Limitless

Perspectives

Fabian

I watched Yves walk toward the house acutely aware that Gideon stood behind me watching but I couldn't help but watch her go. I knew he noticed earlier when Yves stepped closer to Sirius and there was no way he could not see what was happening now. He may not have said anything before, but I knew he would now. Instead of delaying the inevitable, when I saw the last of her enter the house, I turned to him.

"Brother," Gideon said, using the word more as a term of endearment than a simple noun, "come sit here with me, you look unsteady on your feet." He looked like me, except with more dirt and less blood.

"What happened to you?" I asked, taking a seat beside him on the stone bench, trying to keep things light, "Did someone literally drag you through the mud?"

"Actually..." He said eyeing me seriously before his face broke into a half-hearted grin.

He didn't say anything immediately; he appeared to be considering his words for once.

"What is it Gid?" I asked coaxing him along. One of the things I loved most about my brother was his distinct inability to mince his words.

"That woman is going to break your heart Fabian." He said very severely and without the drama that was so usual for him.

"I know." I said looking at the house hoping she would return quickly. Who knew what kind of reception she would get up there.

"When last I heard, she was with Sirius..." He left the statement open-ended waiting for me to fill him in.

"I don't think they are together anymore." I said simply. To my knowledge it was true but I didn't want to elaborate.

"You don't think?" He said eyeing me as though I was mad. "Fabian, the woman is living with you, in your house... And I saw you out there today. I've never seen you fight like that. Your only concern was for her."

"Is there something wrong with that?" I asked prickling a little at his words.

"Yeah, because you're obviously not her only concern." He said gesturing towards the house.

"It's complicated Gideon." I said knowing it was a cop out but it really was.

"How complicated can it be? Either she loves you or she doesn't?"

"We haven't gotten that far yet."

"How far have you gotten then? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're dangerously infatuated with her. You were almost suicidal out there."

I put my face in my hands, trying to rub some of my frustration away. I knew I had been reckless but she had been in danger any my only concern was to get to her. I couldn't let her die, it would have been the end of me. At least Black, if nothing else, shared the same sentiments. I saw him throw himself in the way of that curse. I'd have to thank him for it although I was sure he would take it about as well as he took everything, as though he was swallowing a goddamn mace.

"Fabian..." Gideon began but I cut him off.

"It's not as easy as that. There is something wrong with her, you saw what happened today and that isn't even the half of it. I can't put any more pressure on her. That idiot up there," I said indicating my head to Sirius's bedroom, "does enough of that, along with just about everyone else. I'm the only person she has who doesn't push her or demand anything from her."

"Maybe you should..."

"Did you just hear what I said Gid?" I said becoming impatient; I knew he was only being so hard assed because it was me but it did nothing to dull the emotion, "She's sick."