Non-Canon One Shots for In the Shadow of Our Choices

Shades of Arrangement

In chapter 78 of my longer work "In the Shadows of Our Choices," the characters attend a party after a Quidditch game. Elizabeth (MC) spends her time with Mason (OC) and his friends, until Sebastian pulls her away for a quick chat. Nothing happens, but what if Mason had intervened?

Contains mild spice - no explicit sex. Readable without reading the larger work (Though, some minor spoilers)

As Elizabeth's thumb ran delicately over Sebastian's cheek, he pulled away. His eyes were wary, and she frowned. However, even as a question pooled on her lips, they were interrupted, footsteps clattering on the metal of the walkway. Elizabeth looked around to see Mason strolling towards them, lips cocked in a half grin.

"I'm sorry," he said, eyes fixed on Sebastian. "Seems my guest is bothering you, so I'll take her off your hands." Sebastian opened his mouth to protest, but Mason waved him off. "It's no trouble, really."

Mason scooped one arm around Elizabeth's shoulder and guided her further down the corridor, away from the common room. She glanced back, chewing her lip. Sebastian seemed frozen to the spot, watching them go with no small amount of disbelief in his eyes. Something like satisfaction curled in her stomach - how many times had he tried to make her jealous? And now the tables turned, it seemed. Mason held the door open to one of the dorm rooms, gesturing her inside. She glanced around as she entered, finding it much the same as Sebastian's, albeit with different personal belongings scattered about. Mason closed the door behind them and leaned against the wall, rubbing his eyes.

"Merlin," he breathed out, "Sorry about that."

Elizabeth ran her hands over her own face. "No, don't apologize. It was probably a good thing you interrupted - thank you. But... why?"

"Many reasons." Mason glanced up with a dry smile. "As I said at the ball - I hate him. And my sister told me to keep him away from you, regardless." Then his face darkened slightly. "She told me about the bruises, you know. I worried... If you two were alone..."

Elizabeth shook her head slowly. "He's... getting better about things. He really is."

"Why bother putting up with him in the first place?" Mason's eyes met hers now, intent gaze eerily reminiscent of Aria's, as he added, "Don't think I didn't notice you pining after Gaunt all evening as well - you looked like you were ready to faint when he disappeared with those two girls. I know they're your friends but... is that what you really want from them?"

Elizabeth's mouth went dry, feeling caught. She would wonder how he was so observant, but... Had she expected anything less from Aria's brother? She started to pace, dragging a hand through her hair as she tried to drum up an answer to his question. What did she want?

"I don't know. Ominis is engaged and I broke up with Sebastian, so, I suppose I don't want anything?" she said it with a sigh, then decided on some small revenge in the form of her own accusing question. "Why do you pretend not to be as smart as you are?"

Mason folded his arms and leaned back against the wall. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Elizabeth stopped her pacing and raised an eyebrow at him. "You deliberately lost every round of the games we played tonight, and Lucan said you're 'barely scraping by' in every subject. What are the chances of that?"

He shrugged one shoulder. "You tell me. I wouldn't know - I'm not good at things like that."

Elizabeth pursed her lips and glared.

"Listen," he said, holding up a placating hand. "I just don't like attention. Quidditch garners me more than enough - I don't need to be at the top of the class as well."