we're like poetry in three dimensions

-x-

Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there's no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.
You fill my life with laughter, somehow you make it better,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.
– Have I Told you Lately?, Rod Stewart

"And so now we're having an argument?" Lorcan said in disbelief, "Honestly? I mean, I'm still not sure if this isn't just you trying to make me buy you something, Lu –"

"It's absolutely not, and you know it, Lorcan Scamander." Lucy frowned at him over the top of her novel. It was Pippa S. Stockard's third, and from what Lucy could tell, it was just as awful as the first two. Note to self, tell Aunt May to go very far away if she offers you reading material.

Lorcan looked shot her an offended look. "Oh, we're breaking out full names now, Lucy Nymphadora?" He asked.

Lucy winced and shot him a glare. "I'm going to kill you for that later, Lorcan."

"Kiss me, or kill me – it's always mixed messages with you, Lu." Lorcan hid a grin and loped over to the kitchen. "Coffee, then? Or the usual?"

"Tea, please. You know how I–"

"Two sugars and cream, Lu. I know." Lorcan rolled his eyes. "And, just for the record – I don't think we argue less than usual, we're just less violent about it."

"Oh, yes – pity the poor appliances we used to throw. You and your great bleeding heart, Lorcan." Lucy smiled teasingly at his back.

Lorcan raised an eyebrow as he turned back to her, "Bleeding heart? Is that swearing I hear from Ms. Prefect?"

Lucy frowned at him, "It is not." she said, searching in vain for a throw pillow or something to toss at him. (She'd left them all at her mum's again, hadn't she?) "A bleeding heart – as in soft-hearted. Pointlessly concerned about things which don't concern you."

"All that for loving the coffee-maker? It's a brilliant invention, Lu, I can't understand why you won't try it." Lorcan shrugged, then grinned slyly while he searched the cupboard for the teacups. "And, also, what's this soft business? I assure you I am –"

"Stop." Lucy said flatly. "Please. Stop."

"…Aw, Lu."He gave her a pout, then turned back to the teacups. He picked out the one with a purple hippo on it for Lucy. She hated purple.

"Just give me my bloody tea, Lorcan." She said exasperatedly. "And, yes, before you say anything, that was Ms. Prefect swearing."

"Touchy, touchy, touchy." Lorcan said, making a face at the teacups, "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were pregnant or something."

Lucy didn't respond.

"Hello?" Lorcan turned to her expectantly. "Lu? Did you hear me? I implied you're with child?" He picked up the tea and carried it over, to find Lucy peering at him with a thoughtful half-smile on her face.

"What?" he said. "No. No way." When she just continued to smile, he collapsed into a chair.

"Oh, bloody, buggering hell. Oh, hell, Lu." He shook his head wildly. "You can't be having a baby." He said a little desperately. "I mean, I would – it would – I would know, wouldn't I? If you were? I'd just know. And you wouldn't, would you? Like that? Oh, Merlin."

"Merlin?" Lucy said, sounding amused. "I don't think he's had much experience, to be honest."

Lorcan snorted, "Except the one he raised to be King of England. Honestly, you call yourself a Ravenclaw. Seriously, though Lu," He set aside the teacup and swallowed nervously. "This is… I mean, this is serious business, isn't it? I mean, hell, a baby – I, and I – it's bloody fantastic Lu, I kind of can't believe it, I mean, are you sure? - but we – we'll need to plan, and everything, and we – we – the band's barely taken off, and you're still not published, and I mean – how will we pay for anything? But, I mean, it's – it's great - And - what – what are you – why are you – Lu, are you laughing?"

Lucy was hiding behind her novel, shoulders heaving suspiciously.

"– You're laughing – Why are you laughing – you – you bloody, fucking bitch, Lu." He gaped at her. "You were joking?"

Lucy was still trying to hide between the pages of her novel. She tried to speak through what looked like tears of laughter. "Oh – God –" she choked out, "You – you should have seen your face –"

Lorcan looked at her, unable to fight a smile. "You…you just played me – I just got played by my bloody fiancée – Jesus, Lu." He snickered, and rested his chin against Lucy's head as she fought off her laughter, "Here I was, terrified we'd – we'd be inflicting our offspring on the world, or something, and we'd have to sell the flat, and – oh, God, we'd have had to get my mum's idea for a name – bloody Lysander's already asked yours for his and Molly's – and we'd end up with a baby named Moonshine Coriander or something – and, bloody fucking hell, Lu - " he shook his head helplessly. "God, If I didn't love you, I'd have to kill you for that."

"Kiss me or kill me, hmm?" Lucy looked up, sounding absurdly pleased with herself, "Now," she said, putting on a thoughtful expression, "Who was I just talking to about mixed messages?"

Lorcan shot her a surprised look, and then grinned wickedly and leaned downwards. "I dunno," he murmured. "I was interrupted in the middle of a chat about being soft, myself – shall we fix that?"