My Darling | Theodore Nott

Marked

"I know." Maddie whispered, "I know," this time a sob, his hold on her transforming from embrace to support as she clung to him, her eyes were sealed shut as tears built behind them, "I know,"

Theo had not hidden it from her, he stood strong and steady as she all but collapsed against him. He had made no effort to hide his mark. He had informed her of his father's request he take it.

"I didn't want it to be true," her voice was broken, fractured like glass, "I didn't- I didn't- you can't be a death eater," she said, "you can't,"

Maddie knew. She had known since his exchange with Potter on the Quidditch stands. He did not wish to be a death eater.

"Te quiero, te amo, Theo, you can't- this can't-" Maddie said, she hiccuped and he pulled away from her to look her in the eye, it proved far too difficult,

Madelena Noceda was beautiful when she cried. Her sobs were more eloquent than the final monologues of Romeo and Juliet. Her eyes filled with the same water Ophelia would drown herself in. The flush of her cheeks forced Orpheus' head to turn just before he reached the final step to the land of the living. The quiver of her lip inspired only the most wretched tragedies the masses would gorge themselves on over and over paying millions to watch her crumble time and time again.

Theo's touches were tender, he delicately pressed his lips to hers.

"You knew?"

Maddie nodded,

"You stayed."

"Can I see it?" Maddie whispered, Theo drew his sleeve up showing her the mark, her breath caught in her throat, revulsion rising like bile to her face, "it's hideous."

Her eyes void of the admiration Theo had not noticed until it had drained from them. Worry began trickling into his gut.

She could leave him. Theo pulled his sleeve down and took her hand in both of his.

"It was not my choice," Theo informed her, "I would never- I want to be good, I want- I want, I want you,"

Theo had not anticipated this. Maddie was not stupid. She knew. He had not expected dread which filled him up and seeped from every pore of his body as he looked at her.

Maddie's eyes were shut. Theo had thought he would be capable of letting her go if she decided to leave. He was wrong.

"Darling," he said, his hands moving to her cheeks to wipe away her tears, "look at me, Maddie, please look at me,"

Her eyes opened as two twin tears stained her cheeks, Theodore Nott looked afraid. More afraid than she had ever seen him.

His hands shook slightly and he could not seem to speak,

"I love you." He said, "Please," but he did not know how to ask her to stay. It was so entirely selfish, a hot tear fell from his eye, she could not leave, she could not leave him,

Theo rejected it with every fiber of his being, Maddie was his. She had been his since first year. Since his attempt at settling the debt between them had been squandered by the cinnamon roll she decided to share. She needed him. He needed her.

He needed her like air. He had not known he was suffocating until Maddie's spectacular dark brown eyes settled on him.

He released her hand,

Please don't go, he signed, a crinkle formed between Maddie's perfect brows,

"Theo,"

He shook his head, waiting for her to say something, anything he could hold onto. Call him by Teddy or Mi Vida, something born out of her love for him.