expression, but the truth was leaning more towards the fact that she was simply amused. It was one of the things she loved about the man who had become her closest confidant, he was able to melt the ice that surrounded her form almost constantly, something even her sister could not profess to do. Even with a few well placed words and one of those smiles of his he was able to bring her from any thunderous mood that would scare the hell out of many. Inclining her head towards him she gave a small defeatist shrug Fine both of us play dirty and we know it well enough. No doubt denying such a thing and she didn't herself, thing it was particularly a bad thing, their way got things done.

As his arm slipped through her she was brought to an abrupt halt, a small 'o' of surprise registering on her lips or a moment before she tilted her face up to his. It was a physical shock to suddenly find him so close and she couldn't help the shameful feeling that she was a school girl again that flooded her mind and tried to coax a blush to her tawny cheeks. Forcing a few words out she tried for airiness, hoping such a human emotion as desire had not been seen to evidently on her features. I should hope not once more trying for faux outrage she gave a grin and rested her head on the smooth planes of his shoulder, ignoring the touch of cold the neglect cloth gave her.

The distraction was welcome as Meissa felt her mind threaten to turn into that of a hopeless romantic, entertaining thoughts of age old friends who fell into each others arms and lived together forever in wrapped in each others love, of course, if the thoughts were her own there would be a few tweaks like an army of minions cleansing the very earth in which they made their little love nest. And though it was such a small victory, that slight movement of his body but you would have thought she had flown herself to the moon on a simple broomstick by the way a grin split her delicately painted lips and a laugh echoed from the depths of mouth, full of both childish pride and delight. Both feelings being something that no one would in their right mind associate with her, but then again, to associate with her they probably weren't in their right mind anyway, she was such a bad little influence wasn't she? Pretty though.

Moving away from the warmth of her body she threw a look around the inside of this so called club, before throwing him back a look that said 'you best be right about this place' whilst her words said I resent the finally she was, as she had already covered, always victorious.

At his words she turned slightly, eyes dancing with amusement that hid the deeper emotions such words ignited inside her. How could you not? covering it with a small smile and an inclination of her head she held his eyes for a moment of so, wondering whether he could see just how much those words truly meant to her without her having to pour her heart out in the middle of that empty street.

Turning back to the pub she gave a small shrug and allowed the darkness to swallow her, hoping vaguely that she might come out somewhere that was much more promising than the walls of the peeling stairwells. Once she had cleared the stairs, her heels giving no bother in such a situation, she allowed her eyes to sweep the dark room that appeared at the bottom. As Malleus swept past her towards the bar she kept back for a moment, scrutinize the place, it seemed reasonably clean at least and the lightening was softening enough, it would mean in the event that she did manage to take that stick from her ass that she would look slightly better stumbling around drunk and the shadows would keep her hidden as she giggled inanely at some little joke of Malleus'. Satisfied she approached the bar, ignoring the leering expression of the man that sat only a few feet away from her. The fact that he was alone in such a place immediately placed him beneath that annoying white stuff that formed at the side of your mouth when you hadn't drank enough, in her opinion.

With a gracious smile to the bar tender, Meissa was on her best behavior after all, she accepted the small shot and raised it high to the face of the man before her. Cheers she muttered slightly. With no hesitate she brought it to her lips, throwing the fiery liquid backward into her mouth. It hit her throat and burned for a moment before slipping down to warm her stomach, but as the woody flavour filled her mouth she made no inclination that it bothered her in the slightest, and instead picked the pitched of honey coloured liquid up, taking a mouthful openly before grinning and turning on the spot in a flurry of expensive silk as she cut her way towards an empty booth in the corner. Ahh delicious privacy. Glancing back she gave another smile and urged him to hurry Come on then!

[MALLEUS MALEFICA]

----------
THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG

THIS AIN'T A BROKEN HEARTED HOMIE SINGING
ONLY 'CAUSE HE'S LONELY
----------

Malleus chuckled at Meissa's nonchalance, a reaction that he had come to know and expect from her whenever he took a jab at her. Sure, it had become fun for him, but at the same time, whenever it happened he saw the same thing. The misfortunate of holding up family honour. Meissa was the prime example of this very thing. With a father like the Dark Lord, Tom Riddle, and Bellatrix Lestrange, her biological mother, family honour was one of the many things she was bound by, one of the many things she couldnt escape from even if she tried. It was because of this that Mal was happy he didn't have a family, he had nothing to upload, no honour, no pride... Hell, all his family was dead, he could start from scratch, set his own level of honour. It was a rather liberating sensation. Of course, he had his family away from home, being the Riddle's, and he always made a good impression with them, being exactly the same as Meissa, yet he never had to keep up appearances for them.

With his eyes wandering back to Meissa's, Malleus noticed the stiff smile on her face, the one he had come to know as the furthest thing she came to when it came to showing emotion. With one of his infamous grins, the kind that only she ever saw, he imitated her shrug. "It's more fun to play dirty," He said, the grin on his face slowly growing maniacal, "At least we get shit done!" He thought back to many of the times they fought, side by side, their minds and wands linked as one. Sure, their way wasnt fair most of the time, but they were the leading Death Eaters, and known for it, so who cared? If anyone had any qualm with how they did things, perhaps they should've thought twice about challenging them.

His arms were still around her as he took a peek at the look on Meissa's face. The surprise alone was enough to have Mal rolling on the floor with laughter, but he managed to suppress it, unwilling to ruin a rare moment, especially as her head rested on his shoulder. To anyone who looked upon them at this time, they probably would've seen them as yet another happy couple, a relationship with a potential future. What was odd though, was how even with this thought in his mind, he didn't feel sickened by the public display of affection. Usually he was only used to showing emotions such a hatred or disdain in public, yet this was far from those feelings. "In all honesty, there's absolutely no way I could ever forget about you," He said, wondering how a comment like that would process in the mind of his best friend.

Out of nowhere, Malleus felt her cheekbones move against his chest and heard an airy chuckle from beneath his chin, that he had laid to rest on the top of her head. Nothing had been done or said to provoke such a reaction, which meant that she must've been thinking something to cause it. "What's so funny woman?" He asked, genuine interest hidden behind his false cynicism.

Ignoring her comment about resentment, Malleus concentrated on the next words that came from her mouth. He could see the twinkle in her eyes at his own comment, but what came from her mouth did not reveal any such similar emotion. For this reason, he decided to humour her. "Well, were I a normal, well-rounded guy, I would be able to think of many reasons," He started, his tongue poking out slightly, "Yet considering I'm far from that, I guess I never really stood a chance did I?" With a more sincere smile, he flicked the end of her nose once more. He found it amusing that all of their emotional moments together all happened mentally. Very few words were ever exchanged between them, yet they both knew what they other thought, or felt about everything.

As Malleus stood at the bar, he gazed around at the familiar place, taking in his surroundings for what felt like the millionth time. The pub, though appearing dirty and run-down from outside, was oddly classy within. It had a typical english pub feel about it, complete with darts and snooker, but at the same time there was something different about it. It was unknown to him what it was, but it was what kept drawing him back there time after time. As he turned back to watch Meissa approach the bar, he noticed a lonely guy staring at her, the look in his eyes making the thoughts running through his mind blatant. Genuine repulsion rose up from within, and as Meissa walked away to find somewhere to sit, Mal rapidly felt for the familiar feeling of his wand hidden up his sleeve slip down into his hand. Keeping it hidden, he pointed it at the scum that sat at the bar. Crucio! He thought momentarily, grinning satisfactorily at the loud yelp the guy let out, followed by the confused look on his face as he looked all around.

Hiding his wand back up his sleeve, ready for quick deployment were it necessary again, Malleus caught up with Meissa as she found a booth in the corner of the pub, allowing for plenty of privacy. With the smile still on his face, he began to wonder whether she had seen what just happened, seeing as the smile on her own face could've been anything. He decided to leave it unless she bought it up. "Coming my love," He said slyly, sliding into booth next to her, placing the pitcher and his own glass in front of them. After taking a sip from his glass, Mal turned to face Meissa, lifting one of his legs and making himself comfortable by resting it over her lap. "So what the hell did you do without me around then?" He asked, a sly smile crossing his lips.

[MEISSA AURELIA RIDDLE]

SO TELL ME BABY, THAT THIS HOUSE IS NOT A GRAVEYARD
TELL ME HOW TO STAY STRONG AND CARRY YOU HOME
over corpses of her long-lost father and her unborn daughters
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It was all so easy. She'd heard so many times from her old housemates who had found true love that to find the one you wanted would be like this. Though she'd never linked such a thing with her and Mal, she'd always put it down to their closeness, it was easy to talk to him because she had done it so much, it was easy to be with him because it was all she knew and it was easy to be so close to him because.. the only problem with that was that it was becoming increasingly hard to be close to him, once she touched him she began to want so much more than a casual hug or a playful hit, she wanted more than idle brawling and rare comfort. So did that mean he wasn't the one, or did it mean quite the opposite?

Either conclusion was terrifying in its own right. To fall in love was something alien and frightening on it's own, but to think she would never take the plunge? That was just depressing. Back when she had been younger she had been sure she had been in love with Scorpius, but long ago had she laid such feeling to rest, puppy love it may be but partly duty? The feelings she felt for him now were much closer to sisterly, something she had forced herself into since that fateful day at 16. Turning back to him she caught his tone and watched him imitate her. Being a grown up, she decided not to take the bate and begin another game, but simply rolled her eyes at him and agreed.

To play dirty is the only way aware of the innuendo she actually managed a smile but kept her eyes away from him, worried that she might feel uncomfortable imagining such tasks while meeting his gaze. It wasn't until his words screamed in demand for her attention that she swiveled back up to him, far too much white showing around the oak green rings of her eyes. Unsure of how to reply to such a thing she gave a small smile, sure he would know quite clearly what such a thing would mean to her spoken allowed. Finally she managed a slightly airy Well I do try when all she really wanted to do was... no she cut the thought short and flustered into answering his next question. Just day dreaming though this subject wasn't better and she didn't really want to tell him how she'd just been imagining her and him side by side for eternity... and not in a friendly way.

As he continued she gave another faint smile, if he had been this normal, well rounded guy he spoke of, she wouldn't have wanted him to have missed her, and she was sure that was something he already knew. Well I'm glad, I do like to leave people with little choice settling back into herself as she jumped back into her comfort zone, she gave him sly wink before darting a hand into his side for the second flick on her nose.

Leaving him to his waiting she flashed him a smile as she trotted towards her chosen table, hearing a small outcry from behind her but giving it no more mind than a quick curious glance. Knowing Mal he had probably hexed some unfortunate simply for breathing, another quality she did so love about the man, and frankly envied, if she were to do such a thing her job would be at stake.

Sliding over the smooth surface she set down the pitcher, closer to her of course than it would be to him, but no doubt he would rectify it momentarily. As he approached she waited for him patiently, no sound of complaint issuing from her as he draped his legs in her lap. The question waited for her as she reached out and snagged her glass before filling it with the sweet honey coloured liquid and took a mouthful. Finally done she set it down and dealt with the matter at hand. I hate to act like some kind of pathetic widow.. trailing off she gave a laugh and took another sip, her eagerness showing her willingness for intoxication But not much, met Semella out of the house for an actual conversation, not that I kept my cool the whole way though Malleus was aware of the twins differences when it came to their father and he was also aware of how this made her feel. Other than that I have simply been working and trying my damnest not to hex Potters. With a grin she nodded over to him How did you get on without me then? with her speaking done she took a few more lengthy sips.

[MALLEUS MALEFICA]

----------
THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG

THIS AIN'T A BROKEN HEARTED HOMIE SINGING
ONLY 'CAUSE HE'S LONELY
----------

As they walked along the street, Mal's arm still draped over her shoulders in a useless manner, he began to wonder about the girl that was next to him. Well, woman really. He still saw her as the girl he grew up with from an early, that would never change considering so many of the founding moments of their lives happened at such a young age. Be it the various animals they tortured relentlessly, or the first time each cast a spell on the snooty boy a few doors down from Mal's house accidently, even as they grew into the sadistic teenagers that took over Hogwarts. Of course, even as a best friend, Malleus couldn't ignore how attractive Meissa became during school. She was a cute girl, that much was true, even though being a young boy himself meant he wasn't interested like that at all. So it wasn't surprising when she grew into the beauty that stood beside him today, what was surprising though, was the yearning inside him the moment it all began to happen.

It was easier to just pass it off as teenage hormones back then, but now? When all these feelings inside kept resurfacing? Yet he had no idea whether or not it was the real deal. He'd been with plenty of girls before, nothing permanent, and he'd never felt anything towards them that he did with Meissa. Sure, all he wanted to do was sleep with those girls and nothing more? But how could he be sure that this wasn't just a new stage of their friendship? Not love? Of course, he didn't know these things, and as always, he passed them off to fate, leaving it in it's hands to deal with.

As Malleus was bought back to reality by Meissa's words, the first thing he noticed was how his limp wrist was now holding his hand in place, resting on the top of her arm in a supportive manner. It was funny how things happened subconsciously like that. "Daydreaming?" He asked, his curious side kicking in, "You don't honestly think you can get away with that piss poor excuse of an explanation do you?" With a grin, he chuckled and kept walking down the street, the now conscious feel of her arm beneath his hand sending strange thoughts through his mind.

Malleus was about to make a sly comment back to Meissa, when all of a sudden her hand jabbed into his side, leaving him winded and unable to speak. Only she had the ability to distract him enough to land a blow like that. It was actually rather impressive, which is one of the many reasons he wasn't exacting his revenge in the deadliest of manners. Instead, he decided to wait until she was least expecting it, settling with a narrowing of his eyes for the time being.

With a satisfied grin, Mal looked at Meissa. If she had figured out what he'd just done to the stranger at the bar, then he knew what would be running through her mind right now. She would be thinking about how much she would love to just extract her wand and curse anybody that so much as looked at her without the respect and admiration she deserved. She had expressed her jealousy on the matter to him many times. Considering he made his money on his own terms, especially in such a violent form, he was free to do what he wished to whomever he wished. Meissa, on the other hand, had to uphold the policies of the Minister. Again, much like the family honour issue, it was something Malleus did not envy in the slightest. His freedom was a right no one would ever take from him. Even if he were shipped off to Azkaban tomorrow, he would find a way out. He was an escape artist at heart, and nothing could keep him if he didn't want to be trapped.

After sitting down, Malleus drained the half glass of beer that was still in his hand, and took the pitcher from where it stood in front of Meissa, filling the glass back up to rim. He didn't drink very often, but when he did, he drank like a fish out of water. Another quality that both he and Meissa shared. Listening to her story, one he felt like he had heard over and over due to family differences and work related frustrations, he sipped on his freshly poured beer. "Oh, you know..." He began, putting his beer down to describe his last few months, "Finding the target, studying the target, getting rid of complications, finding any routines... This bastard was particularly hard to get, hence being away for almost 2 months!" He sighed, before laughing lightly. Meissa knew of his skills as an assassin, and knew that on average he would be gone for a few days to a week at most. So for to have been gone for a matter of months was something entirely different.

Taking another sip from his beer, Malleus felt nothing but air intake from between his lips and the glass. Had he really already finished another beer? Good lord. "I think we're gonna need another of these pretty rapidly," He said, topping up Meissa's glass before pouring what was left in his own. Snapping his fingers to get the bartender's attention, he pointed at the pitcher in an obvious manner. Chuckling, he momentarily watched as the bartender twisted and turned behind the tight bar, holding in the fat that spilled over his belt.

[MEISSA AURELIA RIDDLE]

SO TELL ME BABY, THAT THIS HOUSE IS NOT A GRAVEYARD
TELL ME HOW TO STAY STRONG AND CARRY YOU HOME
over corpses of her long-lost father and her unborn daughters
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

With a small shake of her head that hid the smile that had crept onto her full lips at the words he had addressed her with, she glanced up at him through the canopy of long thick lashes, the deep blue of her eyes shadowed. The more she used this technique the more she saw the plus side of being able to spy on him without him noticing, though she doubted such a novelty would last long under his eagle eyed vision. Finally she spoke, the smile still curling those rouged lips of hers, but she fought the rolling chuckle that longed to burst forth from her tightly closed mouth. I'd wouldn't expect such a thing of you, to honour my thinly veiled privacy? pausing briefly she flicked her eyes to his, wondering whether he would take offense to her words and finally finishing with a Never though the day he stopped trying to pry the tiniest detail out of her when he spotted an uncharacteristic slip of her facade, was the day she'd push him away. Secretly she enjoyed how he loved to chip away at the little cracks that appeared in his presence.

Trying not to slip too far into the spoilt little princess mode she simply grinned as he was caught of guard by the jab of her hand, reveling in the small victory she felt at being able to weed her way beneath the defenses of such a dangerous man, not that she had ever thought of him in such a way. Of course with or without her was lethal, she was all too aware, but walking side by side with him through the London streets at this moment, it did not occur to her at all that he could snap a girl like her in two. Simply because he never would.

Once inside the small establishment however, it seemed the nature of one Malleus Malefica was not escaped by all, even in the gloom dark eyes turned to face him, survey him and many a time, skit away in fear. It was all just part of life though wasn't it? And wasn't Meissa herself used to such reactions to her own appearance, it was only at times like these, when the lingering public would not have reason to deem her dangerous that their eyes sidled to the man at side, sizing him up as the largest threat. Glittering eyes switched to the half empty glass that was now clutched in Mal's hand and she quickly followed suit, taking large mouthfuls of the honey coloured liquid easily and with no hint that drinking such alcohol quickly bothered her. One wouldn't have thought that a girl like herself ever indulged in such actions that might hinder her, but though she may appear like the worlds biggest prude in the open, behind closed doors she had no such reservations when it came to coming into her own.

Eager to excel him in the mundane task she went beyond his own consumption and finally set the rapidly emptying tumbler upon the sticky surface, ready to throw herself head first into the conversation she had been missing for many a month. With a smile already on her face, simply because of the company the man across from her held she found herself idly playing with the seem of his jeans, eyes fixed on his own as she drank in the words that floated towards her ears. His half hearted description turned the smile into the grin as he added the own twist, it was just another one of his quirks, the nonchalance he employed when it came to describing his rather gruesome line of work, mostly at her command. Matching his laughter she pulled her hand from his jeans and filled her glass to the top. If she had been with anyone else she might have been slightly embarrassed at the evident indulgence, but this was just how things went with the two, soon they'd be singing sea chanties and rolling around - well maybe not.

But being my little expert you succeeded with another slight grin she continued And thankfully returned to me! her tone as slightly exaggerated here but that didn't stop her eyes dancing with genuine happiness as she let the last of her facade slip away and allow the Meissa that so rarely surfaced to take its place.

Watching his apparent confusion at the lack of beer she giggled into her own glass, draining the last drops of her own, half because she wanted to, half because she refused to be left behind in such games as this. I think we're going to need more than just another one, if our history is anything to go by, dropping her own glass down she turned her eyes in the direction that Mal had and observed the bar tender for a few seconds before deeming him much less attractive to her gaze than the man before her was.

With a slight nod of her head she gave a smile So what are you plans now you're back? of course she knew much of his time revolved around the Death Eaters and his work, but she couldn't help but hope there was a little time left to be dedicated to herself, no matter how nonchalant she might appear about the subject.

[MALLEUS MALEFICA]

----------
THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG

THIS AIN'T A BROKEN HEARTED HOMIE SINGING
ONLY 'CAUSE HE'S LONELY
----------

For some reason, whenever Meissa smiled, it brought about a reaction from Malleus that he very rarely experienced. He found himself wanting to smile back, even if he had nothing to smile about. Just the image of her slightly parted lips, curled at the corners, made him want to mirror her actions. He found the whole thing amusing, the way that he had such an effect on her, an effect that no one but himself, not even her family, could bring to the surface. Any normal person that managed to do this would be satisfied with just that, but not Mal. He found it delightfully amusing to ebb away at whatever tough exterior there was left for him. He was determined to turn Meissa into putty in his hands, considering he was already wrapped around her little finger. The only difference was that he was good at hiding it.

Rolling his eyes, Malleus flicked the end up her nose once more. "That's what you get," He said, grinning, knowing all too well the annoyance this action caused in her mind. This was exactly what he meant by wrapped around her little finger. Were it anybody else, their wrist would be snapped in at least two different places before any contact with his own body was made. With instincts like his, it took one hell of a genius to get behind his defenses. Or, apparently, one very beautiful woman that he had grown up with from a very young age.

As usual, upon entering the bar, Malleus felt the presence of every eye on him and Meissa, which considering the location wasn't entirely surprising as they probably didn't get many customers anyway. However, even in such a small, sketchy place, every eye that fell on him, rapidly turned away, going about their own dreary, miserable business. With a smirk on his face, his own eyes turned to his company, a slight twinkle present in them. Only a woman like Meissa could bring Mal from the dark depths of his mind, bringing with him a side that no body but her had, nor ever would, see. As if to prove his thoughts, she took the beer he handed her, and knocked it back without anything but a smile to show for it. Moments like this were probably the closest he would ever come to love at first sight.

As he sat there, telling Meissa of his mission in far off lands, of how he followed one man from region to region, basically becoming the man's shadow, right up until the point where his cold, cursed blade delivered it's gift in the form of a Columbian necktie. This was one of his favourite methods of killing. He hated using firearms, his blades added a more personal touch. Somehow, however, this discussion interested Meissa more than anything. As he spoke, he became aware of her own touch on him, her fingers gently caressing the fabric that hugged his legs tightly. It sent shivers down his spine, causing a sheepish smile to cross his face. As he sat beside her, the feel of her own touch on him, he absentmindedly reached behind the back of her neck, gently running the tip of his index finger from top to bottom, her smooth skin showing little resistance to his own callused skin.

Turning his head to face Meissa, Malleus felt his neck begin to loosen, an effect that only a few beers could begin. With an expression of fake disgust, he lowered his head and stared straight into her eyes, his nose mere inches from her own. "None of that 'little' business, you!" He exclaimed, his eyes boring right into hers. Try though he might, however, he couldn't hold it for long, and his lips suddenly parted to let a slight chuckle pass. "Of course I returned to you," He commented, rolling his eyes slightly, "You're the closest thing I have to actually having a life!" Though the words were not exactly shakespearean in nature, he had a distinct feeling she would find this extremely flattering by both their standards.

Pausing their conversation only with the concept of beer, Malleus filled both their glasses again with the fresh pitcher that had been placed in front of him by the disgruntled bartender. Smirking, he grabbed the big guy's wrist, staring him down before he walked away. "Better get another ready judging by the speed the last one went," He said, his patience with the general public rapidly decreasing. So began the torrent of rude comments and demands he would make all evening to anybody who's name wasn't Meissa.

Shrugging at her question, Mal dragged out his answer, deciding to drain about half of his glass in one gulp as he so often did. He knew that his priorities at that moment in time would only further antagonise his only friend, but he also knew, that he was the only person in the world that could do this and live to tell the tale. Finally, he set down his glass, noting that his hand was still behind her neck, and turned his attention back to her. "Well, I had actually thought about this," He began, smiling slightly, "And I thought I'd take a break from work, and spend some time with the only person in the world I actually care about..." He knew there was no need to elaborate on who that person was, but for effect, he decided to. "...You." His smile was still present on his face as he sat, awaiting some sort of response from her.

[MEISSA AURELIA RIDDLE]

SO TELL ME BABY, THAT THIS HOUSE IS NOT A GRAVEYARD
TELL ME HOW TO STAY STRONG AND CARRY YOU HOME
over corpses of her long-lost father and her unborn daughters
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Everything else that had been plaguing her mind of yet just seemed to fly away out of her mind and the nearest window as soon as she allowed herself to become lost in the smile and eyes of Malleus. For a girl who's social calendar rivaled that of the Minister for Magic it was strange to see her behaving so carefree in he presence of another, in fact it was strange to see her behaving so carefree full stop. Even in private she found it hard to relax and allow the walls the had spent so long building up day by day, brick by brick, to come crashing down. It seemed far too much effort in all and she was generally content to sit there acting as everyone perceived her; the cold hearted bitch who worshipped her murderous father like a god. It wasn't too hard to project after all, it was true, she just didn't feel the need to storm about the place in a cloud of darkness scaring the shit out of people at every turn, not that that ever mattered, the mere sight of her was enough to cause passersby to scurry back inside the shops they had just vacated and ever, once or twice, apparated on the spot. That was always the best reaction of course, and left her grinning to herself with an inflated sense of pride. When she was with Mal however, she forgave him the lack of fear that echoed in his eyes, and once and again, she even forgave him the annoying quirk he had of flicking her nose. When he went in for the second time however she deftly caught and encircled his wrist with her small pale fingers. I would much prefer something nicer next time you know? Flashing him a wink that was full of all of the confidence she rarely felt while idly flirting with him she gave a small roll of her eyes. When the journey of her blue eyes was complete she fixed them back on him, still holding his arm captive. Not that I don't love you flicking me incessantly.

With a slight laugh that was somewhere between a chuckle and a giggle, but still far too girly for a girl such as she, she allowed her fingers to open and his hand to drop into his lap. After relinquishing her captive she listened attentively to his little speech, conjuring up detailed images of each step of his journey as she was one to do. It made her understanding of his lengthy disappearances easier for her heart, though her mind had instantly grasped the importance of his missions as they were, after all given on her own orders, or that of her brothers. As the touch of his fingers on her neck began to push their way into her thoughts, she felt a flicker of reaction from her own skin as the betraying beat of her heart began to pulse quicker than she would have liked. The only small relief she got from her body that seemed so intent on turning her in was the sheepish smile that had appeared on Mal's, something that she faintly hoped was a result of her own idly fingers. Smoothing the denim of her leg she matched his smile with her own, a slight curl of the rouged pillows that was full of her fondness for this man.

As her hand reached out to snag the newly filled glass upon the table she was caught of guard by the twist of his face. In a mirrored movement she turned to find his nose hovering only a few inches away from his and the shock was enough to render her for the moment, speechless. Of course she knew it could not just be attributed to shock, but that would mean having to attempt a dissection of the knot of emotions that had taken over her stomach and was threatening to extend through every nerve and limb of her body. Swallowing lightly, she regained what composure she needed for moments in the presence of Mal and smiled again. When he dissolved into his little chuckle she took the advantage of his distraction to take a deep breath and buried her face in the glass that had quickly been raised to her lips. The move had been undoubtedly genius, as his next words were breathed across her skin. They had always known that the few pleasures they drew in life were largely from each other, but it was so strange to speak of such things, as a rule they had spent their lives as largely independent beings, only allowing themselves to lean on each other when the indulgence seemed acceptable. Unbidden, she found herself beaming at his words, as much as Meissa could beam that was. Then as your life I am extremely proud, tilting her head to one side she gave his jean clad leg a squeeze.

As he conversed quickly with the barman, Meissa lost herself once more in the glass in her hands, swallowing far too quickly for what was lady like, but relishing the looseness of her joints and even her ability to smile as the fingers of alcohol closed around her. When the formalities with the staff was over she turned her attention back to him, shielding himself from any annoyance she might feel at his insistence on making her wait. I'm glad you have done some forward thinking for once, she teased lightly before taking another large mouthful and leaning back against the warmth his hand gave her. Hearing him out completely proved harder than she had thought, and though when he was done she felt the distinct tightening of her throat that said she was choking on her beer, she simply stared at him wide eyed for a moment. Completely caught off guard. Trying to comb her mind for a response to his question that would neither be completely soppy or heartless she remained quiet for a moment, her eyes fixed on his own. Well... she began, though immediately she was at a loss. Continuing finally she gave a nod, I suppose I do need someone to refill that giant you shaped hole you left in my heart whilst away, maybe it was a bit too soppy, but it would do.