Favoring The Brave {Drarry}

~ t ~

"You'd really pay for Val to fly to us?" Harry says when they're both wrapped beneath their blankets after the concert and a shower.

"Why wouldn't I? I'd do anything for you and our boys. You should know that by now."

"But..."

"But?"

"She's my ex."

"She's one of your best friends."

"Draco, I'm being serious."

"So am I," Draco says squeezing Harry's hands where they lay between them on the bed. "You're allowed to have friends, you know. You're a likable person; you care for people. Not to mention, she's been much better to you than I have. I'd be dead from the neck up to act like I'm better than her or like I deserve you at all."

"It's not about what you think you do or don't deserve, you prat. I'm not a trophy that you can just win because you're 'deserving enough'. I love you because you're a good guy. You were a complete arsehole back in school, but you grew out of it. You learned to do better and I love that about you. That you don't give up, even when you're scared. You take a step back and you let me make my own decisions but you never stop caring about me or the kids. Even now, you aren't a huge fan of Val—"

"For multiple very logical reasons. One of which being she hates me."

"—but you're still offering to fly her wherever we are so that me and the boys will be more comfortable."

"James was hurt. It would be nice for him to see another familiar face."

"You're too good to us, Draco Malfoy."

"No," says Draco with a sad smile while shaking his head. "You're too good to me, Harry Potter. I don't know what I'd do without you anymore. I love having you all here. Touring can get...lonely."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. We thought we were ready for this years ago and it's clear we weren't. We had grown but I wasn't mature enough back then. Sometimes I wonder if I am now. You saw me on that stage tonight." He shakes his head defeated. "I was a mess up there."

"What happened? I mean you don't have to tell me, I still get panic attacks when the prophet corners me on Diagon."

"I just...everyone was so concerned about James and they've been so respectful to you and Teddy too. What did I do to deserve a fan base like this? Why do these people care so much after all I've done? I'm not worth it."

Draco's eyes are full of tears and Harry flicks his forehead. The blond looks up at him shocked before reaching up to rub at the slowly reddening spot.

"The hell was that for?"

"You're whining. You've done some bad things in the past, I get it. You've hurt people, sure. But you're not the same person you were back then, Draco. You and I both know that."

"Val doesn't. She's right too, you know. I left you, trauma be damned because I couldn't handle talking to you like an adult. Couldn't stand the idea of not being wanted...not being good enough again."

"Don't do this to yourself, love," Harry says placing his hand on Draco's jaw, his thumb running over the blond's cheek in reverence. "We both have trauma. Being together isn't just going to fix that. It never has. it isn't supposed to either."

"I forgot you were a healer now. You know all the signs. So," Draco says leaning their foreheads together, "how fucked up am I?"

"Oh, piss off." He leans in closer before kissing Draco softly. "Besides," he whispers, "we're both pretty fucked."

--:--

The alarm is shrill and loud in the silence of the early morning and all Harry wants to do is roll back over into the warm embrace of Draco's arms, but the prat is already up doing his morning workout. Harry groans but gets up to join him, his feet thudding softly on the hard floors. He blinks down at his feet for a minute before remembering where they are.

The hotel near the venue was nice and a decent price for someone as well-known as DL Black so they were lucky to get a room. Harry pads into the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face and force his hair into some semblance of tidy before tugging on a shirt to go with the joggers that were already gripping his hips comfortably. He pulled on his shoes last, just as he grabbed his phone, headphones, and room key to meet his fiancé in the rec room.

Draco is the only one in the gym when Harry gets there. He's jogging on the treadmill, one earpiece dangling from his ear. He presses a few buttons before slowing to a stop. He grabs his towel from hanging beside him and wraps it around his neck before turning to greet whoever has joined him. However, the surprise on his face makes it abundantly clear that he wasn't expecting it to be Harry.

"I'm sorry, did my alarm wake you? You and the boys don't have to be up for another 3 hours, I thought I'd just—"

Harry stops listening as he takes in the muscular yet lean form of his fiancé resting against the handrail of the treadmill behind him. His arms and abs are glistening in his cropped tank top. His hair is pulled back from his face, though a few pieces have managed to stick to his forehead, causing the pale strands to look more golden from the perspiration.

"Merlin, you're beautiful," whispers Harry in awe then watches as the blush rushes up to the tips of Draco's ears.

"Good morning to you too, Potter," Draco says turning away with red cheeks.

"Mind if we share the space?" Harry asks, because he knows that this is actually something that's important to Draco and he's here to support him, not distract him.

Draco gives Harry a once over with narrowed eyes before ultimately deciding he doesn't mean any harm and nodding his consent to train together.

"It'd be my pleasure."

They go for a few miles before Draco asks him to spot him while he lifts a few weights and again when he wants to do weighted squats.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were flirting with me, Malfoy," Harry says after Draco's ass brushes against his crotch for the fifth time during his squat set.

"Such a shame you know better then, yeah?" Draco turns to look at Harry, one eyebrow raised. Harry gasps when Draco brushes against him again.

"You are such a prat."

"You still love me though," Draco says smug, finally dropping the weighted bar and moving around to take off the weights on each end.

"Yeah, I do."

"You're such a sap."

"But I'm your sap," Harry sasses back, with his arms crossed but a dopey look on his face. Draco shoves his shoulder playfully before walking by.

"Let's go shower then wake up James and Teddy for breakfast. I have another show today, remember. We should get going."

Harry wraps his arms around Draco's waist, laying his head in the crook of his neck. He moves so fast that for a minute Draco thinks he's apparated just behind him. But then Harry is kissing his way up his neck and sucking on his jaw and Draco moans.

-&-

hey futher muckers

im glad you're still sticking with this story if you're an old reader and i hope you're enjoying this if you're new to the family, & regardless of which it is, i hope you liked this chappie

love y'all

-- angel janeé xoxo 💋