entrancelogs | When the Moon Hits Your Eye

Entry tags:

harry potter: peter pettigrew

When the Moon Hits Your Eye | Like a Big Pizza Pie

Who: Brittany & Peter & later Santana
Where: the gym
When: Early During the Event
Rating: PG-13 for now; rating *might* increase because these things happen....
Summary: Peter's feeling depressed. Brittany invites him to come workout with her. Things Happen. In the musical sense.

The Story:

It had been an innocent enough request. Peter was feeling down. And what better way to help someone who was down than with a decent...workout.

In the gym.

Up and down and up and down. Breathing heavy. Sweat beading across her forehead. Lining the thick sports bra covering her chest. At one point, she grunted softly. The weight was almost too much to bear. But she was so close...almost...there...

Let's get physical, physical
I wanna get physical
Let's get into physical
Let me hear your body talk, your body talk
Let me hear your body talk

"And twenty!"

With one last cry of accomplishment, she sat up in her chair, allowing the weight machine to automatically reset itself. A nearby bottle of water was her reward before she pulled the earbuds from her ears (cutting off the chipper sounds of Olivia Newton-John) and glanced partway across the room to her current workout partner.

"How're you doing, Peter?"

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Peter didn't quite understand the purpose of working out. He had asked the closet for some trainers and work out clothes but the strange spandex outfit that it offered wasn't anything he had anticipated. Instead, he put on a white t-shirt and shorts and decided the strange muggle running machine was easy enough.

That was until Brittany started lifting weights.

Merlin's beard, he couldn't stop staring at her. His jaw dropped and his cheeks flushed red as he watched her arms flex, pushing the weight up. It was hypnotic and it wasn't until he heard her voice that he snapped out of it.

"Oh, I, um," he stammered, stumbling a bit on the rubber tread. He grabbed onto the railings to keep himself from landing on his arse.

"I think I'm doing this right."

She got up, bringing the bottle of water with her as she eyed his machine carefully. So many numbers. So unnecessary.

"One foot in front of the other. Looks good to me." Shockingly, it wasn't sarcasm. She took another large swig of water. "Have you been running on that thing the whole time? Your stamina must be amazing!"

"Jogging isn't so bad," Peter said, stepping on either side of the rubber tread and smiled. "I've run longer when out on the full moon with my mates..."

He trailed off, remembering why he was here instead of out at the Fort. He knew it was safer this way but it still felt as though he was missing something important. Peter turned the machine off and hopped down onto the ground, trying to shake off the melancholy feeling.

"You were looking good on those machines," he said. "I like how you... lift things."

"Thanks. Cheerleaders are always good at lifts. It's part of the job."

Like a good bra.

She leaned against the machine. Not enough to get in Peter's way physically, but certainly enough to indicate every intention of making conversation while he finished his run. More than once, her eyes scanned the adjacent machine. Debating whether or not she wanted a go once she caught her breath from her last set of reps.

"Wasn't it, like, just the full moon or something? How come you guys didn't go running this time?"

Peter frowned. He really didn't want to talk about it but it was Brittany. He felt comfortable telling her things that he normally would keep to himself. "They did," he said with a shrug, finding the small rubber bits on the railing of the machine incredibly fascinating as he spoke. "I... just didn't go with them. It's because I don't have a wand. It's... you know, not that big a deal, I suppose."

Her lips puckered together, disapproving. Not knowing the whole story, it sounded like an excuse. And a lame one.

"So? I don't have a wand. Either kind. Am I not allowed to go running too?"

"No!"

Peter said that quickly, afraid that she might actually go off and demand to attend the next full moon. He reached out and grabbed her arm, looking a bit panicked.

"It's... it's a long story. And I... don't know if I should tell you. It's a bit of a secret at home."

Peter bit his lower lip, worrying over his loyalty to his mates and the fact that Brittany was frowning at him. "Remus is a werewolf," he blurted out. "James, Sirius and I created a way we could spend time with him on the Full Moon without worrying about him turning one of us. We're animagi - we can change into animals. Or at least, I could change if I had my wand. That's why I can't go out with them now. That's why you should definitely not go with them. If Remus hurt you..."

She jumped at the outburst, startled but not afraid. Not even when he grabbed her--his grip was tight, but it didn't hurt.

And then he started talking. For a moment, she was tempted to ask him if he was joking. Werewolf. His friend was a...werewolf. Like, a real one? She believed him, of course. He had no reason to lie. Although she couldn't help wonder if werewolf meant the same thing to him that it did to her. With the fur and the teeth and the running around on all fours.

"Okay. I won't go." Would he really hurt me, though? He seemed so nice. "So James and you and your friends...you can all turn into wolves?"

Peter laughed a little, relieved that she promised she wouldn't go out looking for him. "No, Moony is the only wolf - that's Remus. Sirius can turn himself into a black dog. That's why he's Padfoot. James is a stag so he's Prongs. And I-"

Peter hesitated a moment. It wasn't that he was embarrassed about his animal. He was very proud at the fact that he was able to do such difficult and dangerous magic so successfully. But it was his name that now took on a completely different meaning. "I'm a rat," he said softly. "Usually I catch a ride on James' back. I wouldn't be able to keep up, otherwise."

Some girls might turn squeamish at the thought of a rat.

Under different circumstances, Brittany might have also. But this was Peter they were talking about here. So she wasn't exactly picturing the rat from Lady and the Tramp.

"That's so cute!" (More like a little, brown mouse. With a furry body, beady eyes, and a twitching nose.) "I wish I could see."

Peter blinked in surprise. He hadn't been expecting that reaction. He laughed nervously and shrugged his shoulders. "I've never really thought I looked cute before. And I would show you, except, I don't have my wand. It's what I need to do magic. I still haven't found a substitute."

Peter sighed. "Otherwise, you could see how more rattish I am than cute."

"Oh, don't be silly, Peter. You're way cute."

Nothing shorting of actually getting to see his rat form would convince her otherwise.

Peter's cheeks flushed and he looked far more nervous than before. "You don't have to say that," he said. "I know I"m nothing like James or Sirius or even Remus. They're the ones who girls fancy. I'm not anywhere close."

She frowned.

This was...complicated; Brittany knew she had a reputation for not always being the brightest crayon in the pencil case...but if there was one thing she understood, it was people. Emotions. She knew what hers were telling her, and she also knew what she wanted them to tell her. Two completely separate things.

I love Santana.

She didn't even need to convince herself. It was true.

And yet...

"You're closer than you think." A hand came up to meet where his was still resting against her arm, offering what she hoped was a reassuring squeeze. "You're a good person, Peter. There's so much to like about you."

Peter's heart began to race when she touched his hand. He swallowed hard, trying to remember that she was supposed to be just a friend. But it was difficult, especially since she was the first girl that ever made him feel like this. He could actually talk to her and not feel like the world's biggest failure. Not to mention the fact she was gorgeous. What other beautiful girl could talk to him for more than five seconds? Peter didn't think there was anyone other than Brittany out there who could.

And yet, he knew she had a girlfriend. A very intimidating girlfriend. He didn't stand a chance with her but... he really wished he could try.

"Do you really think I'm a good person?" he asked, stepping closer to her. "You're not just saying that to be kind?"

She didn't think anything of the closing proximity. Yet. If Peter wanted to hug her again, well...

Santana didn't have to know about everything. Not after what happened last time.

Besides, there wasn't anything wrong with friends hugging. Even she knew that.

"I never say anything just to be kind. The kindness is, like, an added bonus or something."

Added bonus or not, Peter didn't know how to tell her how much he needed her to believe in him. He just didn't have the confidence to feel good about anything but when she smiled at him, it was so much easier to believe that maybe... maybe things could be different. But how was he supposed to tell her that? She might just laugh at him - not that he could imagine Brittany laughing at him. Still, it was a heavy burden to place on anyone.

He stepped even closer, his hand sliding up to her shoulder. Somewhere, he thought he heard the sound of a piano and a heavy pop beat. Words suddenly bubbled up out of nowhere and he found himself singing.

I hung up the phone tonight
Something happened for the first time
Deep inside it was a rush
What a rush

'Cause the possibility
That you would ever feel the same way about me
It's just too much
Just too much

And then Peter started singing. A...what was the word again? Something about a duck, maybe.

Either way, this was such a normal occurrence in her life (no, really!) that Brittany could only continue to smile. Curious as to where this was going...or, more specifically, where Peter was going with this. Was this his way of thanking her for their friendship? So not even necessary, but appreciated nevertheless.

Peter didn't know where the words were coming from. His cheeks flushed as he tried to keep them from blurting out what seemed to be his hidden feelings about Brittany. But the music kept playing and he was caught up in the moment, the song he had never heard pouring out of him.

He reached up to touch her cheek, not wanting to stop touching her. He was afraid that whatever magic this was would stop and strangely, he wasn't ready to give up singing just yet. Maybe it would be good to get it all out in the open for once.

Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized
So mesmerized
And I've just got to know

Do you ever think
When you're all alone
All that we could be?
Where this thing could go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?
Do you catch a breath
When I look at you?
Are you holding back
Like the way you do?
'Cause I'm trying, trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain't going away
Going away

...this was not thanking her for her friendship.

The more he went on, the more fixed Brittany's gaze became. Smile slowly fading into an expression that could only be described as awe. Awe and surprise and confusion and any other number of emotions that left her with a completely dazed, blind-sided look on her face.

Maybe she should have seen this coming. After everything. And yet....

"Peter..."

She was at a loss for words. Capable only of listening. Without even realizing, leaning into his hand when he came up to touch her cheek. It felt...nice.

A little too nice.

She wasn't pulling away from him or slapping his face for being too forward. In fact she was smiling and leaning into his touch. His heart pounded hard in his chest and he felt a surge of that elusive Gryffindor courage that always seemed to come at the best (or worse) time.

Has it ever crossed your mind
When we're hanging,
Spending time, girl, are we just friends?
Is there more? Is there more? (Is there more)

See it's a chance we've gotta take
'Cause I believe that we can make
This into something that'll last
Last forever, forever

He segued back into the chorus, singing softer as he moved closer since he wanted to close the distance between them. The words were far more gentle than the original version of the song (and how he knew that was a mystery to him that he'd puzzle out later) and when he reached the end of the second chorus he leaned in, following his instincts and brushed his lips against her own.

It was his first proper kiss and Merlin's beard, did it feel good.

Her eyes shouldn't have closed when he leaned in. They did.

Her hand shouldn't have lightly come up to rest against his bicep. It did.

She shouldn't have kissed back.

She did.

Slow and soft. Hesitant. Her body was moving of it's own accord, which may or may not have to do with the fact that her brain was having a hard time keeping up. What was happening? Peter was ... was kissing her. It wasn't a deep kiss but it still felt really, really nice. And she was kissing back. She couldn't help herself.

She was in so much trouble.

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When the Moon Hits Your Eye | Like a Big Pizza Pie

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