| Details for Bat Out of the Bag |
| Summary: | While most students are still in Hogsmeade, Niko and Kimiko try to find some private time out on the lake dock. |
| Date: | 20 October, 1938 |
| Location: | Boathouse, Hogwarts |
| Related: | — |
| Characters |
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Boathouse, Hogwarts
Much like any other boathouse, this is a simple wooden structure with a walkway around the outside serving double-duty as a dock, and storage racks above to hold boats. The difference is, this is much larger than an individual's boathouse, this boathouse is big enough to fit an entire first-year class in boats big enough to hold four firsties each.
With most of the student population enjoying their last few hours in Hogsmeade for the weekend, the Hogwarts grounds are practically abandoned beyond the castle walls. So there is a bit less concern for Niko and Kimiko about being spotted in the dark holding hands. Still, making their way into the boathouse for a bit of privacy help to soothe that last sliver of worry.
Strolling along the boardwalk, Kimiko leans her head against Niko's shoulder, sighing contentedly. "Sooo…everyone is talking about the Halloween Dance. You know," she goes on in a sing-song voice, "Who is taking whom…what costumes everyone is wearing…"
Niko smiles softly at Kimiko, giving her a soft squeeze as she puts her head on his shoulder, "Yes, lots of chit chat about that." he says softly, clearly knowing what she is hinting at, tilting his head curiously at her, "Just… I don't want you to get any grief…" he says with a small sigh, reaching into the innerpocket of his bomber jacket, removing a small heart shaped box of chocolates, "I got this for you…" he says softly offering it to her, with a smile.
Kimiko almost gets out her exasperated sigh…but then there's chocolate! She squeals excitedly and accepts the box. "From Harkiss's?" She spins around to stand in front of him, stopping their walk, and tips her chin up expectantly.
Niko gives her a soft kiss and smiles back at her, with a soft nod, "Yes from Harkiss." he says softly, "Though I bumped into the Slytherin Prefect, Sykes there…" he says softly with a small sigh, looking a bit sad, "She was a bit… annoying. That is why I don't want you to have to deal with it, Kimiko." he looks at her with worry in his eyes, forcing a smile.
Kimiko reaches up to grip his bomber jacket by the lapels. "Have I mentioned how attractive you look in this jacket?" She grins. "Niko, we can't keep this a secret forever. Besides, if people find out that it's a secret, it will be like sharks in the blood. Sharks in the water…with blood. The blood thing with sharks. You know what I mean."
Niko chuckles as she grabs his bomber jacket leaning in and giving her a kiss, "Fine…" he says, though he a bit nervous and it is clear in his tone, "Kimiko will you go to the Feast with me?" he asks softly looking at her with a warm smile, "Might be a bit too late for costumes though." he says softly, kissing her forehead, "Sharks circling waiting for a blood in the water?" he says slowly, clearly thinking now too.
Kimiko giggles and bounces happily. "YES! Yes, I will go with you! And I'm sure we can figure out costumes." She parts from him for a moment, doing a graceful spin, and falls back into him, giggling gleefully. "I could wear a kimono and go as a traditional Japanese maiden. Oooh! Maybe we could make you a samurai! I'm sure I could get Father to send something up to the school!" She lifts her brow inquisitively.
Niko smiles softly, even though his dreams of the Uric the Oddball costume has once again been destroyed. "Samurai, I dunno if I look very much like a Samurai, I would certainly need your help." he says softly with a chuckle and smile, giving Kimiko a kiss on her cheek, "I am glad you are happy Kimiko." he says softly, with a smile.
Kimiko slides her hands up to cup his cheeks, rising to her tip-toes and drawing him in for rather more than a cheek kiss. "So happy," she whispers against his lips. Swooning, she has to release his cheeks to hold onto his shoulders for stability. "With the armour and swords, you'll look amazing. Trust me. That is…if you want to. It's just an idea."
Niko smiles softly, "Of course I want too. I want to see you happy and I mean most couples go to things like this with matching costumes, I couldn't put you out." he says softly, reaching up and stroking her cheek softly. "You are too cute, you know that?" he asks softly looking into her eyes with his bluish green ones.
Kimiko glows with endless light from within, as if she wasn't bubbly and bright enough before! "And you are absolutely dreamy." With a giggle, she holds up her heart-shaped box. "Share a chocolate with me?" Lifting the lid, she pauses to take a whiff of the candies inside. "I love the smell of chocolate. It reminds of this little candy shop in London where they make their own. A lot like Harkiss's, really. Just Mugglish instead of wizardish."
Niko chuckles, "Nothing wrong with that, actually my favorite is a Fifth Avenue." he says slowly with a small nod, "Not everything has to have magic, to be great." he says softly, giving Kimiko a small nudge and smirk, "I am glad I make you happy Kimiko." he says slowly, giving her the most sincere warm smile he has been able to give anyone in days.
Kimiko could just melt under that smile, like a little chocolate under the sun. Speaking of chocolate, she's picked a piece and is offering it up to Niko's lips. "You don't have to tell me it doesn't all have to be magical. Muggle-born girl, here."
Niko takes a bite of the chocolate with a smile, "I know I am just saying, I don't want you to think I feel that way." he says still smiling at Kimiko, "It is easy to forget simple things like that, when you are surrounded by so much things that can inspire awe." he says slowly with a small nod.
Kimiko turns around to lean against his chest, her miniscule weight barely enough to nudge him (unless running full speed in the rain, as she has proven). She tilts her head back to look up at him. "I know you don't. You're much too wise and compassionate to think that way. But I know what you mean. Five and some years here, and I'm still completely astounded almost every day."
Niko smiles softly, "My mother really wanted me to stay grounded, so she made sure I keep enough muggle things in my life so I do not forget." he says softly with a smile, "But it is easy sometimes to overlook all the amazing things on the other side of the fence, ya know?" he asks softly with a smile, "You are excited and I am glad." he says slowly with a small nod.
Kimiko turns around again, peering up at him as she swallows the rest of the chocolate piece. "Niko," she says with sudden seriousness. "I know you've been through so much lately. But…are you okay? With us, I mean? I don't want you to be with me just to make me happy. I want you to be with me because you want to be with me."
Niko reaches over and strokes Kimiko's cheek softly, "Kimiko you make me happy and I want to be with you." he says softly, looking into her eyes with his bluish green ones, "I just worry about you, because of other people. I am still getting grief over Janette. I am just so worried that they will start targeting you…" he says slowly with a sigh, "And if they did that would hurt me so much, knowing that it is my fault." he says shaking his head.
"You are not responsible for the stupidity of others," Kimiko says sternly. "If they give me grief, I'll just thank them for pointing out to me early on that I was supposed to be with you. Just like you said how you used to handle Alphard Black. I'll kill them with kindness and take the wind right out of their sails."
Niko smiles softly, "So you do listen to me." he says teasingly, taking a few steps back. "If you want to do this Kimiko, I will be here for you, I already let you know, I will take you to the Feast, because I want to, because I want to be with you." he says slowly with a nod, "You already caught me, did that in the rain." he says slowly with a smile, tilting his head, "You are also the first girl I ever kissed." he says softly, before taking a few steps towards her again, this time taking her in his arms and holding her close.
Boom. Kimiko's eyes go wide, stunned at revelation. She molds against him, sinking into his arms. "I'm…your first kiss? I thought…I'd heard you and Janette…" She slowly lifts her gaze to his face again. The poor girl is going to get a kink her neck from their height difference.
Niko smiles softly, "Yes… you are my first Kiss, Kimiko." he says slowly with a nod, "The most I ever did with Janette was give her a kiss on the cheek…" he says slowly, bending a bit at the knees to make it easier for Kimiko, "So see, you have nothing to worry about… you got me." he says slowly, kissing her forehead.
Kimiko sighs. She actually sighs aloud like a twitterpated movie damsel. "Well…you're my first real kiss. I mean, you're the first boy I actually…um…kissed back." Ugh, that came out much more awkwardly than she'd intended.
Niko and Kimiko are standing on the Docks still outside the Boat House. If someone was to come happen chance by, they would see both Kimiko and Niko in an embrace, with Kimiko holding a small heart shaped box of chocolates in her hands. They are quietly speaking and clearly trying to not draw attention to themselves as most students are enjoying the last bits of of the Hogsmeade weekend. "First real kiss with a boy?" he says clearly trying to be playful, "I understand, Kimiko…" he says slowly, "But I am glad you were my first kiss." he says softly with a smile, "I hope you are glad I was your real first kiss with a boy, maybe a girl too." he says softly sticking his tongue out.
Kimiko blinks rapidly in confusion. "A girl? OH! Oh, my goodness, no, no, no, that's not what I meant!" She bursts into giggles, burying her face against his chest. "You know what I meant!"
Sybil walks by the boat house the normal group of girls that seem to surround the blonde most of the time are absent. Her head turns spotting the couple and she smirks watching them quietly with interest for a moment. Stepping forward she announces her presence by clearing her throat softly. "Sorry to interrupt such a lovely pair of lovebirds but you might want to work on your hiding spots for stealing kisses…this one is fairly well known." Her tone is playful her eyes twinkling as she watches them with a smile.
Niko chuckles softly, "I know I am just giving you a hard time." he says giving her a soft kiss on her forehead, before the sound of Sybil's voice, causes him to jump slightly, "Oh Pyrites." he says slowly with a small nod, "How are you?" he asks, turn to look at her, his hand moving to hold Kimiko's, "Is it well known?" he says looking around, "Wouldn't know." he says softly with a chuckle, giving her a warm smile, and looking back at her with his bluish green eyes.
Kimiko's blush could power a small city. She dips her head abashedly, letting her dark locks fall to partially hide her face. "Oh…hello. I…I'm sorry." She glances up at Niko, then risks a look at Sybil. "Um…we were just…talking…" Her eyes shift side to side, demonstrating her remarkable skills of subterfuge…or lack thereof.
Sybil can't help it she giggles softly at Kimiko's shyness. "Mmmhmm….and does talking now require locking lips with boys? If so I think I will like it even more now." She winks at them before looking to Niko with an amused smile. "I am well thank you for asking. I hope you both are enjoying your…conversation. Anyway I must intercept my friends a few of them now owe me some money." With a bright smile she waves and then bounces off to find her friends and likely start another series of rumors.
Niko chuckles softly, "Well I suppose the bat is out of the bag now." he says playfully looking over at Kimiko, "Well you are skilled at the art of conversation." he says slowly with a small nod, "Though I think I prefer the type were we…" he says softly before leaning over and giving her a small kiss, "Kiss." he says slowly with a smile.
Kimiko winces with a worried look at Niko, softening when he seems unbothered by the gossipy Sybil catching them in the act. She grins at the kiss, eagerly returning it. "I like…" kiss, "…kissing you…" kiss, "…too." She pauses, looking around for more potential onlookers. The coast seems clear. "So, I still owe you swimming lessons, Mister Denholm." For a moment, she glances at the lake, her cheeks pinkening for a moment. "I mean…when we can get permission. I'm sure Madam Hooch would approve it. She's very keen on that sort of thing."
Takeshi chuckles, "Yes I suppose you do, though I am sure you will enjoy watching me flail in the water." he says playfully, moving to wrap his arms around Kimiko, holding her close, "Then you still have to teach me to dance, so I do not make a fool of you at the Feast." he says slowly with a small nod, "Then we have to go on our more dates, this time not hiding." he says slowly with a small smirk, "Breakfast together tomorrow morning, too we have to sit together." he says moving to nuzzle her cheek softly.
Kimiko throws her arms around his neck, hugging tight, excited at his newfound acceptance of their relationship. "I'm glad you're alright with this," she says softly in his ear. "I think we could really have something special, Niko."
Niko holds her close, "So do I Kimiko." he whispers back with a smile on his face, "You are very special to me." he says nodding, before just holding her close and rocking her softly in his arms, not caring now if anyone sees them, just happy and content holding her, his eyes closing softly as he lets out a soft sigh.