The caged heart(Sirius Black ff)

"You know, Richards," Sirius says one evening, smirking as they stand by the window overlooking the castle grounds, "maybe your heart isn't as free as you think."

She arches an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean, Black?"

He shrugs, flashing that familiar roguish smile. "It's caged, just like the rest of us."
Keira's eyes narrow as she crosses her arms, leaning against the cold stone wall, sizing him up. She'd spent years sparring with Sirius, trading taunts and scowls like charms in Defense Against the Dark Arts, but something about tonight felt different.

"A caged heart, Black? Really?" she scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Just because you hide yours doesn't mean I do."

Sirius leans in closer, his gaze softening in a way that throws her off guard. "I'm not hiding it," he says, his voice barely above a whisper, "just... careful about who I let close."

She snorts, trying to shake off the way his words seem to dig under her skin. "Since when did you get all deep and mysterious?"

He chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maybe you bring it out of me, Richards."

They stand in silence for a moment, the warmth of the common room fading as they look out over the castle grounds, caught in a rare truce. Sirius breaks the quiet with a question he's never dared to ask.

"What are you so afraid of?"

Keira looks away, the flicker of something hidden in her eyes. "Nothing," she says quickly. "And that includes you."

A challenge dances in his gaze. "Good," he says, smirking again. "Then maybe you wouldn't mind letting me a little closer, yeah?"

She laughs, feigning indifference, though she feels the heat rising in her cheeks. "Maybe, Black," she teases, stepping back, "but don't get too comfortable. I might just surprise you."

As she walks away, Sirius watches her, a faint smile lingering on his lips. If her heart really was caged, he thought, then maybe-just maybe-he'd be the one reckless enough to unlock it.