Chapter Text
Nymphadora Tonks was running as fast as her feet would carry her down a street in London. Curses were flying from the wand of a hooded figure a few steps behind her and slashed through the darkness like lightning bolts. Tonks didn’t know where her feet were carrying her, the only thought left in her head was how to find Remus again. Green lightning missed her right ear by inches. Blindly she fired jinxes at the Death Eater behind her. Remus. Where was he now? What happened to him? She had to find him.
Remus Lupin was trying to free himself from ropes, that had shot out of the wand of his opponent seconds ago. He had managed to flick his own wand in time to knock out the Death Eater, but the ropes had tangled around his body anyway. His movements were frantic, his hands shaking. Their mission had gone terribly wrong. They were only supposed to be on a look-out, not battle three of Voldemort’s followers in the middle of a muggle street in London. Tonks had taken out the first one with a vigorous stunner, but Remus had lost sight of her, when another Death Eater had attacked him.
He finally managed to pull himself to his feet and ran down the street to his left, where he had seen Tonks vanish. He didn’t know where to go next, but his feet seemed to have a mind of their own and after jogging down a few streets, he heard glass shattering nearby. His heart skipped a beat. Footsteps. It had to be her. Remus ran towards the noise and turned around a corner.
There was Tonks, blocking curse after curse, getting closer and closer to him with every step she took backwards. Remus seized his chance and fired a spell at the Death Eater, before he pulled Tonks sideways. Their hands intertwined, they turned on the spot and disapparated.
Tonks stumbled into a narrow alley with Remus close behind her. Her clumsiness came back in an instant and she tripped over a loose cobblestone, but Remus’ hands caught her before she could crash into the wall.
“Don’t get yourself killed now that we narrowly escaped death seconds ago”, he said choking back a nervous chuckle. He looked shaken, a bruise forming on his cheek. The adrenaline was still pumping through his veins madly. Tonks leaned her head back against the wall and laughed with relief, as she closed her eyes for a moment.
When she opened them again, her gaze met Remus’ and suddenly she realized how close he was. His presence was overwhelming, the warmth in his hazel eyes and his chocolaty scent flooded her and made her feel slightly dizzy. The smile had faded from his features and had made way for something else. Longing. It had taken hold of his face, so plainly visible, that Tonks was taken aback momentarily. She didn’t know if Remus even realized, but his eyes darted to her mouth and lingered there a little too long. Without thinking Tonks grabbed the collar of his cloak and pulled him towards her. The blood was rushing in her ears and all she could feel was the sensation of his lips of hers. It was the only thing that mattered then and there. No war, no Death Eaters, no Order duty, only them existing in a haze of desire and need. Remus felt like he might explode with joy, as Tonks smiled into his kiss. He never wanted it to end, never wanted to let go of her and he cursed his lungs for demanding air. They broke apart and for a few seconds they just stood there, panting and staring at each other, before they both burst with laughter.