anything for you, dear [MIKAEL]

For a few moments, Atlanta wasn’t entirely sure how to respond. There were very few people in her life that would willingly say that they would be with her through thick-and-thin. Sure, she had her parents, but even them she questioned sometimes...especially with the happenings of the winter holiday, “Mmm conditional, I like it.” She joked and then nudged him slightly with her hand. Lanta liked the feeling of being in such close proximity to Mikael and she was suddenly glad that Slughorn’s annual closet clean had fallen on this evening.

It was an incredible feeling to see the way his eyes seemed to come to life when she put her hands around his neck - almost as if he was seeing her for the first time all over again. Suddenly she felt a blush rise to her cheeks, singeing them with the lightest of pinks - he acted like she was the most important thing in the universe. And - as much as she had always wanted to be the center of the universe back in the day when she was so focused on popularity and status - never had she once imagined that love could feel like this did.

There was a direct shift in his mannerisms, as if she had spooked him with the sudden talk of her parents, but Atlanta felt like it needed addressing. After all, they had been the ones so vehemently against the pair of them. She physically laughed when he mentioned that he had been practicing, “I should hope so, Erixon. It was embarrassing. You let a Hufflepuff beat you in bowling! Tragic really-” She laughed again, and then attempted to hold it in while she put on her pseudo-serious face, “Turned the world upside down, who knows; maybe Hufflepuff will kick Ravenclaw’s arse at Quidditch next.” She couldn’t hold in the laughter any more, knowing that it wasn’t all to absurd a notion, especially now that Mikael had given his spot up on the team...surely they hadn’t found anyone as good to replace him.

He squeezed her hips and Lanta immediately felt herself jump a little bit - she was not above being caught off guard by physical affection...it had been a while since someone had touched her like that. A smirk crossed her lips as her stomach seemed to do flips within her body. She had felt it before, but never as strong as this. It was only when she realized that she was grinning like a fool that she remembered that Mikael had actually been asking her a question. Pressing her lips together, Lanta cocked her head slightly to the side, “I’m thinking...general distaste of the bloodline, maybe apprehension toward you being a male trying to steal away their youngest daughter, and mild-disagreement with the fact that you’re a Ravenclaw and not a Hufflepuff legacy like the rest of the Vaisey Family,” She tried turning it into a joke to make him feel better. She knew how her parents felt about him - they had made it no secret after he had ‘called off their winter plans.’ They basically hated him, didn’t think that he was good enough for her, and thought that he was going to lead her down a path of trouble and destruction, “Nothing they can’t get over, though. Especially over dinner, right?”

Atlanta bit her lip, trying her hardest not to laugh at his words. She knew that it was kind of crazy to think that Hufflepuff could beat Ravenclaw, but she wasn’t about to admit that Mikael was right, “Mmmm, do you really think the new star is going to give it up to old news?” The sarcasm was thick in her voice - she had only ever encountered OC on the Quidditch pitch and didn’t really speak to him, so he very well might be nice enough to let Mikael take back his spot on the team. His lips found hers for the millionth time in a few short minutes and she thought she was going to explode from happiness. But, just as soon as he kissed her, he pulled back to finish their conversation. Perhaps it was a good thing that they were making time to talk, especially since they always seemed to be running in and out of each other’s lives with such quickness.

She watched his face as she listed her parent’s qualms with him, trying to make sure that her plan of joking wouldn’t back-fire, but he seemed relatively relaxed. She liked the way he looked when he was relaxed - like nothing in the world could bother him. Her fingertips brushed over his hair, pushing it slightly to the side as she smiled up at him. He agreed to dinner and Lanta felt herself smiling even a bit more at the prospect. It would certainly be an affair that her family would remember for ages, “I guess I could make a guest appearance if it’s really that important to you,” His smile was infectious, everything that she had been looking for for the past couple of months as they tried to figure out where they stood in the grand scheme of this crazy world.

“Mikael, jeez!” His lips against her neck sent a flutter of excitement through her entire being and she felt her eyes close for a moment, enjoying the feeling of physical affection. It had been a long time, she was pretty sure she hadn’t done this in about two years...not since she had turned her life around. But this was different, this felt different. It wasn’t just mindless anymore, it was tender, laughter, intensity. This was the way it was supposed to feel. It wasn’t until she managed to pull back that she ran her hand across his cheek again and pressed her lips to his and laughed against his lips.

“I’m assuming you sent Filch pretty far, hmm?” Lanta whispered against his lips and pulled her wand out again, locking the door and then throwing it onto the ground. Her fingertips found their way under his shirt, letting her hands run over the obviously muscular, toned stomach of his, “Take it off,” She laughed against his lips as she lifted the edge of his shirt, practically demanding him at this point.

Lanta grinned wickedly - at least Mikael had thought ahead and they wouldn’t be rudely interrupted by a nosey Filch. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing that he had sent him so far away, after all. His hands were on her back, sending a chill of excitement down her spine as he drew her closer. She wanted to spend forever like this, wrapped up in Mikael Erixon - Merlin, who was she admitting to things like this? Who would have thought that Atlanta Vaisey would meet a guy that would have her seeing stupid white picket fences, two point five kids, and a dog that barked up every tree that he laid eyes on.

“As you wish.”

She watched with intensity in her eyes as he took a step away from her. Her fingertips lost their connection on his skin and she longed for it almost immediately - the simplicity of his touch. It was then that he pulled his shirt up and over his head. For a moment, Lanta stood there dumbstruck, grinning like an absolute fool. Surely all girls didn’t act like this in these kinds of situations...only something she would do. She was admiring him like the greek god that he was, eyes lulling over his skin and the way his shoulders rose and fell when he took a breath. Her eyes met his, and she was struck with another sense of intensity - a feeling she couldn’t quite put her fingertips on.

An instant inhalation seemed to bring her back into reality and her appraisal of the situation continued, exploring his body with her eyes. Her light brown eyes found their way to his chest and for a moment, she cocked her head to the side in surprise and mild confusion. A long scar run down the left side of his body, cascading down from his chest to his stomach. It had slightly silvery undertones. It was so obviously not meant to be there, and yet it looked like it did. Lanta felt her breath catch in her throat and tried her hardest to force it back down - she shouldn’t stare. She really shouldn’t stare. He came back to her, wrapping his arms around her back and slipping his hand under her shirt in the process.

She tried to tell herself that she shouldn’t ruin the moment by asking the question - she tried so hard. Even stood on her tiptoes to kiss him for another brief moment before her curiosity seemed to get the best of her, “Erixon-” Her fingertips found the top of the scar on his chest, slowly tracing it with delicate care, her eyes still focused on it as she tried to reason its existence with her own imagination. Maybe he was attacked by a bear...or worse perhaps he had done it to himself. She wanted to know everything about him and this scar - so prominent - so obviously a huge part of his life, “Where in Merlin’s name did you get that...” She breathed, her fingertips trailing down to his stomach as she finally managed to tear her eyes away from the scar and look up at him.

Atlanta’s eyes were still stuck on the scar - the way it wound around his chest as if it had always been there, the strange glow that it seemed to give off, the way that the edges were jagged and the scar tissue that was there. So lost in thought, Lanta was only drawn out into reality when Mikael slipped his hand back into hers. Immediately she tore her eyes away from the scarred chest and looked into his eyes, confusion obvious in her pupils. She couldn’t imagine what had caused it, but she was getting her answer. Honesty. That was the policy of the evening, and - as strange as it was - she was glad that they were finally being completely open with one another, “Honesty.” He pulled away from her and she felt her hands instinctively reach out for his. He had a valid point, she had a hard time even thinking up a proper sentence with his hands absentmindedly caressing her skin, “Seriously? I have mild self-control, Mik!” She growled and folded her arms across her chest in distaste.

She watched him carefully, her eyes observing and taking in every action that he progressed through - his nervous tick of running his hands through his hair especially. Kat. A pretty name. Lanta didn’t know that he had a sister, she didn’t know much about his family apart from learning that his father had passed away over the holiday. She smiled slightly when he mentioned his brother Tim - perhaps it wasn’t something to be smiled about, but she found it endearing. He probably wasn’t magically oriented. But just as Mikael shook his head, she realized that this wasn’t something to smile about, there were obviously harsh feelings that lay just beneath the surface.

“Sorry, its just I’ve never told anyone about this.”

“No, it’s okay. You’re doing fine.” She wanted to reach out for him, wrap him up into her arms while she rubbed his head or ran her hands through his hair...something to comfort him. But she remained rooted to the spot, not sure if he wanted her to move quite yet. Like he said - it was distracting when they were too close. She wanted him to finish, especially if he had never told anyone about this. It was so important to her, “You’re doing perfect.” She breathed, when their eyes locked and she held his gaze steadily.

He recounted a story of horror and despair, losing his little sister to these masked men in the night.

(Silver. It wasn’t a nickname that would stick for Atlanta Vaisey - later she would recall that she had only used it about twice in her entire life, before she knew the full story. She didn’t like the way that it sat on her tongue. In all honesty, she didn’t think that they should remember him for the crimes that had been committed against him and his family.)

Mikael had now closed his eyes and Atlanta was suddenly very grateful that she had a chance to open her mouth and breath out a sigh of pain that she had been holding in this whole time. She couldn’t imagine - she couldn’t imagine losing someone like that. The pain, the utter despair. Her fingertips of her right hand reached his, entwining their hands together before she put her other hand on the back of his neck and brought his forehead to hers. What was there left to say? What could she possibly say that he wanted to hear from her? How could he possibly think that this was his fault? Her poor, sweet Mikael Erixon, “It’s not your fault,” She gulped and opened her eyes, looking up at him with their forehead still pressed together, “Please tell me you don’t think it’s your fault.”

Standing there, forehead against his, watching his every breath, Lanta knew that it wasn’t that simple. He had probably spent years beating himself up about this. Murder wasn’t easy. She gulped - she had caught the edges of conversations at her house that she would have liked to avoid...her siblings weren’t exactly the saints they claimed to be and probably had blood on their hands, “Did they ever find them. Did you ever find them?” She wasn’t going to stop asking questions now, especially when they had gotten this far. He was finally letting him in and he was letting her in in return.

The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, Atlanta had never felt more comfortable with a lack of words. Mikael’s breathing was enough to steady the nerves that had resulted from his story. In and out, she felt his head move ever so slightly when he exhaled, letting her know that everything was fine. Brown eyes now open, she looked up at him, seeking out his own eyes to hold steadily to hers. She pulled back a little bit, pleasantly surprised that there were the tiniest hints of a smile on his lips. She pressed her forehead back to his, eager to retain the connection that they had established with their bodies.

“For years I did, but one day it...it was like I could hear her, feel her pushing me forward. And I knew she loved me. If she didn’t blame me, how could I?”

“I’m sure she’d be proud of you, Erixon. There’s a hell of a lot to be proud of,” She was glad to hear that he wasn’t beating himself up about it. It was out of character, but Atlanta was silently thankful for his sister - she was so thankful for Kat. Kat’s sacrifice had given her Mikael, and without him? She would be lost. He seemed to be the final bit of cement that she needed to keep her new life fortified. Lanta wasn’t sure the words were appropriate, but inside, she was sending up a silent thank you to the sister who gave her life so Mikael Erixon could go on.

His lips pressed against her warm forehead and she felt his next words reverberating through her skull. Not yet. she was sure that it wasn’t something that he would ever forget or ever stop searching for. He would be plagued by his thoughts until he found them. Whoever those people were, they were still out there and she wouldn’t doubt it if one day he came across them. She shuttered to think of what would happen then. Mikael would seek them out and she would see the part of him that she had only glimpsed today. The part that had caused the cut on his cheek, the aggression, the anger, the pain and sadness. But it didn’t matter; as dangerous as it was, she didn’t care. Atlanta cared for Mikael, which meant she cared for all of him. Not just the pleasantries and happiness. She could understand the hurt - the pain - she knew what he was thinking as it reflected through that tone of his.

“She would have loved you. You would’ve loved her. I’m not sure which of you was more sarcastic.”

“Me, obviously,” Mikael had leaned back and was now out of her close proximity, making her heart give a little jump of objection. But her fingertips were still laced within his, tethering her to him, “I’m sure I would’ve loved her.” She offered him a kind smile in return for his. She wished now that she would’ve gone home with him for the holiday - just to see what his family was like. The rest of them must have been amazing to raise such a young man. She blushed slightly at the thought, “C’mon, if she was anything like you, she must’ve been incredible-” Biting her lip, she tried to hold in her sarcastic comments, but they seemed to escape without her consent, “Or incredibly full of herself.” The joke was light-hearted, Lanta trying to return them to happiness with her words. She felt incredible trusted and it was such a good feeling for her.

"I jest, I jest." She gave his hand a light squeeze and moved the hand that was behind his neck to his chest, fingertips tracing the top of the scar as she watched him carefully. Trust and Honesty. That was all they needed.

That smile that was on his lips was so reassuring - she felt so at home when he gave her looks like that, almost as if he had been anticipating the words that had fallen from her mouth, “Always me, isn’t it?” She joked, as Mikael ran his thumb across her knuckles. It felt strangely good to be holding his hand. She felt safe there. There was something about Mikael, something so fundamentally calming to Atlanta in that moment.

(She would never let the memory go. For years to come, she would recall these moments in the potions storage closet as the only thing that got her through crafting a patronus charm - the only happiness that she would truly remember from that year.)

“Gag.” Atlanta laughed as he cooed about his superior genetics, “Such perfection must be absolutely exhausting, right?” When he stepped closer she nipped at his nose, rolling her eyes at his sarcastic remarks in the process. He had trusted her enough to tell her his secrets and it would only make them stronger. Half-caught up in her own thoughts, she realized that he had managed to grab onto her shirt and was now pulling them back together again - some things never changed.

“Watch the shirt - the shirt is new -” Lanta joked as he used it to draw her closer, telling her the depth of his affection for her. The normally unabashed Hufflepuff suddenly found herself blushing at the confession. Had anyone ever said something like that to her? The closest she had ever gotten was a comment on how pretty she looked in something - something of the like, “Mik, I-” Woah, her words were beginning to get tangled up in the webs of her head, and she realized that she sounded like a bumbling idiot. Perfect - just what she needed. She had finally managed to hook Mikael and she was going to scare him off with her stupidity. Making a mental effort to focus despite their current physical closeness, Lant bit down on her lip slightly, “Good.” She laughed ever so slightly, “I happen to feel quite similarly about you,” Lanta managed another breath, “I love you just barely more than quidditch.” She hardly had time to think before he kissed her again, this time deeper, with more feeling and Lanta could tell that they had crossed that barrier.

His lips on her neck made her tilt her chin slightly upwards, eyes fluttering shut with delightful satisfaction, “That was another joke - by the way,” She managed to say before his lips were on her ear, whispering sweet nothings. An immediate jolt went down her body, settling as a warmth in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t mind that he had no self-control, in fact, she was fairly certain that there was a small part of her that was extremely on-board with the no self-control train.

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tag; MIKAEL ERIXON

notes; THE FEELS. THE CUTE. THE MIKLANTA.

Mikael’s eyes found hers - a sort of beacon of hope to Atlanta Vaisey’s constantly worried heart. He grounded her, made her forget all the horrible things she had done to people in the past. When she was with him, it didn’t matter that she had been deplorable. All that mattered was the way his eyes kept hers steady, the way his voice seemed strong and completely serious as he confessed to forever. Half of her wanted to laugh at his words, and the other half of her wanted to melt into a puddle on the floor. For a few moments, she looked at him, her breathing nearly slowing to a stop. Could he really know what he wanted forever? Could either of them at such a young age? Lanta admitted to herself that she wanted no one else but him - he understood her and she understood him. It was that kind of emotional understanding that she wanted to root their relationship in, “Maybe you should start with a trial period.” She joked, but the she didn’t smile - she knew this was serious. She couldn’t joke about forever, no matter how much she wanted to make everything light hearted, “After chasing you down every hallway in this damn school, Mik. I think I could handle always and forever. So long as always and forever doesn’t end in detention.”

He kissed up her neck and to her ear again and his voice invaded her thoughts as she audibly gasped as he demanded she strip. He had a point - it was hardly fair that he was standing there de-clothed and she had still managed to retain her shirt. Then she felt his teeth on her earlobe and physically squirmed, “Erixon!” A breathless laugh managed to escape her lips as she pulled back ever so slightly to look at him, eyes scanning his face as Atlanta raised her eyebrows in mock surprise, “Of course my locking charm works - I got an O in Charms, on my OWLS, thank you very much,” Grinning wickedly, she grabbed the bottom of her shirt and pulled it over her head, throwing it to the corner of the closet as she wrapped her arms around his neck, his own hands wrapping around her waist, “No one’s getting in. And you’re sure as hell not getting out.”

Pulling his lips to hers with her hands around the back of his neck, Lanta pushed her body against Mikael’s - practically starving for his affection. Taking a few steps backwards, she pulled him along until they were pressed neatly against the wall, her lips moving against his in tantalizing harmony. She didn’t care that they were rushing into things - she had waited so long for this. Bowling, laughter, dates, the lake, Tennis balls. Atlanta had spent six months chasing after Mikael Erixon. And after hard-ship and heartache, they had finally managed to get to each other and she was done wasting time.

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tag; MIKAEL ERIXON

notes; hey hey hey ;]