O R P H I C. [Tom. R × Reader]

43. Caught in the Rain.

His hand tightens around my neck, and I know I should feel threatened but a sick part of me yearns for more pressure, for him to just squeeze my neck as he kisses me like I'm the very oxegyn he needs to breathe.

With one hand against my neck and the other in my hair, he brings it down, tracing my spine and giving me chills as he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me from against the wall to press flush against his body as his tongue traces the line of teeth.

He pulls back and we are both panting, struggling to catch our breath. He moves his hand from my throat to the back of my neck as he gazes into my eyes.

I can hear that it's raining outside now and I'm thoroughly surprised, it was so sunny earlier. A cold gust of wind sweeps through the boathouse, bringing in a spray of rain with it. Now that Tom isn't enveloping me, my other senses heighten, and it's suddenly freezing.

Tom pulls me in, my head into his shoulder and tightens his arms around me, chasing away the frigid air.

"You make me feel odd things, Y/n," He mumbles into my hair, "I'm so glad you're here, with me."

I freeze for a moment, what he said almost makes it sound like he's aware that I'm not actually from this time, and it puts me on edge. I scramble for something to say, trying to brush away the feeling. There's no way he'd be treating me like this if he knew. And how could he know?

"M-me too," I mutter into his clothes, listening to the boats rock in the water and the rain pattering on the roof, the quiet peeping of frogs by the lakes edge, a faraway cuckoo bird in the distance. All while melting into Tom's warmth, his smell, his clothes.

"Are you alright?" He asks, leaning back to look at me, raking a hand wonderfully through my hair.

"How could I not be? After you treat me so delightfully? It's just a bit chilly, that's all. I was unaware that it was going to rain," I reach my arms under his cloak and around him, providing noticeable extra warmth, "But you're so warm and cosy that I almost don't care."

He chuckles, "Maybe we should head back up to the castle?"

"But then we'll get all wet," I groan. I feel him sigh as he dreads the thought with me.

"We'll just have to take a bath when we get back," He murmurs, running his hand through my hair again.

"What, together?" I ask, slightly startled at his insinuation.

"Well, if you like," He shrugs. I feel anticipation rage through my blood stream like adrenaline. Tom wants to bath with me? Like get NAKED and BATH with me????? Hello?!?!?!

"You want to bath with me??" I ask, confused, staring up at him.

"I certainly would not be opposed," He replies, smirking down at me. What is he even saying, this is Tom Riddle here.

"Are you feeling quite alright?" I ask in awe.

"Are you? Do you not understand? I came in here and kissed you like my life depended on it, and you are taken aback by the thought that I wouldn't mind spending intimate time with you?" He asks, pulling back, and taking my hands to hold between us.

"Am I missing something? Do you not feel the same way? If you didn't want me to do anything, you shouldn't've said yes. Oh Y/n, Merlin's beard, you should've--"

"TOM!!" I interrupt him exasperatedly, desperately trying to stop his train of thought as he overthinks everything aloud right in front of me.

"I do not regret a thing. I said yes because I wanted it! Not because I was scared, or anything of the sort. I'm simply surprised that someone such as you, who is cold and distant to everyone else, someone as inspiring and handsome as you are, is so eager to do such special things with me, okay? That's all, of course I feel the same way about you, don't be silly," I rush to clear everything up, trying to catch my breath, but I don't get the chance as he kisses me.

"Would you like to take a bath with me?" He asks, quietly, forehead rested against mine.

"Of course I would, Tom," I reply, feeling his breath on lips as I grin up at him.

And with that, he leads out of the heavy door of the boathouse and into the rain. We rush up the stairs, hand-in-hand, wet leaves crunching underneath out feet and rain pouring onto our heads.

By the time the castle courtyard comes into sight through the heavy rain, we are almost running, and I feel like the water has seeped right through my clothes, through my skin and into my bones. My immune system is going to kill me for this.

Tom sprints ahead through the courtyard, pushing open the heavy door to the castle so that I don't have to wait in the rain. He ushers me inside and pushes the door closed again and we stand there for a minute, totally and utterly drenched, looking like miserable wet cats.

Suddenly a smile breaks on his face and we're laughing together so hard that I have to lean against the wall to balance myself. Passing students are staring in shock, as though they've seen a ghost, one even stops to gawk.

It makes Tom pause and he clears his throat, holding his arm to me with a small, quiet smile instead, "Let's go."

I huff, smiling back at him teasingly, "If we must."

Once we've reached my room, standing in the entrance foyer, Tom peels off his cloak, hanging it by the door before he turns to help me as well.

"Thank you," I chuckle, taking off my shoes and leaving them on the rack, followed by Tom who does the same.

The fire burns quietly in the corner, and I wander over to the bathroom to fill the bathtub. When I return, Tom is hanging our cloaks above the fireplace, and our shoes are sitting on the hearth.

He is also not wearing anything but his underwear, which makes me laugh.

"What?? Don't laugh, everything is soaked!" He grumbles. I grin at him pulling him towards me.

"I'm sorry, it's just a funny sight," I smile.

He huffs, "Don't touch me, you're cold and soggy."

I laugh again, this time more openly, "Is thus your roundabout way of telling me to undress?"

"Well, are you going to?"

"I was getting there!!" I giggle. I undo my tie and peel off my shirt, followed by my skirt, and I can't help but feel vulnerable with Tom's gaze on me, I stand in my underwear, unsure of what to do with my wet clothes as I grow goosebumps.

Tom then laughs too, walking towards me and pulling me to stand in front of the fireplace, taking my clothes from me and putting them on coat hangers to be hung above the fire too.

By this time the bath is filled enough and we're standing in the bathroom, Tom gets on with it and strips and I do the same, mutually not staring at eachother too much to avoid making (mostly me) uncomfortable.

He climbs in and takes my hands to help me in as well, I sit down, shivering as the warmth of the water chases the cold from my bones. Tom sits across from me, and we're both trying to hide our grins.

I'm scrubbing soap suds into his hair when I begin to think about the ball approaching and what Abe said earlier.

"Are we going to the ball together?" I ask, helping him rinse the bubbles out.

"Well--" He leans forward to rinse his face from any extra soap, "--I assumed we were."

"Oh okay," I mumble, happy to have it sorted but kind of disappointed that he didn't ask.

"Why's that?" He asks, leaning back against me. I wrap my arms around his torso, hugging him from behind as we lay there.

"Usually asking someone to ball is like a tradition, it's romantic thing," I mumble, tracing shapes into his skin.

He looks up at me, smirking "So you want to be romantic with me, now?"

I feel my face flush as I struggle to find a reply, making Tom chuckle lowly.

"Would you give me the honour of being my date to the ball, Y/n?" He asks sweetly, and my face heat up more.

"Y-yes please," I mumble sheepishly, feeling rather childish.

Tom smiles, leaning up to press a kiss to my chin,
"I can't wait."