HP_Dungeon Zombies
Oct. 26th, 2003 01:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icarusNow you'll know why ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
isolde9 and I have been staggering around like zombies this week. ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
hp_dungeons, Percy and Ron...
Ron asked Percy if he could... borrow... some of Percy's memories, to find out if he, you know, liked blokes a bit.
On Thursday, they both took a day off work, and nervously Percy gave him one memory in his pensieve to experience.
The Pensieve (for hp_dungeons)
by Isolde and Icarus
Ron had to tap on the window to wake Percy up. Ron thinks he looks a lot more tired than he should, and like he slept in those clothes twice, which he's also sure he never would have, of course, because he's still Percy.
Ron has two bags of groceries and kind juggling them on the doorstep. "I thought... you know you can't live on catfood."
Rare smile from Percy as he opens the door. "I think she'd argue with that," he points to the cat, who's belly up on the couch (there's a cat hair brush on the end table, Percy's place is rather elegant, if simple. The pensieve is out on the coffee table). "Is she all right? She's been like this for the last hour."
He helps Ron with the groceries, a little surprised at home much Ron brought. "You know, we're not feeding an army here."
Ron is sure the cat's sleeping and beyond happy. He's lots of Crookshanks experience. He really ought to be more of a cat person by now.
He suspects Ron brought him groceries for a week, and isn't sure whether to be touched, or wince that he hadn't bought his own. Argues with himself - but I haven't been home for so long, groceries would just spoil.
Percy breathes a sigh of relief about the cat. "I'm not usually here during the day. Generally, she's racing about."
He offers to reimburse Ron for them as they put them away together.
When Percy offers money: "What? No, I don't want you to. I can't remember the last time I ever gave you anything." The after a pause, says, "You hungry? I'm starving," and starts hunting through the food.
The kitchen is clean, (though the shelves are undusted - very unlike Percy), bright and sunny. The cabinets are all oak, and the wallpaper is an old-fashioned fussy style, in a buttery colour.
Percy did fall asleep in those clothes, and in fact, if Ron peers into the bedroom, he'll see the bed is still made. Percy crashed on the couch when he came home late the night before. There's also a packet of matches from some cheap hotel on the end table, not far from the pensieve.
Ron glances at the pensieve on the table and looks away self-consciously.
Ron will glance at the bedroom and the matches as they come back in with the food.
"Out late?"
Percy winces a little in embarrassment at being caught out. "Yes." He's about to tell Ron a half-truth, that he had to work late, but realises that this is one person he can trust now. "I worked late, but then... just didn't feel like going home. There's such thing as too much quiet."
He recalls that he used to demand that his brothers be quiet, and wonders when that changed.
Joking, they make up a new name for this meal, since it's too late for lunch, too early for supper, but Percy hasn't had breakfast yet.
Ron knows stir-fry, so he brought what he already knew how to cook. He doesn't really know what Percy likes anymore. It used to be that Percy wouldn't anything that was spicy, or mushy.
But Percy has developed a taste for Middle Eastern and East Asian cuisine (from guess who). He sends a magical puff of air over the spice rack to clean it off a bit, and whisks a number of exotic spices into a pan, stir-frying them. He pulls a special nutmeg grinder for the rice. He's rather pleased with himself that Ron's impressed, and feels strange, but comforted at this familiar yet half-forgotten process.
Ron is impressed, he doesn't even know what's in the nutmeg grater, although it smells kind of familiar.
Percy catches Ron's glance, and reads it immediately and explains the nutmeg grinder. He brings out a mortar and pestle, which Ron likely hasn't seen used outside of Potions class. Hopefully, Ron doesn't think this is the same one from Potions Percy had for years.
Percy comments that Ron's no cook, and sets him to chopping vegetables as he pulls out his wand for some of his mother's famous sauces (Percy had always been her little helper, until Ginny was old enough, and even then Percy had more of an interest).
Ron's more than usually hasty and careless with the chopping. He doesn't remember ever helping his mother in the kitchen.
Crockery flies about the room as they talk cheerfully about nothing. Percy prefers to not even think about the pensieve.
Ron does think about it, although he doesn't really want to. Enough that at one point he stops and isn't quite sure what they were just talking about, but Percy goes on so he figures it must be okay.
Percy talks a little much, unusually cheerful. Since he never brings his dates home (or hasn't for a long time) it feels as though he's just moved in somehow. It's a little celebratory, in a quiet sort of way.
Percy rolls his eyes at Ron's chopping, and quickly dices the vegetables a little more for him. "I take it Hermione does all the cooking..."
"Where did you go?" Ron asks, leaning back on the counter, because he feels more in Percy's way than anything else. "Last night."
"The Stag and Pony." Percy keeps his eyes primly on what he's doing as he says it, carefully not looking at Ron. He's never really been explicit about where he goes before, so this is a little uncomfortable. If Ron knew the place, he'd know it was nothing but a pick-up joint, all men, and sort of a rough-around-the-edges crowd. Sailors and Potions' production workers.
"Oh. Nice place?" Ron offers to grind things in the mortar and pestle, even Hermione let him do that, even in Potions. Surely Percy will let him, and when he almost certainly monitors the quantities of things that go in it Ron gives him a grin, because it occurs to him that Hermione's a bit Percy-like in some ways.
"So, a lots of friends kind of place or a I haven't fucked in four days kind of place?" Ron says pretty cheerfully. And then realises that might be a very stupid thing to say.
Percy bursts out laughing. He confesses with a glance at Ron, blushing, "The latter." He's rather self-satisfied when he adds, "though more like two days."
He realises that perhaps that sounds a little, well - it's misrepresenting the situation somewhat, which for some reason he doesn't want to do with Ron. "It wasn't very good." He says more honestly, and sniffs. "And he also asked if I could get Harry Potter's autograph for him."
"Hah! Before or after?" And then he is really embarrassed, and turns his face away to hide the blush as he says, "Do you think Harry... goes to places like that?" He laughs a little bitterly immediately he's said that. "Seamus is right, I am a prude."
"After," Percy answers his first question, blankly. Then he realises that of course the man didn't ask beforehand, and why, which he hadn't really considered.
Percy's retroactively annoyed at that man, but answers Ron's other question to the best of his ability.
"Harry went without sex for a week with that Mikhail, and didn't. I can't imagine him ever needing to, at any rate." He pauses in his dishing out their dinner/lunch/breakfast, blinking about what this says about himself. Then reassures himself that it's just a dry spell. Kitty walks in, stretching, and peers up hopefully at his lunch.
"No begging," Percy says to her firmly. But moments later he gives in.
"I don't get that, you know. The without sex for a week thing. Doesn't seem that terrible to me. And, you know, I like sex and everything but, a week isn't that long."
He watches Percy feed the cat with curiosity and bemusement. He rubs her ears when she's eaten what Percy gives her.
Percy tries to think of the last time he'd gone without sex for that long, and realised it was back when he was with Aurora. (Other than a few periods where he just wasn't in the mood or didn't have time.) It had seemed quite normal back then.
"It must be because you're with a woman." He pauses, wondering if he should be this frank with his little brother, then discards that silly thought. "If you don't have to use your hand every day, why would you?"
At the end of lunch, Percy banishes the dishes to the sink. He chews his lip. The 'Pensieve' subject is unavoidable now.
"Do you really want to do this?" Percy's face goes hot, though he stays outwardly calm. He's used to being in sexual situations that embarrass him and keeping cool through it. It's likely though, that Ron can read him better than he thinks.
In the back of his mind, as Ron watches Percy, and he can always see the pensieve through the door, he knows he can't possibly do it. He really wants to know, to really know, he's not really much into the unknown at all - growing up at Hogwarts with Harry'll do that to you, he supposes. But if Percy's gone to the trouble, when he said he'd never even used the Pensieve before, he can't just back out now. Except he has to, because really never be able to look at him again, or maybe anyone, if it's anything like...
When Percy asks him if he really wants to, though, he just says, "Yes".
He can sense Percy's discomfort then, once he's said it, and he really wants to take it back but he doesn't. "If you don't think it'd be too awful for you."
"No, no," Percy reassures him. He's lying of course, covering that moment of panic at Ron's 'yes'.
He wipes his hands on his trousers briskly and sighs, "Well. We'd best get started."
He reaches for his wand as he stands. "I think I recall how to do this... have you ever... been in a pensieve before?"
He's stalling. Though Percy doesn't even admit it to himself. He's having second thoughts about - oh, not about doing this. When Percy makes up his mind, that's that.
But he's racing through his memories as he talks, wondering if he shouldn't pick some other ones. But his best are from the Death Eater days, and he doesn't want Ron to think poorly of him (as he surely would if he, say, gave Ron the memory from the night before). No, the ones he has in mind are carefully selected. He sticks with his original plan.
Ron's on the verge of telling him not to bother. After all, he's with Hermione, and he's never going to... you know, even if he is interested. And he can't imagine it being anyone except, well, Harry, and that's a mad thing to even think about. So, there's no point
really, is there?
"No, I never did the Potions NEWT, you know. I think Hermione did it then." He pauses, he's worried because Percy seems worried, but after all this it'd cowardly to just back out. "Does it matter?"
"No, not at all," Percy says briskly. He gives a dry (and I mean dry-as-dust) explanation of the process, a very broad overview of how one can isolate and select particular memories, the spell, how the memory is imbued into the liquid - mostly to distract himself as he leads Ron into the livingroom. He manages to not even look at the pensieve as he sits down.
He has last minutes doubts... about the appropriateness of the memories he's selected, and realises he should probably ask Ron.
It seems out of place (because Percy often thinks about something else as he talks, one reason he drones) when he asks: "Blond or brunette? I've always avoided redheads, as it seems somewhat incestuous."
Ron feels suddenly hot and like he should have worn other clothes, or something. He's probably about to be in Percy's body, or something, while he... and that also seems, somewhat...
He looks at the bowl, at the silvery surface, and wonders what Hermione would say.
"So it's one memory, right? Just one?" he asks quietly. "And I'll be you? Will I know what you think; what you feel?"
Ron adds, with a new worry. "If I say blond, will I get him?"
Percy has escaped nicely into dry facts so Ron's question catches him off-guard, and he doesn't understand for a moment. "Him?"
Then it dawns on him just who Ron means. "No, oh no." He's a little flustered, he hadn't even considered that possibility - for a lot of reasons. "I can't imagine you enjoying that." He decides to continue his policy of truthfulness, especially considering... considering everything Ron was going to see. "Besides, he's mine. I... don't really want to share him."
He changes the subject quickly, because his feelings in that matter were a little more intense than he expected. He notices Ron's sitting on the soft leather sofa, rather curled up, on the edge of his seat, like he wants to get up. The silvery contents of the pensieve shift nervously, blank as yet.
"If you stand outside," Percy explains, "you'll just watch as if you're in the room with us. But if you walk into me, you'll be drawn into that full sensory experience. I've never done it myself, just heard of it being done." He continues. "Thoughts are a different memory process - associative - than what a pensieve records."
Percy relaxes, very comfortable lecturing. "You won't be able to change it, obviously. It's a memory and therefore predetermined. I understand it's a little disconcerting, that experience. You'll do what I did." That brings Percy back to the present, and he breathes to calm the rushing feeling - but the memory he had picked out should be just fine. He takes in his small, rather long livingroom, darker than the kitchen with the soft drapes drawn; notes absently that one of his pictures is askew.
"Blond, then," Ron says. "Definitely." He pulls a wry sort of face, almost a smile. "And no green eyes please."
He's now really aware of Percy's consciousness of the room, looking at everything but himself and the bowl. It seems quiet and dark for the time of day.
He could call the whole thing off. Even if Percy went to a lot of trouble. Even if knowing he really wouldn't like it even when other people did would at least let him be sure that he should just... forget about it. It just isn't him.
Suddenly his blush just won't fade, and he sinks down onto the couch running a hand through his hair, wishing that Harry could have just never been gay, then it wouldn't be a problem, would it.
"It won't make things difficult with us?"
Percy gets that serious look like he does when he's really paying attention.
"I'm not the one who's going to see it."
"It won't, then."
He looks up at Percy, looking worried. "I know you must wish I didn't want to do this, and... just, thanks."
Ron glances at the bowl again and down at the cat as he rubs her ears and she purrs.
"Well let's do it, then, before I change my mind."
Percy takes in Ron's answer without registering any feeling. He's a little surprised at that; he ought to be relieved or concerned or something like that, shouldn't he? But instead he merely feels - ready.
The cat jumps back onto the couch and Ron runs his fingers through her fur, scritching behind her ears so she tilts and rubs against him. He should just go home and curl up with Crookshanks and a magazine until Hermione comes home.
"Can you tell me what it is, where I'll be?" he says, and there's no way he's going back now. "Or is it better if I'm just... there?"
The thought hadn't occurred to Percy, but Ron probably should know, shouldn't he? Otherwise he'd be having sex with someone he didn't know. He mentally discarded the images of his 'dark-haired option', somewhat wistfully.
"You'll be having dinner at the Sunset." Percy's faced glowed with the recollection of the large picture windows that gave the restaurant its name, and the rich authentic tapestries - the largest collection off the continent. It had been an elegant evening. "Andrew is a friend of a friend. I picked him for you because we didn't really know each other all that well -" and his tastes would appeal to Ron "- so you won't be too uncomfortable, you know, making conversation about people you haven't met." Percy stirred the silvery water with his wand, as the strands melted gently like clouds into it. "I'm putting in the entire date, just to give it context.
"Not to mention it was fun." Percy smiled, and for once that smile lit his eyes. Ron would like that evening; they had taken it slow.
He gestured rather formally to the bowl. It moved softly of its own accord. Strange stuff, thoughts.
As Ron scootches forward and rather hesitantly leans towards it with a questioning look at Percy, Percy explains, "Just touch the water."
Ron doesn't really feel worried now, although he should, probably. He'd really like to make a joke about it right now, like doesn't he have to 'get naked or something' -- Harry would laugh and Hermione would roll her eyes. Ron leans forward and touches his fingertips to the slightly viscous surface.
~*~*~
He looksed into the bowl and sees vague images, a tiny Percy standing in front of an ornate hotel, glancing at his wristwatch, a sunset glow and room full of silently laughing, talking people. He leaned towards that, and with a whoosh the sound coalesced around him, a happy clatter of dishes and clink of crystal.
This place was really expensive.
Then the headwaiter - maitre d'? - brushed past Ron. He's leading a surprisingly young-looking Percy, dressed in elegant robes and a high collar. This must have been back when Percy worked for Fudge.
Ron took a few steps towards Percy, and the scene began to shift - sort of sputter...
Ron had a sudden rush of panic that he wouldn't know what to do and hoped Percy really would be in charge of what happens, even though that means... for a disorienting moment he realised he didn't actually know how to get out of this if it all got to be too much.
~*~*~
As Ron took a few tentative steps forward, he was surrounded by bright daylight. He blinked at the sudden change from the restaurant glow, and realised he was outside now.
He didn't recongise the place, but then he wouldn't, would he? Not his world now, assuming he was still even in the pensieve the thought with a rush of panic. He didn't actually know any way out of here, did he, if something went wrong? Could anything go wrong?
The sounds of Muggle traffic rushed behind him, and Ron hurriedly checked to make sure he hadn't landed in the street. You never knew with Portkeys. Though, come to think of it, this couldn't be a portkey, could it?
He spotted Percy then, standing in front of the ornate hotel, glancing at his wristwatch. He looked a little older, though it was still the Fudge years from his polished appearance. He was wearing his work robes, rather than the fancy dinner dress from earlier. Percy seemed a bit annoyed, and made to leave.
Ron didn't have time to spend on Percy though, as a horse-drawn carriage filtered through the Muggle cars. The Muggles didn't even glance at it.
Ron watched it pull up right in front of a Muggle couple who seemed to look straight through it. He couldn't see Percy now, and that was a bit frightening really, because Percy was his anchor here. He hurried as well as he could across the road, staying away from the Muggles and the carriage, although he was fairly sure no one could see him, that really, he wasn't even here.
Ron dodged under the horses without much thought of being stepped on (could he get stepped on here?) and found Percy - still standing on the sidewalk, thank goodness - his arms folded in that familiar 'you're-going-to-get-a-lecture' posture.
The carriage door opened, and a small set of steps clanked down. The words were out of Percy's mouth before its occupant even stepped out:
"Where the fuck have you been?"
A dark head peered out of the carriage at Percy, with a grin. He had a broad mouth with a sardonic tilt to one corner, like he made fun of everything, and glittering squinty black eyes over his sharp cheekbones. His chin was pointed like a fox. He jumped down without touching the steps.
Ron looked to Percy for some kind of clue as to who this was -- not the date, who'd be blond. Percy had said. But he was rather, or very, handsome, in a way.
"Right, Percy," the young man said in a slightly foreign accent. "If you're early it's not my fault."
"Oh, shove off, you liar. We'll barely have time to eat now. I have very important job and a meeting at one o'clock." Percy griped, without much rancor. "Lucius is bad enough without you being late, too."
Ron really didn't know a Percy who was familiar like that, except with his brothers, and not often then.
The young man ignored the complaint and held the door with a mocking bow.
Ron felt a sudden rush of panic that he'd be left behind and quickly moved as close to Percy as he could get without actually touching him.
~*~*~
Percy crunched through a salad, chatting amiably at his lunch guest about people they both knew apparently, whom Ron had never heard of. The restaurant was very busy, and fancy, the sort of place you'd expect in a first class hotel, with a lot of koi ponds and plants and small fountains. An illusion mural played across one wall, the tiles arranging and rearranging themselves into various stomach-churning patterns.
Percy seemed quite comfortable, almost at home, or perhaps not considering how much less at ease he always seemed when he visited home at this time. When was this, anyway, had Percy said? Ron's awareness of Percy and the world outside seemed rather muted, almost cobwebby.
Nikolai, that was his name, had eaten quickly and slumped in the booth, feet outstretched, watching Percy as he ate and talked. Finally he interrupted:
"Percy. You're the most boring man I've ever met."
He smirked when he said it. He had, astoundingly, kicked off his shoes.
Ron turned immediately to catch Percy's response, but he seemed unaffected.
"Oh shut up," Percy said casually. He gestured with his fork. "You've been sitting there like a rag leaving me to hold up both ends of the conversation. I didn't go to lunch to talk to dead air." Nikolai stretched lazily and slouched further. "And put your shoes back on, you barbarian."
He said it without resentment though, without the tight set of his shoulders Ron could only now realise he was used to as Percy's general posture.
Nickolai's foot trailed up Percy's calf to - whoa. Ron looked away, fighting a blush for the instant before he realised no one could see him anyway. If he looked, or if he blushed.
Nickolai's foot slid even more overtly along Percy's thigh. Percy slapped him down, and hissed. "Stop it. This is a respectable restaurant." He didn't seem nearly as irritated as he'd normally be.
"I'm not respectable. They should have taken one look, and turned me away at the door."
Percy didn't clench and he didn't frown, and Ron fleetingly wondered if it really was Percy. This Percy took a sip of his drink. "Some people have low standards." His eyes sparkled.
Niko grinned at the insult. "And aren't you the one who heckled a Symphony?"
"You heard about that?"
Niko laughed. Ron moved himself into a position from which he could see both of them more easily, trying not to think about how well he could see the Niko's bare feet pushed right up against Percy's.
"Oh she was dreadful! - it was an Opera by the way. I've never been more humiliated in my life. She made lewd comments all through Don Giovanni. Thank god we left at intermission."
He shook his head. "That's Bella. Why did you take her to an Opera?"
"Lucius canceled on her, and this was her revenge." Percy sighed. "I tell you, I've about had it with Lucius."
"Don't know what you see in him." Niko's foot sneaked closer to Percy's ankle; Percy looked up, gave him a meaningful look. Niko teased a little closer.
This wouldn't be the one, though, because Percy had said he would be blond. The idea that Percy's days might consist of more than one lover was no harder to accept than watching him with a lover at all. And these were not young men who fucked in a hotel room because it had been four days. They were lovers.
"Stop it…." Percy snickered bashfully, moving away. A little. "You can't do this here."
"So. Let's go upstairs." He waggled his eyebrows.
"Forget it. You're late, and I have a one o'clock appointment." He mock-glared. "Some of us have to work for a living."
"So, I'll just cover your salary for the day." His grin was impish.
Percy sputtered. "Oh, wonderful, there's a plan."
"Come on."
"Who needs the Ministry or a career when I could become a high-class prostitute?"
"Ha - it least it's high-class. That's your style." Ron couldn't help remembering Percy's wardrobe full of silk and leather and other things Ron had never worn. Niko leaned forward and leaned his chin on his hands. "We still have a little time."
"I knew this was what you had in mind."
"You mean hoped."
Percy gave him a rueful smile. "Both." He checked his watch. "Damn. Look at the time - you're buying." But there was almost no irritation in it really, which somehow shot home for Ron the enormity of the gap between this Percy and his own.
They stepped into the elevator, Percy trailing Niko - Ron skipped to keep up. (Would the world in the pensieve disappear if he lost sight of Percy?)
~*~*~
Percy watched the numbers, rocking back on his heels. Ron, suspecting at last that he somehow ended up with the brunette, watched Niko, rapidly catalogueing the ways in which he was nothing like Harry.
Almost directly past Ron's gaze, Niko gave Percy a warm smile. "I could take you now. Pressed up against that wall." One eye squinted oddly, the sort of wink from someone who didn't know how to wink.
Ron can't help blinking at the very idea and glanced at the changing numbers, willing them to hurry. That would be...
He saw Percy's eyes flick to Niko's, nervous. Returned to the numbers. "Don't you dare."
"The doors might open... there you'd be. You wouldn't say no to me, would you?"
He most certainly would, Ron thought, entirely ignoring the calmour of recent suggestions to the contrary.
Percy answer was a flush. Niko took a teasing step closer.
"No, no - don't!" Percy shrank away, and Niko grinned broadly.
Ron felt a start of dislike for the young man, but wasn't at all sure how Percy really felt about it.
Niko chuckled, stepping away, and Percy straightened his collar. "Bother...."
Ron really wished he could read something he understood in Percy's expression, but he really didn't.
"Sorry." Niko leaned towards him, and Percy gave him a sidelong glance. Niko whispered, nuzzling his ear. "It's just so fun when you squirm."
"So I've heard." Percy gave him a slightly feral smile and cleared his throat.
Ron kept his eyes on Percy then, watching for something more familiar.
Percy's slightly taller than Niko, but he somehow seemed to tuck in under his chin as they stood together, just barely apart. Ron felt like an invader in that moment, like it was really not something people should watch.
They hovered breathlessly, then the elevator stopped.
Niko opened the hotel room door with a flourish, and Percy skipped in and spinned lightly. "You left us with twenty minutes, you idiot."
But he didn't give Niko a chance to answer as he kissed him. Niko grunted and murmured into the kiss. The door was abandoned - wide open, Ron looked at it in panic - as Niko's hands ran up Percy's shirt. They stumbled backwards, the room is Victorian and tiny, though Ron didn't pay much attention to it as the two of them fall back onto the bed.
He wanted to worry about the door, but of course it must have been that way, he's not really here and that's how it happened. He wanted to but he's watching the young man's hands on his brother's shirt, on his brother's trousers. His hands felt hot and damp, but he didn't look away.
Ron watched as Niko's knee edged between Percy's thighs; Percy gasped, sighed softly, and his ankle tangled, and stroked along Niko's bared calf. They still had a lot of clothes on but it was, it really was rather sensual, sexy - just the sheer pleasure of it - he supposed maybe he and Hermione looked... things fell back into place with a rush and it seemed rather sordid to be standing here watching two men touch each other.
Percy kicked off a shoe awkwardly, and Niko pressed between his thighs. It wasn't the way Ron had really thought that looked, but he couldn't have said why. It's Percy, some protesting part of him thought distinctly.
"Get the - get the door..." Percy managed with his breaths between kisses. His lips, always a little on the soft side, although Ron didn't really want to pause on that thought at all, were really red, and his eyes fever-bright.
As he sat up a little, Ron noticed his shirt was partially unbuttoned - when did they do that? he really hadn't looked away - and his belt buckle was wide open. Niko was rumpled, but still dressed, which seemed more improper somehow.
They took a moment to recover. Then Niko slowly unzipped Percy's trousers - "Niko..." Percy's voice warned - like he was opening a present. And then he suddenly grabbed Percy's trousers, pants and all and whipped them to his knees. Ron couldn't help a grin at that, and at that the whole thing suddenly did seem less tortured and important. It was all rather fun and even sexy, although he wasn't and he was bloody relieved he wasn't actually all that turned on.
Percy giggled hysterically and Ron moved a little closer, smiling with them. "Damn you!" Percy said and rolled over, trying to pull his trousers back up. He sputtered between laughs, "Close that door right this instant! You bastard -"
Niko rolled onto his side, clearly satisfied with himself, picked up his wand and the door shut with a breeze.
With the door safely shut, Percy flopped over onto his back, a little whuff of complaint. He was perfectly relaxed with his pants at his knees and Niko leaned over him, one hand trailing up his cock.
It wasn't like Ron had never seen Percy's cock before - it happens, in a house mostly full of boys even when they're much older - and in the dormitories of course, he'd seen, well, quite a few.
But that was shockingly nothing at all like watching this slow caress.
Niko cringed, "Sorry I was late."
"Now you are." Percy glowed up at him. "I'm the one who's going to have a briefcase in my lap half the afternoon." One step to the right and Ron could seem Percy's rather smug expression as he pulsed up into Niko's hand. Niko rolled his eyes and continued to stroke delicate patterns on Percy's stomach and thighs, teasing his balls. Percy shut his eyes, and that was when Ron was first aware of his own cock, harder than he'd like to think he would be. He blinked and looked away.
"Hey - eyes front and center," Niko said.
Ron's eyes snapped back to the bed as Percy complied instantly with an open, child-like look. "Yes, sir," he said quietly.
Niko sat up on the bed and worked at the buttons on his shirt as Percy watched him with rapt attention, a slow smile. The heavy black cloak slid off Niko's shoulders with a soft thump. He untucked a white loose shirt with deft fingers and pulled it over his head.
Ron found himself staring at the curve of a very pale, muscled back, and the problem was back, worse than before. He didn't really try to talk himself out of moving to get a better view.
Percy was on his knees on the bed.
"Fifteen minutes... we should have skipped lunch..." Percy sighed as his fingers worked hungrily at Niko's waistband.
Ron forced himself to breathe, and close his mouth, and was suddenly sure this was a very bad idea.
Percy's eyes were very intent as he pulled open the buttons on Niko's trousers. Ron couldn't help noticing now how much younger Percy was here, and he seemed easier, happier, almost innocent as he glanced up at Niko, and Ron felt caught somehow in the middle of a heated look.
Niko's shoulders swelled as he breathed deeply and swallowed. Someone was panting, but Ron wasn't entirely sure it wasn't him.
He didn't quite notice himself moving closer until he was, right there, only armslength away, when the two of them kissed, kneeling on the bed.
Ron felt his breathing fall into time with the rhythm of that kiss and he'd definitely never seen anything like that. You just didn't, well, did you, watch people... Ron took a step away from the bed then, blinking slowly, but he couldn't bring himself not to see. He was definitely hard now and torn between the urge to screw his eyes shut and hide in the corner till the memory was done, which was worse than cowardice after Percy had let him be here, and the urge to be closer. It might even be easier, he thought, to be Percy rather than watch him. Maybe less awkward afterwards as well.
Almost unconsciously Ron moved back towards the bed where Percy and his lover kissed and stroked one another. Percy's hands cupped Niko's cheeks, hooked his thumbs into his waistband... and slowly slid, stroked and caressed the fabric down to his thighs.
Niko's cheeks were taut, small and round under Percy's kneading hands and he really couldn't watch that could he?
At the edge of the bed, close enough to hear them breathing, Ron watched Niko's hands stroke Percy's soft, dewy skin; his fingertips smoothing across his thighs, teasing the cleft of his arse, and then outlining the slim curves of his chest with his fingertips. Percy's eyes closed again, and he mouthed at the air.
Ron reached out and touched him.
~*~*~
No matter what Percy had told him, Ron still expected to touch skin - and he did, for the briefest moment, feel Percy, warm and breathing under his hand. It felt so real he almost pulled back, because if you didn't watch people when they were doing that, you definitely didn't touch them.
Then he felt that strange tugging sensation, like he was entering another pensieve...
A physical wash of heat suffused Ron's - no, Percy's - body.
His heart thrummed. If Ron thought he was hard before, now... He breathed raggedly, overwhelmed by the pulse of arousal and his cock touched - oh my God. The strange, firm sensation of another man's cock bumped up against his own, teasing and difficult to get enough of as he gently chased it.
He desperately wanted to look and be sure, even though he knew... there was another firm but soft brush of flesh and he felt it all over his skin.
Ron tried to back away somehow, out of the touch, with a panicked realisation of exactly what he was doing. It was a bit much all at once, for starters, not to mention he didn't even know this bloke.
Then he felt the disorienting truth of what Percy'd told him as his body, well what felt like his body, did exactly the opposite. Against his will, it seemed, his hands pressed and rubbed intense little circles against this man who was so solid in his arms.
Firm in his arms and pressing back against him. Girls were soft and melty. Not like this.
It was impossible to keep a grip on his thoughts, though, as the sense of touching like that shot fire through Ron's cock. Somehow he was suddenly aware they were kissing, a deep powerful kiss, and he was suddenly aware of other distractions, the hard warmth of his chest against him, the scrape of five o'clock shadow... his hands sliding... whoa... that was... in his hand... and this was good, Wow-good, Ron flowed helplessly in a body he couldn't control, lost in sensation.
Oh, shit.
With a sick mental lurch away from the intensity he gratefully remembered that they only had ten minutes. Ten minutes, his remembered, as he seemed to slide back into the sense of touching and being touched.
It was irritating that Percy had his eyes closed.
Firm, powerful hands pulled on Ron's cock and regardless of who it really belonged to, it felt like Ron's. Except different in little ways; strange to have the stroke last a little longer on a slightly longer, skinnier dick. The rhythm felt off, though it certainly worked. He missed his favourite 'hot spot' on the end, but was jolted in areas that normally weren't so sensitive. Hadn't considered that it would be this different and made a mental note. Just in case, if he were ever with someone else.
Sex tips from my brother, who would've thought? Especially, like this.
Somehow, Percy managed to keep working on Niko's silky cock, his hand smooth and firm. Was Niko smoother than most or was it just because it was someone else's? The smooth stroke was something Ron wasn't sure he could manage in his place. Setting aside the minor detail he was in his brother's body, this was great. Percy's bloke clearly knew what he was about.
As the pleasure became ever more intense, though - and Ron would have been breathless himself - Percy lost his balance a little, his lashes fluttered open and Niko chuckled. Ron could feel the hot flush of Percy's embarrassment, and found himself chiding his brother, 'come on... you don't have to be perfect at everything.'
Niko lifted Ron's - Percy's - chin, and his eyes were brown, not black as Ron had thought, and very intense over his slight smile. He seemed to find that blush sweet, as he kissed him softly. Ron felt his whole body melt into it and Percy sighed, pressing loose wet kisses to Niko's damp skin. He left little marks.
Slowly Percy lowered himself towards... oh no. Ron felt a momentary thrill of panic.
Niko's hands smoothed down the small of Percy's back as he sat up, fingers sliding down between his cheeks as he stroked them.
At long last Percy's eyes were open. The room was fairly dark with only a little light filtering in through drawn curtains, but Ron scoped out Niko's shadowed, sculpted chest and thin, wiry arms. Sort of skinny-fit. Ron was grateful he didn't look the least like Harry. He was pale, with a lot of dark hair, especially there; and uncut. Kind of big balls for his size.
He was utterly distracted from looking though, when one finger stroked a tickling line under Percy's balls, then up the cleft again.
"We don't have time..." Percy whined. Strange, to have words come out of your mouth like that.
"You're already late," Niko said, silencing any protest with a long, sensual kiss. He lowered Percy back to the bed, and Ron felt the unfamiliar strength and weight with a strange thrill.
"Late for a quickie, or late for something else?" Niko said. "It's your choice."
"I can't." Ron felt his mouth say.
Not very convincing with you lying here like that, Percy, he had to think. Inches away, Niko's wide sardonic smile was smug. And he knows it, too.
"I hate you - " Percy toyed carelessly with Niko's nipple "- you planned this."
Niko didn't deny it.
"At least let me make a firecall." Percy attempted to sit up.
A surprisingly strong arm pinned him like a bar. "No."
Ron felt a frisson of fear, but the shiver across Percy's skin wasn't that. It was hot like the blush, running all the way through his cock.
Niko smiled down at Percy rather fiercely, and Percy's eyes widened - and he got hard! He squirmed half-heartedly while his face heated.
"I have to be there," his complaint was sincere, though his struggles weren't. Ron could tell Percy could easily break this grip. "We're deciding the import duties on..."
"Tsk. Percy, if you call they'll make you feel guilty and you'll leave. Don't be stupid. Apologise to them. Later." Kiss. "You'll never be Minister if you act the servant."
Ron found it almost impossible to concentrate on the words as Niko adjusted Percy's legs over his shoulders. It was a mind-boggling position to find himself in, but the blush he wanted to feel was overwhelmed by the intensity of his own shocked arousal.
"You're a pureblood," Niko was saying. "In my country these half-Muggles would never dare order you around."
"You and your politics," Percy said, without resentment.
Niko snorted. "You'd do well to listen." He leant to lap at Percy's navel, and Ron was treated to the sight of a man studying his cock, with the intention to... oh. Yeah.
"Oh suck me off, you racist bastard." Percy smiled languidly.
Ron knew what a blowjob was like... the warm gentle heat, the dainty teasing tongue.
This was nothing like it.
Niko's strong mouth enveloped him, twice as far as he was used to, and he was pressed against hard lips that worked him mercilessly. Roughly intense, Niko's cheek rasped against sensitive - oh. Ron wanted to bite his lip, but he couldn't. Never thought... god.
Niko knew just exactly where to hit, with aggressive confidence, and pinned his hips to the bed. His tongue traced the length of his cock and curled around the tip. Ron watched it flick back and forth across the top, and if he'd really been there, some part of his mind stuttered, he'd be on the edge of coming right now.
Percy was right on the cusp when Niko backed off - Percy whimpered. Ron saw Niko's naughty smile as he kissed the tip of his cock.
Then his wide tongue laved down Percy's bollocks, teased a tickling path behind them. Niko shifted, sat up and strong arms pressed Percy's knees to his chest; then he licked down, down, spread Percy's legs a little wider - inwardly Ron goggled - and Niko began to circle his hole. Percy went limp and his jaw relaxed in a silent moan.
Obviously Percy was used to this as he took it with quiet pleasure. Ron wasn't sure what to think - hell, people do this? - but he was panting with arousal.
Niko lifted off for a moment. Ron really wished he wouldn't stop.
"You're all tight..." Niko murmured, his breath hot agaist Percy's cool skin. "Has Lucius been neglecting you?"
"Don't talk about Lucius..." Ron heard Percy say weakly.
Niko seemed about to speak, then stopped with a little sigh. He kissed Percy's thigh and mumbled, "Should do something about these marks." He kissed Percy's other cheek. "I could do a healing charm...."
Ron wasn't sure he wanted to know what the marks were, but the feeling that he was an intruder in Percy's life returned like a tiny kernel in the back of his mind.
"No, leave them. I like those."
Niko's dark eyes warmed and he gave Percy a sideways smile, and Ron felt the strange warmth of his brother's pleasure.
Niko looked about himself, left, right. He rolled over, dangled off the edge of the bed and scrabbled in his cloak on the floor. His cock bobbed and shook between white thighs, and Ron was more shocked by his appreciation of the sight than anything else.
Triumphantly, Niko produced a phial and a long, smooth object, thin as a pencil.
Percy snickered. "I knew you planned this."
"Well, you're not just boring. You're also predictable." Niko grinned.
Niko shook the phial then set it in midair, where it continued to hover and shake itself. "I shall expect sexual favours for this."
"I thought I was a high-class prostitute..."
"You are, but you forgot to negotiate your rate. You're not going to get paid as a result."
"Oh, dear, what a cad you are. Whatever shall I do?"
Niko gave him a rogueish smirk even Ron really admired as he plucked the phial from out of midair, and applied a little of the liquid to his hands. It smelled sweet. "Whatever I tell you to do."
The physical sense of Percy's pleasure spread out through Ron's consciousness again, and this time Ron shared the shiver of anticipation.
"Close your eyes."
Ron felt a surge of disappointment as Percy shut his eyes, but then he peeked a little. Niko was looking at him with amusement.
"Have you a blindfold?" Percy asked hopefully.
"You and your toys."
"But it's easier...." he said wistfully.
Niko leveled a look at him and Percy put his arm over his face:
"All right, all right... my eyes are closed."
Ron felt his legs raised again with a sense of panic. It was, probably, what he'd been most curious about, but now it came to it, he didn't think he could - not that, apparently, he had much choice. His fears were confirmed when he felt some oil paint down the cleft in a ticklish trickle - it was going to mess up the sheets, he thought irrelevantly - and something prodded gently at the opening. Ron wanted to clench or squirm away, but Percy was frustratingly relaxed, and even wriggled pleasureably as a warm presence slid in an inch, then a little more.
The strange intrusion was even more disconcerting because he couldn't react to it, and Percy just smiled behind his arm. "Oh, now there's a big surprise."
"Hsh," Niko said, though the smile in his voice was apparent. The warmth pulled out, feeling really strange, and then something else, wider, pressed against him. Percy grunted softly, and happily.
With a rush of panic, Ron mentally lurched away, trying to shift or protest or push the other man away, but he was trapped in Percy's response, which relaxed back into the strange sensation.
The intrusion felt really hard and rather... cool?
Oh.
Percy sighed. "I prefer your hands."
Niko's voice was a surprise by Percy's ear. "Everyone does that."
Ron recalled the smooth, pencil-shaped object, but it seemed to be expanding, slowly, slick but sponge-like. It was a heavy full pressure and Ron was concentrating on the oddness of it so completely that he was surprised to feel Niko's warm weight, bare-arsed, straddle his chest, and the light fleshy thup of a hard cock on his collarbone.
"No peeking."
Percy smiled slyly.
He had peeked under his arm, and Ron had been treated to the sight of Niko's cock looming towards him... exposed, smooth and very hard. Of Niko fisting it for a moment, stroking the lush thing with its large head and well-defined shape, and the faint sheen of either sweat or oil.
Percy was unrepentant. "You have the most beautiful dick," he sighed. Still peeking.
"Shut those eyes. Or you won't get any." The soft, hairy parts of him shifted on Percy's chest. Percy closed one eye, grinning mischievously. "Both eyes, Percy," Niko said.
Either he could see what Percy was doing, or else he knew that guilty grin.
"We're going to have a taste test." Ron's mind sort of shuddered at the thought, but in a way, when it wasn't him…
"My, I wonder what I'll be sampling. Hmm. Such a mystery." Ron felt the shake of laughter all the way down Nicko's thighs, as both men snickered.
"I should turn you over my knee for that."
"Oh, please…."
There was a huff of an aroused sigh over him, and Ron felt Percy's warm pleasure shift across his skin.
"You… oh, fuck these games…."
"Thank goodness, I'm not in the mood - give me that work of art." Percy's eyes fluttered briefly as he leaned up and devoured that cock, and - okay, someone here knew what he was doing. It was unbelievably odd, not as nasty as he'd maybe thought, if he'd thought about it, but Niko didn't give Ron much time to get used to it, let alone get any practice in, and he was quickly slithering down Percy's chest.
Something tugged at his arse, pulled out slowly. Wow, that almost hurt - Ron visualised a sock turned inside out. He desperately wished Percy would cheat and look now, although he didn't want to think about how very much he wanted to see… there was a grunt and something warm and large slid in, easier than Ron expected, stretched Ron out openly in a way that felt as strange as anything else. Then Niko set a bruising rhythm.
Percy opened his eyes (yes!) and held onto the headboard to keep from knocking his head. The wind was forced out of Ron with a rush, and Percy gasped too, which Ron was really grateful for, since for once they were on the same page.
Omigod. Here we go. This, Ron realised with a bit of a shock, was what he'd come for. He didn't want to waste this on that question, but focused in and set to memorising every second.
The wet sound of heavy, hot breathing surrounded him, both Niko's and Percy's. He felt a rush of heat, his whole body flushed with sweat, and Percy - he - Ron whimpered; his mouth was open as Niko pressed in again and again. Full, he was almost uncomfortably full, uncomfortably hot, not quite slippery enough, but so... oh. God.
And it was incredible really, seeing that smooth man all over him, undulating into him, his cock forced inside. Aching for more every time he pulled out, Ron wanted it deeper, wanted something namelessly more, and would have pushed upward if he could. Mentally he grit his teeth at Percy's passivity.
Strong, firm hands dug into his hips and he really, really wanted more of this. He had to laugh at that too, because how much more could he take?
Ron's own cock ached, neglected from all but accidental touches of his moving body. The friction was getting hot, too much, but his cock was definitely there.
He watched the way Niko shut his eyes and then tossed his head. What a sight. The strong angle of his shoulders and arms and neck - Ron couldn't believe the way it looked. Percy's body leaned forward in Niko's arms, and pressed more earnestly, eagerly. Oh, yes.
Niko's eyes met Percy's and they were so warm... he slowed... and they shut again. Percy's heart hammered.
A firm stomach nudged against his balls and the base of his cock, pressing his knees backwards. One knee clipped him hard and Niko slid forward again with a heavy breath. The hot sting of the knee cleared blearily, and then Percy reached down and - thank you - he was finally stroked, the heat built.
Niko's breathing stuttered and he lost his rhythm and Ron realised he'd never seen another man do this before. Niko's eyes squeezed shut and he looked like he was in pain but Ron knew better. He humped into Ron again, once more and -
Fucking firehose you got there, the working part of Ron's brain wanted to say, forgetting Niko couldn't hear him. But Percy smiled, probably thinking the same.
His dark hair like black streaks stuck to his sweaty forehead, and he milked his cock in Ron a little more, slowly, an expression of utter bliss on his face. It was really wet inside now, and those last strokes felt so smooth and niiiice... Percy's hand slowed, carried away in the soft dance.
Niko slid out and Percy murmured a protest but Niko lowered Ron's legs - now that felt good, hadn't realised he was tired until that moment - and then removed Percy's hand from his cock. Which was really unfair, considering.
Then, without looking up, Niko swallowed him down, and they were both lost in that heat. Niko's mouth was slow, almost cool, and far gentler than before.
It took very little time before the pressure built - and Percy came without the kind of warning Ron recognised in a series of shuddering aftershocks. That was different too and he was quieter, but who the fuck cared? Niko just... drank it down, which was something Ron hadn't imagined but he couldn't think of a reaction, because frankly he was a bloody dishrag right now.
One thing was certain. Ron couldn'y quite imagine this in his own body, but he sure as hell wanted to try. The damnable thing about great sex was that as soon as you were done, you wanted more.
~*~*~
Percy lay with his arm flung out, sprawled on his pillow, one knee tenting the sheets. He breathed softly, like he was on the edge of sleep, and for Ron the easy tingling smoothness of his body was the same and different. A soft white glow suffused the room from where Niko had opened the drapes, and now Niko stepped out of the bathroom, toweling his hair. The furniture was delicate and ornate, with framed pictures on the walls; it didn't seem the sort of place that could take a lot of sex, not without something getting broken.
The bed dipped as he slid in beside Percy, and Ron could feel his warmed body shifting closer. If it was up to him, he was pretty sure he'd be interested…
A scull and snake tattoo was clearly visible on his left forearm.
With a flash of shock Ron realised he had seen it before, but he hadn't thought - there'd been other things.
They lay there a moment in quiet intimacy, and then Niko indicated Percy's arm with the point of his chin. "When are you going to get yours?"
Percy stirred uncomfortably and winced. He avoided the subject with a deliberate light tone. "You know I'm not fond of pain."
He shook his head, not accepting the excuse. "You can't sit on the fence forever, like some Ministry steud, Percy."
"The Ministry polices are my policies, Niko. You know that." It felt like an old argument revisited. "One can't set aside the rule of law on a whim, because we happen to disagree. And just what is a 'Stude'?"
"That word. Um. Studge -?"
"Oh. Stooge," Percy clarified, in a professorial tone.
"Still my language teacher…."
"The pay's gone up." Percy smiled fondly. "You're a lax partner. I never did learn much Russian in that program."
"You talk too much in English. You should go to Durmstrang for a year. Then you'll learn." Niko threw the towel carelessly onto a dainty chair. It staggered but remained upright. "And you are deliberately changing the subject. Percy, when the Dark Lord has his day, if you're not loyal - one hundred percent His - you'll be food for the cockatrice."
"I've buried enough of my friends," Percy said firmly. "On both sides. Look, I know your politics, but you ought to have checked with me before you did anything so... extreme. It was a bit of a - a shock when you showed up with that. Thing."
"You see it all the time with Lucius," Niko pointed out.
"He did that years ago, when he was young and rash. But he's a pragmatist. Given the chance to do over, I don't think he would," Percy said with complete candor. "For a lot of reasons."
Niko shook his head. "You are completely blind where he's concerned." Ron rather agreed. "If you won't do it, at least stay out of the way." He said sincerely, "I don't want to have to kill you, Percy."
"Would you?" Percy's voice was sad, but resigned.
"At Lucius' orders? No. I'd tell him he can go fuck himself. And how hard." Percy smiled a little at that. "But if the Dark Lord said? Yes. Of course I would. In a second."
Percy didn't seem surprised by this, but it was all Ron could to hang on and listen. And he couldn't tell right now if he was relieved or astonished to find Percy thought the man he was, Ron struggled with a coherent thought for it, sort-of-in-love-with, wasn't a particularly committed follower of Voldemort.
"Sorry, Percy," Niko said into the quiet pause. "It's how the world works."
"Lucius would never ask me to kill anyone," Percy observed.
"Lucius Malfoy is not the Dark Lord. Even though he thinks he is." Disdainfully.
"No," Percy seemed not at all unhappy about that. "No, he's not. Thank god. For one thing, if he asks anything of me, I can say no."
"You don't."
They were quiet together again for a moment. Yeah, sort-of-in-love-with. Despite this other naked man, lying so close to him.
Percy snorted bitterly, startling Ron out of his contemplation of Niko's smooth skin. "And you say you don't like leashes."
"This isn't a leash." Niko made a fist and brandished his arm proudly. "This I chose. There are going to be changes in this world, Percy. Big ones. Skulking and ignoring our heritage? It's at an end."
Some of Percy's familiar stiffness returned. "Well. It looks an awful lot like a leash to me." Waspish. "I just wish you'd told me before you did it."
"It was personal."
Then, Niko added more honestly:
"I didn't want to argue about it. You're too stubborn."
Percy frowned at the ceiling. Finally he added in a petulant voice:
"It's ugly."
"That it is." Niko said, catching his eye with a steady intense gaze. "All of it."
Percy accepted that; sighed. "At last, common ground."
Niko leaned over a little and ran his hand through Percy's hair; his arm wrapped around his shoulders and rested his cheek on the top of Percy's head. Then he kissed Percy's brow, stroked his hair off his face. "Don't do that. You understand being part of something bigger than yourself, don't you?"
Percy nodded hesitantly against his chest. "Niko… of all the stupid… Just forget about it." He stared up at the ceiling and laughed. "I don't think I want to know how late I am."
"Oh, just tell them you were fucking the ambassador's no-good son in a cheap hotel."
"This place isn't cheap."
"Yes, but the looks on their faces! It would be worth it."
"Ah. I'll take that under advisement." Percy sat up and began dressing. He picked up his shirt with a delicate, prim gesture. "They'll be shocked enough that I didn't show up. What to say -? This time? Stalled broom?"
"No, no." Niko pulled on his trousers, hopping on one leg. "If you're going to lie, make it dramatic, something so strange you could never have made it up. Be sure you're upset when you tell the tale, too. Act all snippy and rude, like you get."
Percy made a face at him, but didn't argue. "All right then, let's see, ah… I was crossing the street, carrying my broom, when I was… I was… nearly run over by a horse-drawn carriage. It trampled my broom. So I went to the Magical Law Enforcement -"
"Nothing traceable, Percy. They make reports."
"Don't interrupt! - I went to Enforcement to report the driver -"
"They'll believe that of you."
"- but it took so long, I finally gave up and went back to the office." Percy gave him a smug look. "See? No reports."
"But why didn't you firecall?"
"Oh. Right." Percy thought about that a moment. "Um. I would have lost my place in line, and then I would have been even later?"
"Yes. Good. Add to that you were taking your broom in for repairs - the details are everything - and you have it." Niko nodded with approval. "Not bad. Snape couldn't come up a smoother lie - you'll make a Death Eater yet." This last was added with a devious grin.
A shocked look crossed Percy's face, then he threw his trousers at him. Thwack! "Oh, fuck you, Niko!"
Niko laughed, and retaliated with a pillow, which Percy took full in the face.
The scene misted….
~*~*~
When Ron touched his thoughts in the pensieve, he had frozen. At first Percy was worried, but he appeared to be breathing normally, if a little fast.
For a moment, it looked as thought Ron might wake from it early. His eyelashes fluttered like someone in a dream, but then he settled back down.
It occurred to Percy that he'd never told Ron how to leave the pensieve if he needed. So he kept a close eye on Ron for any trouble. He could go in after him, fetch him out. Otherwise, Ron would play out the entire memory.
It was like watching paint dry. He was terrible company like this.
The clock ticked, and Percy finally washed the dishes - shooting his spells from the living room. Then he levitated the laundry and folded it on the couch next to Ron.
Percy chided himself.
He should have asked Ron to enter his body before his brother took off his clothes; he should have reviewed that 'Andrew' memory more closely - frankly, he'd been so sure Ron would want the dark-haired boy, Geoff, given, well, his feelings for Harry. He thought it would be easier to imagine it was Harry who was doing this with him.
It was... a little exciting, if strange, to share this with Ron. Percy had the feeling that after this, Ron would understand his interest in men, not theoretically, but he would really know what it was like. It was a good part of the reason Percy had agreed, not just to help Ron, but to have a common ground. It wasn't the same as taking his brother to a club and watching him take up with someone. Though, in a way it was better, because he didn't have to worry.
Ron's first time would be a gentle introduction, simple, sensual and uncomplicated. There was the elegant dinner with the spectacular view - they had really good seats. Then apparating to the nearby hotel, a little wine in the lobby before Andrew decided, yes, he'd try it. He was bashful, and one of Percy's rare attempts to be 'in charge.'
It was taking too long.
He and Andrew had been fairly young, and well, they'd been so excited They'd come pretty early in the night. Half hour? Forty minutes? But Ron's breathing had been heavy for a good hour and a half.
After two hours, Percy started to worry.
Then Ron gasped, a slight hitch one would miss if you weren't watching carefully. And a tell-tale wet patch spread along his cotton trousers.
Percy selected a fresh pair of trousers. They'd be short on Ron, but they'd fit otherwise.
But still he didn't wake.
Percy was just about to pick up his wand and go get him, when Ron blinked and his eyes opened. Unseeing at first. Then he seemed to grasp his surroundings. Percy breathed a sigh of relief.
He looked a little shell-shocked. Which was unsurprising, given this was his first experience.
"So. Ah. How was it?" Percy asked, wishing he could read his brother's mind. Ron blushed.
Oh, gosh darn it.... Ron must have waited till he was all naked and involved before he dove in - though he did go into Percy's body, the wet spot was proof enough of that.
"I was glad you went with the blond," Percy began. "Andrew's very sweet, and I thought you might like the experience of… ah… topping. More familiar, I'd think."
The look Ron gave him was speechless, like Percy was completely out of his gourd.
Finis.
I can't believe she and I wrote a story this long -- in LJ posts, back and forth. Wow. (Note: it does change from present tense to past once Ron steps into the pensieve. I can't deal with fixing it right now...zzzzz...)
isolde9 and I have been staggering around like zombies this week. hp_dungeons, Percy and Ron... Ron asked Percy if he could... borrow... some of Percy's memories, to find out if he, you know, liked blokes a bit.
On Thursday, they both took a day off work, and nervously Percy gave him one memory in his pensieve to experience.
The Pensieve (for hp_dungeons)
by Isolde and Icarus
Ron had to tap on the window to wake Percy up. Ron thinks he looks a lot more tired than he should, and like he slept in those clothes twice, which he's also sure he never would have, of course, because he's still Percy.
Ron has two bags of groceries and kind juggling them on the doorstep. "I thought... you know you can't live on catfood."
Rare smile from Percy as he opens the door. "I think she'd argue with that," he points to the cat, who's belly up on the couch (there's a cat hair brush on the end table, Percy's place is rather elegant, if simple. The pensieve is out on the coffee table). "Is she all right? She's been like this for the last hour."
He helps Ron with the groceries, a little surprised at home much Ron brought. "You know, we're not feeding an army here."
Ron is sure the cat's sleeping and beyond happy. He's lots of Crookshanks experience. He really ought to be more of a cat person by now.
He suspects Ron brought him groceries for a week, and isn't sure whether to be touched, or wince that he hadn't bought his own. Argues with himself - but I haven't been home for so long, groceries would just spoil.
Percy breathes a sigh of relief about the cat. "I'm not usually here during the day. Generally, she's racing about."
He offers to reimburse Ron for them as they put them away together.
When Percy offers money: "What? No, I don't want you to. I can't remember the last time I ever gave you anything." The after a pause, says, "You hungry? I'm starving," and starts hunting through the food.
The kitchen is clean, (though the shelves are undusted - very unlike Percy), bright and sunny. The cabinets are all oak, and the wallpaper is an old-fashioned fussy style, in a buttery colour.
Percy did fall asleep in those clothes, and in fact, if Ron peers into the bedroom, he'll see the bed is still made. Percy crashed on the couch when he came home late the night before. There's also a packet of matches from some cheap hotel on the end table, not far from the pensieve.
Ron glances at the pensieve on the table and looks away self-consciously.
Ron will glance at the bedroom and the matches as they come back in with the food.
"Out late?"
Percy winces a little in embarrassment at being caught out. "Yes." He's about to tell Ron a half-truth, that he had to work late, but realises that this is one person he can trust now. "I worked late, but then... just didn't feel like going home. There's such thing as too much quiet."
He recalls that he used to demand that his brothers be quiet, and wonders when that changed.
Joking, they make up a new name for this meal, since it's too late for lunch, too early for supper, but Percy hasn't had breakfast yet.
Ron knows stir-fry, so he brought what he already knew how to cook. He doesn't really know what Percy likes anymore. It used to be that Percy wouldn't anything that was spicy, or mushy.
But Percy has developed a taste for Middle Eastern and East Asian cuisine (from guess who). He sends a magical puff of air over the spice rack to clean it off a bit, and whisks a number of exotic spices into a pan, stir-frying them. He pulls a special nutmeg grinder for the rice. He's rather pleased with himself that Ron's impressed, and feels strange, but comforted at this familiar yet half-forgotten process.
Ron is impressed, he doesn't even know what's in the nutmeg grater, although it smells kind of familiar.
Percy catches Ron's glance, and reads it immediately and explains the nutmeg grinder. He brings out a mortar and pestle, which Ron likely hasn't seen used outside of Potions class. Hopefully, Ron doesn't think this is the same one from Potions Percy had for years.
Percy comments that Ron's no cook, and sets him to chopping vegetables as he pulls out his wand for some of his mother's famous sauces (Percy had always been her little helper, until Ginny was old enough, and even then Percy had more of an interest).
Ron's more than usually hasty and careless with the chopping. He doesn't remember ever helping his mother in the kitchen.
Crockery flies about the room as they talk cheerfully about nothing. Percy prefers to not even think about the pensieve.
Ron does think about it, although he doesn't really want to. Enough that at one point he stops and isn't quite sure what they were just talking about, but Percy goes on so he figures it must be okay.
Percy talks a little much, unusually cheerful. Since he never brings his dates home (or hasn't for a long time) it feels as though he's just moved in somehow. It's a little celebratory, in a quiet sort of way.
Percy rolls his eyes at Ron's chopping, and quickly dices the vegetables a little more for him. "I take it Hermione does all the cooking..."
"Where did you go?" Ron asks, leaning back on the counter, because he feels more in Percy's way than anything else. "Last night."
"The Stag and Pony." Percy keeps his eyes primly on what he's doing as he says it, carefully not looking at Ron. He's never really been explicit about where he goes before, so this is a little uncomfortable. If Ron knew the place, he'd know it was nothing but a pick-up joint, all men, and sort of a rough-around-the-edges crowd. Sailors and Potions' production workers.
"Oh. Nice place?" Ron offers to grind things in the mortar and pestle, even Hermione let him do that, even in Potions. Surely Percy will let him, and when he almost certainly monitors the quantities of things that go in it Ron gives him a grin, because it occurs to him that Hermione's a bit Percy-like in some ways.
"So, a lots of friends kind of place or a I haven't fucked in four days kind of place?" Ron says pretty cheerfully. And then realises that might be a very stupid thing to say.
Percy bursts out laughing. He confesses with a glance at Ron, blushing, "The latter." He's rather self-satisfied when he adds, "though more like two days."
He realises that perhaps that sounds a little, well - it's misrepresenting the situation somewhat, which for some reason he doesn't want to do with Ron. "It wasn't very good." He says more honestly, and sniffs. "And he also asked if I could get Harry Potter's autograph for him."
"Hah! Before or after?" And then he is really embarrassed, and turns his face away to hide the blush as he says, "Do you think Harry... goes to places like that?" He laughs a little bitterly immediately he's said that. "Seamus is right, I am a prude."
"After," Percy answers his first question, blankly. Then he realises that of course the man didn't ask beforehand, and why, which he hadn't really considered.
Percy's retroactively annoyed at that man, but answers Ron's other question to the best of his ability.
"Harry went without sex for a week with that Mikhail, and didn't. I can't imagine him ever needing to, at any rate." He pauses in his dishing out their dinner/lunch/breakfast, blinking about what this says about himself. Then reassures himself that it's just a dry spell. Kitty walks in, stretching, and peers up hopefully at his lunch.
"No begging," Percy says to her firmly. But moments later he gives in.
"I don't get that, you know. The without sex for a week thing. Doesn't seem that terrible to me. And, you know, I like sex and everything but, a week isn't that long."
He watches Percy feed the cat with curiosity and bemusement. He rubs her ears when she's eaten what Percy gives her.
Percy tries to think of the last time he'd gone without sex for that long, and realised it was back when he was with Aurora. (Other than a few periods where he just wasn't in the mood or didn't have time.) It had seemed quite normal back then.
"It must be because you're with a woman." He pauses, wondering if he should be this frank with his little brother, then discards that silly thought. "If you don't have to use your hand every day, why would you?"
At the end of lunch, Percy banishes the dishes to the sink. He chews his lip. The 'Pensieve' subject is unavoidable now.
"Do you really want to do this?" Percy's face goes hot, though he stays outwardly calm. He's used to being in sexual situations that embarrass him and keeping cool through it. It's likely though, that Ron can read him better than he thinks.
In the back of his mind, as Ron watches Percy, and he can always see the pensieve through the door, he knows he can't possibly do it. He really wants to know, to really know, he's not really much into the unknown at all - growing up at Hogwarts with Harry'll do that to you, he supposes. But if Percy's gone to the trouble, when he said he'd never even used the Pensieve before, he can't just back out now. Except he has to, because really never be able to look at him again, or maybe anyone, if it's anything like...
When Percy asks him if he really wants to, though, he just says, "Yes".
He can sense Percy's discomfort then, once he's said it, and he really wants to take it back but he doesn't. "If you don't think it'd be too awful for you."
"No, no," Percy reassures him. He's lying of course, covering that moment of panic at Ron's 'yes'.
He wipes his hands on his trousers briskly and sighs, "Well. We'd best get started."
He reaches for his wand as he stands. "I think I recall how to do this... have you ever... been in a pensieve before?"
He's stalling. Though Percy doesn't even admit it to himself. He's having second thoughts about - oh, not about doing this. When Percy makes up his mind, that's that.
But he's racing through his memories as he talks, wondering if he shouldn't pick some other ones. But his best are from the Death Eater days, and he doesn't want Ron to think poorly of him (as he surely would if he, say, gave Ron the memory from the night before). No, the ones he has in mind are carefully selected. He sticks with his original plan.
Ron's on the verge of telling him not to bother. After all, he's with Hermione, and he's never going to... you know, even if he is interested. And he can't imagine it being anyone except, well, Harry, and that's a mad thing to even think about. So, there's no point
really, is there?
"No, I never did the Potions NEWT, you know. I think Hermione did it then." He pauses, he's worried because Percy seems worried, but after all this it'd cowardly to just back out. "Does it matter?"
"No, not at all," Percy says briskly. He gives a dry (and I mean dry-as-dust) explanation of the process, a very broad overview of how one can isolate and select particular memories, the spell, how the memory is imbued into the liquid - mostly to distract himself as he leads Ron into the livingroom. He manages to not even look at the pensieve as he sits down.
He has last minutes doubts... about the appropriateness of the memories he's selected, and realises he should probably ask Ron.
It seems out of place (because Percy often thinks about something else as he talks, one reason he drones) when he asks: "Blond or brunette? I've always avoided redheads, as it seems somewhat incestuous."
Ron feels suddenly hot and like he should have worn other clothes, or something. He's probably about to be in Percy's body, or something, while he... and that also seems, somewhat...
He looks at the bowl, at the silvery surface, and wonders what Hermione would say.
"So it's one memory, right? Just one?" he asks quietly. "And I'll be you? Will I know what you think; what you feel?"
Ron adds, with a new worry. "If I say blond, will I get him?"
Percy has escaped nicely into dry facts so Ron's question catches him off-guard, and he doesn't understand for a moment. "Him?"
Then it dawns on him just who Ron means. "No, oh no." He's a little flustered, he hadn't even considered that possibility - for a lot of reasons. "I can't imagine you enjoying that." He decides to continue his policy of truthfulness, especially considering... considering everything Ron was going to see. "Besides, he's mine. I... don't really want to share him."
He changes the subject quickly, because his feelings in that matter were a little more intense than he expected. He notices Ron's sitting on the soft leather sofa, rather curled up, on the edge of his seat, like he wants to get up. The silvery contents of the pensieve shift nervously, blank as yet.
"If you stand outside," Percy explains, "you'll just watch as if you're in the room with us. But if you walk into me, you'll be drawn into that full sensory experience. I've never done it myself, just heard of it being done." He continues. "Thoughts are a different memory process - associative - than what a pensieve records."
Percy relaxes, very comfortable lecturing. "You won't be able to change it, obviously. It's a memory and therefore predetermined. I understand it's a little disconcerting, that experience. You'll do what I did." That brings Percy back to the present, and he breathes to calm the rushing feeling - but the memory he had picked out should be just fine. He takes in his small, rather long livingroom, darker than the kitchen with the soft drapes drawn; notes absently that one of his pictures is askew.
"Blond, then," Ron says. "Definitely." He pulls a wry sort of face, almost a smile. "And no green eyes please."
He's now really aware of Percy's consciousness of the room, looking at everything but himself and the bowl. It seems quiet and dark for the time of day.
He could call the whole thing off. Even if Percy went to a lot of trouble. Even if knowing he really wouldn't like it even when other people did would at least let him be sure that he should just... forget about it. It just isn't him.
Suddenly his blush just won't fade, and he sinks down onto the couch running a hand through his hair, wishing that Harry could have just never been gay, then it wouldn't be a problem, would it.
"It won't make things difficult with us?"
Percy gets that serious look like he does when he's really paying attention.
"I'm not the one who's going to see it."
"It won't, then."
He looks up at Percy, looking worried. "I know you must wish I didn't want to do this, and... just, thanks."
Ron glances at the bowl again and down at the cat as he rubs her ears and she purrs.
"Well let's do it, then, before I change my mind."
Percy takes in Ron's answer without registering any feeling. He's a little surprised at that; he ought to be relieved or concerned or something like that, shouldn't he? But instead he merely feels - ready.
The cat jumps back onto the couch and Ron runs his fingers through her fur, scritching behind her ears so she tilts and rubs against him. He should just go home and curl up with Crookshanks and a magazine until Hermione comes home.
"Can you tell me what it is, where I'll be?" he says, and there's no way he's going back now. "Or is it better if I'm just... there?"
The thought hadn't occurred to Percy, but Ron probably should know, shouldn't he? Otherwise he'd be having sex with someone he didn't know. He mentally discarded the images of his 'dark-haired option', somewhat wistfully.
"You'll be having dinner at the Sunset." Percy's faced glowed with the recollection of the large picture windows that gave the restaurant its name, and the rich authentic tapestries - the largest collection off the continent. It had been an elegant evening. "Andrew is a friend of a friend. I picked him for you because we didn't really know each other all that well -" and his tastes would appeal to Ron "- so you won't be too uncomfortable, you know, making conversation about people you haven't met." Percy stirred the silvery water with his wand, as the strands melted gently like clouds into it. "I'm putting in the entire date, just to give it context.
"Not to mention it was fun." Percy smiled, and for once that smile lit his eyes. Ron would like that evening; they had taken it slow.
He gestured rather formally to the bowl. It moved softly of its own accord. Strange stuff, thoughts.
As Ron scootches forward and rather hesitantly leans towards it with a questioning look at Percy, Percy explains, "Just touch the water."
Ron doesn't really feel worried now, although he should, probably. He'd really like to make a joke about it right now, like doesn't he have to 'get naked or something' -- Harry would laugh and Hermione would roll her eyes. Ron leans forward and touches his fingertips to the slightly viscous surface.
~*~*~
He looksed into the bowl and sees vague images, a tiny Percy standing in front of an ornate hotel, glancing at his wristwatch, a sunset glow and room full of silently laughing, talking people. He leaned towards that, and with a whoosh the sound coalesced around him, a happy clatter of dishes and clink of crystal.
This place was really expensive.
Then the headwaiter - maitre d'? - brushed past Ron. He's leading a surprisingly young-looking Percy, dressed in elegant robes and a high collar. This must have been back when Percy worked for Fudge.
Ron took a few steps towards Percy, and the scene began to shift - sort of sputter...
Ron had a sudden rush of panic that he wouldn't know what to do and hoped Percy really would be in charge of what happens, even though that means... for a disorienting moment he realised he didn't actually know how to get out of this if it all got to be too much.
~*~*~
As Ron took a few tentative steps forward, he was surrounded by bright daylight. He blinked at the sudden change from the restaurant glow, and realised he was outside now.
He didn't recongise the place, but then he wouldn't, would he? Not his world now, assuming he was still even in the pensieve the thought with a rush of panic. He didn't actually know any way out of here, did he, if something went wrong? Could anything go wrong?
The sounds of Muggle traffic rushed behind him, and Ron hurriedly checked to make sure he hadn't landed in the street. You never knew with Portkeys. Though, come to think of it, this couldn't be a portkey, could it?
He spotted Percy then, standing in front of the ornate hotel, glancing at his wristwatch. He looked a little older, though it was still the Fudge years from his polished appearance. He was wearing his work robes, rather than the fancy dinner dress from earlier. Percy seemed a bit annoyed, and made to leave.
Ron didn't have time to spend on Percy though, as a horse-drawn carriage filtered through the Muggle cars. The Muggles didn't even glance at it.
Ron watched it pull up right in front of a Muggle couple who seemed to look straight through it. He couldn't see Percy now, and that was a bit frightening really, because Percy was his anchor here. He hurried as well as he could across the road, staying away from the Muggles and the carriage, although he was fairly sure no one could see him, that really, he wasn't even here.
Ron dodged under the horses without much thought of being stepped on (could he get stepped on here?) and found Percy - still standing on the sidewalk, thank goodness - his arms folded in that familiar 'you're-going-to-get-a-lecture' posture.
The carriage door opened, and a small set of steps clanked down. The words were out of Percy's mouth before its occupant even stepped out:
"Where the fuck have you been?"
A dark head peered out of the carriage at Percy, with a grin. He had a broad mouth with a sardonic tilt to one corner, like he made fun of everything, and glittering squinty black eyes over his sharp cheekbones. His chin was pointed like a fox. He jumped down without touching the steps.
Ron looked to Percy for some kind of clue as to who this was -- not the date, who'd be blond. Percy had said. But he was rather, or very, handsome, in a way.
"Right, Percy," the young man said in a slightly foreign accent. "If you're early it's not my fault."
"Oh, shove off, you liar. We'll barely have time to eat now. I have very important job and a meeting at one o'clock." Percy griped, without much rancor. "Lucius is bad enough without you being late, too."
Ron really didn't know a Percy who was familiar like that, except with his brothers, and not often then.
The young man ignored the complaint and held the door with a mocking bow.
Ron felt a sudden rush of panic that he'd be left behind and quickly moved as close to Percy as he could get without actually touching him.
~*~*~
Percy crunched through a salad, chatting amiably at his lunch guest about people they both knew apparently, whom Ron had never heard of. The restaurant was very busy, and fancy, the sort of place you'd expect in a first class hotel, with a lot of koi ponds and plants and small fountains. An illusion mural played across one wall, the tiles arranging and rearranging themselves into various stomach-churning patterns.
Percy seemed quite comfortable, almost at home, or perhaps not considering how much less at ease he always seemed when he visited home at this time. When was this, anyway, had Percy said? Ron's awareness of Percy and the world outside seemed rather muted, almost cobwebby.
Nikolai, that was his name, had eaten quickly and slumped in the booth, feet outstretched, watching Percy as he ate and talked. Finally he interrupted:
"Percy. You're the most boring man I've ever met."
He smirked when he said it. He had, astoundingly, kicked off his shoes.
Ron turned immediately to catch Percy's response, but he seemed unaffected.
"Oh shut up," Percy said casually. He gestured with his fork. "You've been sitting there like a rag leaving me to hold up both ends of the conversation. I didn't go to lunch to talk to dead air." Nikolai stretched lazily and slouched further. "And put your shoes back on, you barbarian."
He said it without resentment though, without the tight set of his shoulders Ron could only now realise he was used to as Percy's general posture.
Nickolai's foot trailed up Percy's calf to - whoa. Ron looked away, fighting a blush for the instant before he realised no one could see him anyway. If he looked, or if he blushed.
Nickolai's foot slid even more overtly along Percy's thigh. Percy slapped him down, and hissed. "Stop it. This is a respectable restaurant." He didn't seem nearly as irritated as he'd normally be.
"I'm not respectable. They should have taken one look, and turned me away at the door."
Percy didn't clench and he didn't frown, and Ron fleetingly wondered if it really was Percy. This Percy took a sip of his drink. "Some people have low standards." His eyes sparkled.
Niko grinned at the insult. "And aren't you the one who heckled a Symphony?"
"You heard about that?"
Niko laughed. Ron moved himself into a position from which he could see both of them more easily, trying not to think about how well he could see the Niko's bare feet pushed right up against Percy's.
"Oh she was dreadful! - it was an Opera by the way. I've never been more humiliated in my life. She made lewd comments all through Don Giovanni. Thank god we left at intermission."
He shook his head. "That's Bella. Why did you take her to an Opera?"
"Lucius canceled on her, and this was her revenge." Percy sighed. "I tell you, I've about had it with Lucius."
"Don't know what you see in him." Niko's foot sneaked closer to Percy's ankle; Percy looked up, gave him a meaningful look. Niko teased a little closer.
This wouldn't be the one, though, because Percy had said he would be blond. The idea that Percy's days might consist of more than one lover was no harder to accept than watching him with a lover at all. And these were not young men who fucked in a hotel room because it had been four days. They were lovers.
"Stop it…." Percy snickered bashfully, moving away. A little. "You can't do this here."
"So. Let's go upstairs." He waggled his eyebrows.
"Forget it. You're late, and I have a one o'clock appointment." He mock-glared. "Some of us have to work for a living."
"So, I'll just cover your salary for the day." His grin was impish.
Percy sputtered. "Oh, wonderful, there's a plan."
"Come on."
"Who needs the Ministry or a career when I could become a high-class prostitute?"
"Ha - it least it's high-class. That's your style." Ron couldn't help remembering Percy's wardrobe full of silk and leather and other things Ron had never worn. Niko leaned forward and leaned his chin on his hands. "We still have a little time."
"I knew this was what you had in mind."
"You mean hoped."
Percy gave him a rueful smile. "Both." He checked his watch. "Damn. Look at the time - you're buying." But there was almost no irritation in it really, which somehow shot home for Ron the enormity of the gap between this Percy and his own.
They stepped into the elevator, Percy trailing Niko - Ron skipped to keep up. (Would the world in the pensieve disappear if he lost sight of Percy?)
~*~*~
Percy watched the numbers, rocking back on his heels. Ron, suspecting at last that he somehow ended up with the brunette, watched Niko, rapidly catalogueing the ways in which he was nothing like Harry.
Almost directly past Ron's gaze, Niko gave Percy a warm smile. "I could take you now. Pressed up against that wall." One eye squinted oddly, the sort of wink from someone who didn't know how to wink.
Ron can't help blinking at the very idea and glanced at the changing numbers, willing them to hurry. That would be...
He saw Percy's eyes flick to Niko's, nervous. Returned to the numbers. "Don't you dare."
"The doors might open... there you'd be. You wouldn't say no to me, would you?"
He most certainly would, Ron thought, entirely ignoring the calmour of recent suggestions to the contrary.
Percy answer was a flush. Niko took a teasing step closer.
"No, no - don't!" Percy shrank away, and Niko grinned broadly.
Ron felt a start of dislike for the young man, but wasn't at all sure how Percy really felt about it.
Niko chuckled, stepping away, and Percy straightened his collar. "Bother...."
Ron really wished he could read something he understood in Percy's expression, but he really didn't.
"Sorry." Niko leaned towards him, and Percy gave him a sidelong glance. Niko whispered, nuzzling his ear. "It's just so fun when you squirm."
"So I've heard." Percy gave him a slightly feral smile and cleared his throat.
Ron kept his eyes on Percy then, watching for something more familiar.
Percy's slightly taller than Niko, but he somehow seemed to tuck in under his chin as they stood together, just barely apart. Ron felt like an invader in that moment, like it was really not something people should watch.
They hovered breathlessly, then the elevator stopped.
Niko opened the hotel room door with a flourish, and Percy skipped in and spinned lightly. "You left us with twenty minutes, you idiot."
But he didn't give Niko a chance to answer as he kissed him. Niko grunted and murmured into the kiss. The door was abandoned - wide open, Ron looked at it in panic - as Niko's hands ran up Percy's shirt. They stumbled backwards, the room is Victorian and tiny, though Ron didn't pay much attention to it as the two of them fall back onto the bed.
He wanted to worry about the door, but of course it must have been that way, he's not really here and that's how it happened. He wanted to but he's watching the young man's hands on his brother's shirt, on his brother's trousers. His hands felt hot and damp, but he didn't look away.
Ron watched as Niko's knee edged between Percy's thighs; Percy gasped, sighed softly, and his ankle tangled, and stroked along Niko's bared calf. They still had a lot of clothes on but it was, it really was rather sensual, sexy - just the sheer pleasure of it - he supposed maybe he and Hermione looked... things fell back into place with a rush and it seemed rather sordid to be standing here watching two men touch each other.
Percy kicked off a shoe awkwardly, and Niko pressed between his thighs. It wasn't the way Ron had really thought that looked, but he couldn't have said why. It's Percy, some protesting part of him thought distinctly.
"Get the - get the door..." Percy managed with his breaths between kisses. His lips, always a little on the soft side, although Ron didn't really want to pause on that thought at all, were really red, and his eyes fever-bright.
As he sat up a little, Ron noticed his shirt was partially unbuttoned - when did they do that? he really hadn't looked away - and his belt buckle was wide open. Niko was rumpled, but still dressed, which seemed more improper somehow.
They took a moment to recover. Then Niko slowly unzipped Percy's trousers - "Niko..." Percy's voice warned - like he was opening a present. And then he suddenly grabbed Percy's trousers, pants and all and whipped them to his knees. Ron couldn't help a grin at that, and at that the whole thing suddenly did seem less tortured and important. It was all rather fun and even sexy, although he wasn't and he was bloody relieved he wasn't actually all that turned on.
Percy giggled hysterically and Ron moved a little closer, smiling with them. "Damn you!" Percy said and rolled over, trying to pull his trousers back up. He sputtered between laughs, "Close that door right this instant! You bastard -"
Niko rolled onto his side, clearly satisfied with himself, picked up his wand and the door shut with a breeze.
With the door safely shut, Percy flopped over onto his back, a little whuff of complaint. He was perfectly relaxed with his pants at his knees and Niko leaned over him, one hand trailing up his cock.
It wasn't like Ron had never seen Percy's cock before - it happens, in a house mostly full of boys even when they're much older - and in the dormitories of course, he'd seen, well, quite a few.
But that was shockingly nothing at all like watching this slow caress.
Niko cringed, "Sorry I was late."
"Now you are." Percy glowed up at him. "I'm the one who's going to have a briefcase in my lap half the afternoon." One step to the right and Ron could seem Percy's rather smug expression as he pulsed up into Niko's hand. Niko rolled his eyes and continued to stroke delicate patterns on Percy's stomach and thighs, teasing his balls. Percy shut his eyes, and that was when Ron was first aware of his own cock, harder than he'd like to think he would be. He blinked and looked away.
"Hey - eyes front and center," Niko said.
Ron's eyes snapped back to the bed as Percy complied instantly with an open, child-like look. "Yes, sir," he said quietly.
Niko sat up on the bed and worked at the buttons on his shirt as Percy watched him with rapt attention, a slow smile. The heavy black cloak slid off Niko's shoulders with a soft thump. He untucked a white loose shirt with deft fingers and pulled it over his head.
Ron found himself staring at the curve of a very pale, muscled back, and the problem was back, worse than before. He didn't really try to talk himself out of moving to get a better view.
Percy was on his knees on the bed.
"Fifteen minutes... we should have skipped lunch..." Percy sighed as his fingers worked hungrily at Niko's waistband.
Ron forced himself to breathe, and close his mouth, and was suddenly sure this was a very bad idea.
Percy's eyes were very intent as he pulled open the buttons on Niko's trousers. Ron couldn't help noticing now how much younger Percy was here, and he seemed easier, happier, almost innocent as he glanced up at Niko, and Ron felt caught somehow in the middle of a heated look.
Niko's shoulders swelled as he breathed deeply and swallowed. Someone was panting, but Ron wasn't entirely sure it wasn't him.
He didn't quite notice himself moving closer until he was, right there, only armslength away, when the two of them kissed, kneeling on the bed.
Ron felt his breathing fall into time with the rhythm of that kiss and he'd definitely never seen anything like that. You just didn't, well, did you, watch people... Ron took a step away from the bed then, blinking slowly, but he couldn't bring himself not to see. He was definitely hard now and torn between the urge to screw his eyes shut and hide in the corner till the memory was done, which was worse than cowardice after Percy had let him be here, and the urge to be closer. It might even be easier, he thought, to be Percy rather than watch him. Maybe less awkward afterwards as well.
Almost unconsciously Ron moved back towards the bed where Percy and his lover kissed and stroked one another. Percy's hands cupped Niko's cheeks, hooked his thumbs into his waistband... and slowly slid, stroked and caressed the fabric down to his thighs.
Niko's cheeks were taut, small and round under Percy's kneading hands and he really couldn't watch that could he?
At the edge of the bed, close enough to hear them breathing, Ron watched Niko's hands stroke Percy's soft, dewy skin; his fingertips smoothing across his thighs, teasing the cleft of his arse, and then outlining the slim curves of his chest with his fingertips. Percy's eyes closed again, and he mouthed at the air.
Ron reached out and touched him.
~*~*~
No matter what Percy had told him, Ron still expected to touch skin - and he did, for the briefest moment, feel Percy, warm and breathing under his hand. It felt so real he almost pulled back, because if you didn't watch people when they were doing that, you definitely didn't touch them.
Then he felt that strange tugging sensation, like he was entering another pensieve...
A physical wash of heat suffused Ron's - no, Percy's - body.
His heart thrummed. If Ron thought he was hard before, now... He breathed raggedly, overwhelmed by the pulse of arousal and his cock touched - oh my God. The strange, firm sensation of another man's cock bumped up against his own, teasing and difficult to get enough of as he gently chased it.
He desperately wanted to look and be sure, even though he knew... there was another firm but soft brush of flesh and he felt it all over his skin.
Ron tried to back away somehow, out of the touch, with a panicked realisation of exactly what he was doing. It was a bit much all at once, for starters, not to mention he didn't even know this bloke.
Then he felt the disorienting truth of what Percy'd told him as his body, well what felt like his body, did exactly the opposite. Against his will, it seemed, his hands pressed and rubbed intense little circles against this man who was so solid in his arms.
Firm in his arms and pressing back against him. Girls were soft and melty. Not like this.
It was impossible to keep a grip on his thoughts, though, as the sense of touching like that shot fire through Ron's cock. Somehow he was suddenly aware they were kissing, a deep powerful kiss, and he was suddenly aware of other distractions, the hard warmth of his chest against him, the scrape of five o'clock shadow... his hands sliding... whoa... that was... in his hand... and this was good, Wow-good, Ron flowed helplessly in a body he couldn't control, lost in sensation.
Oh, shit.
With a sick mental lurch away from the intensity he gratefully remembered that they only had ten minutes. Ten minutes, his remembered, as he seemed to slide back into the sense of touching and being touched.
It was irritating that Percy had his eyes closed.
Firm, powerful hands pulled on Ron's cock and regardless of who it really belonged to, it felt like Ron's. Except different in little ways; strange to have the stroke last a little longer on a slightly longer, skinnier dick. The rhythm felt off, though it certainly worked. He missed his favourite 'hot spot' on the end, but was jolted in areas that normally weren't so sensitive. Hadn't considered that it would be this different and made a mental note. Just in case, if he were ever with someone else.
Sex tips from my brother, who would've thought? Especially, like this.
Somehow, Percy managed to keep working on Niko's silky cock, his hand smooth and firm. Was Niko smoother than most or was it just because it was someone else's? The smooth stroke was something Ron wasn't sure he could manage in his place. Setting aside the minor detail he was in his brother's body, this was great. Percy's bloke clearly knew what he was about.
As the pleasure became ever more intense, though - and Ron would have been breathless himself - Percy lost his balance a little, his lashes fluttered open and Niko chuckled. Ron could feel the hot flush of Percy's embarrassment, and found himself chiding his brother, 'come on... you don't have to be perfect at everything.'
Niko lifted Ron's - Percy's - chin, and his eyes were brown, not black as Ron had thought, and very intense over his slight smile. He seemed to find that blush sweet, as he kissed him softly. Ron felt his whole body melt into it and Percy sighed, pressing loose wet kisses to Niko's damp skin. He left little marks.
Slowly Percy lowered himself towards... oh no. Ron felt a momentary thrill of panic.
Niko's hands smoothed down the small of Percy's back as he sat up, fingers sliding down between his cheeks as he stroked them.
At long last Percy's eyes were open. The room was fairly dark with only a little light filtering in through drawn curtains, but Ron scoped out Niko's shadowed, sculpted chest and thin, wiry arms. Sort of skinny-fit. Ron was grateful he didn't look the least like Harry. He was pale, with a lot of dark hair, especially there; and uncut. Kind of big balls for his size.
He was utterly distracted from looking though, when one finger stroked a tickling line under Percy's balls, then up the cleft again.
"We don't have time..." Percy whined. Strange, to have words come out of your mouth like that.
"You're already late," Niko said, silencing any protest with a long, sensual kiss. He lowered Percy back to the bed, and Ron felt the unfamiliar strength and weight with a strange thrill.
"Late for a quickie, or late for something else?" Niko said. "It's your choice."
"I can't." Ron felt his mouth say.
Not very convincing with you lying here like that, Percy, he had to think. Inches away, Niko's wide sardonic smile was smug. And he knows it, too.
"I hate you - " Percy toyed carelessly with Niko's nipple "- you planned this."
Niko didn't deny it.
"At least let me make a firecall." Percy attempted to sit up.
A surprisingly strong arm pinned him like a bar. "No."
Ron felt a frisson of fear, but the shiver across Percy's skin wasn't that. It was hot like the blush, running all the way through his cock.
Niko smiled down at Percy rather fiercely, and Percy's eyes widened - and he got hard! He squirmed half-heartedly while his face heated.
"I have to be there," his complaint was sincere, though his struggles weren't. Ron could tell Percy could easily break this grip. "We're deciding the import duties on..."
"Tsk. Percy, if you call they'll make you feel guilty and you'll leave. Don't be stupid. Apologise to them. Later." Kiss. "You'll never be Minister if you act the servant."
Ron found it almost impossible to concentrate on the words as Niko adjusted Percy's legs over his shoulders. It was a mind-boggling position to find himself in, but the blush he wanted to feel was overwhelmed by the intensity of his own shocked arousal.
"You're a pureblood," Niko was saying. "In my country these half-Muggles would never dare order you around."
"You and your politics," Percy said, without resentment.
Niko snorted. "You'd do well to listen." He leant to lap at Percy's navel, and Ron was treated to the sight of a man studying his cock, with the intention to... oh. Yeah.
"Oh suck me off, you racist bastard." Percy smiled languidly.
Ron knew what a blowjob was like... the warm gentle heat, the dainty teasing tongue.
This was nothing like it.
Niko's strong mouth enveloped him, twice as far as he was used to, and he was pressed against hard lips that worked him mercilessly. Roughly intense, Niko's cheek rasped against sensitive - oh. Ron wanted to bite his lip, but he couldn't. Never thought... god.
Niko knew just exactly where to hit, with aggressive confidence, and pinned his hips to the bed. His tongue traced the length of his cock and curled around the tip. Ron watched it flick back and forth across the top, and if he'd really been there, some part of his mind stuttered, he'd be on the edge of coming right now.
Percy was right on the cusp when Niko backed off - Percy whimpered. Ron saw Niko's naughty smile as he kissed the tip of his cock.
Then his wide tongue laved down Percy's bollocks, teased a tickling path behind them. Niko shifted, sat up and strong arms pressed Percy's knees to his chest; then he licked down, down, spread Percy's legs a little wider - inwardly Ron goggled - and Niko began to circle his hole. Percy went limp and his jaw relaxed in a silent moan.
Obviously Percy was used to this as he took it with quiet pleasure. Ron wasn't sure what to think - hell, people do this? - but he was panting with arousal.
Niko lifted off for a moment. Ron really wished he wouldn't stop.
"You're all tight..." Niko murmured, his breath hot agaist Percy's cool skin. "Has Lucius been neglecting you?"
"Don't talk about Lucius..." Ron heard Percy say weakly.
Niko seemed about to speak, then stopped with a little sigh. He kissed Percy's thigh and mumbled, "Should do something about these marks." He kissed Percy's other cheek. "I could do a healing charm...."
Ron wasn't sure he wanted to know what the marks were, but the feeling that he was an intruder in Percy's life returned like a tiny kernel in the back of his mind.
"No, leave them. I like those."
Niko's dark eyes warmed and he gave Percy a sideways smile, and Ron felt the strange warmth of his brother's pleasure.
Niko looked about himself, left, right. He rolled over, dangled off the edge of the bed and scrabbled in his cloak on the floor. His cock bobbed and shook between white thighs, and Ron was more shocked by his appreciation of the sight than anything else.
Triumphantly, Niko produced a phial and a long, smooth object, thin as a pencil.
Percy snickered. "I knew you planned this."
"Well, you're not just boring. You're also predictable." Niko grinned.
Niko shook the phial then set it in midair, where it continued to hover and shake itself. "I shall expect sexual favours for this."
"I thought I was a high-class prostitute..."
"You are, but you forgot to negotiate your rate. You're not going to get paid as a result."
"Oh, dear, what a cad you are. Whatever shall I do?"
Niko gave him a rogueish smirk even Ron really admired as he plucked the phial from out of midair, and applied a little of the liquid to his hands. It smelled sweet. "Whatever I tell you to do."
The physical sense of Percy's pleasure spread out through Ron's consciousness again, and this time Ron shared the shiver of anticipation.
"Close your eyes."
Ron felt a surge of disappointment as Percy shut his eyes, but then he peeked a little. Niko was looking at him with amusement.
"Have you a blindfold?" Percy asked hopefully.
"You and your toys."
"But it's easier...." he said wistfully.
Niko leveled a look at him and Percy put his arm over his face:
"All right, all right... my eyes are closed."
Ron felt his legs raised again with a sense of panic. It was, probably, what he'd been most curious about, but now it came to it, he didn't think he could - not that, apparently, he had much choice. His fears were confirmed when he felt some oil paint down the cleft in a ticklish trickle - it was going to mess up the sheets, he thought irrelevantly - and something prodded gently at the opening. Ron wanted to clench or squirm away, but Percy was frustratingly relaxed, and even wriggled pleasureably as a warm presence slid in an inch, then a little more.
The strange intrusion was even more disconcerting because he couldn't react to it, and Percy just smiled behind his arm. "Oh, now there's a big surprise."
"Hsh," Niko said, though the smile in his voice was apparent. The warmth pulled out, feeling really strange, and then something else, wider, pressed against him. Percy grunted softly, and happily.
With a rush of panic, Ron mentally lurched away, trying to shift or protest or push the other man away, but he was trapped in Percy's response, which relaxed back into the strange sensation.
The intrusion felt really hard and rather... cool?
Oh.
Percy sighed. "I prefer your hands."
Niko's voice was a surprise by Percy's ear. "Everyone does that."
Ron recalled the smooth, pencil-shaped object, but it seemed to be expanding, slowly, slick but sponge-like. It was a heavy full pressure and Ron was concentrating on the oddness of it so completely that he was surprised to feel Niko's warm weight, bare-arsed, straddle his chest, and the light fleshy thup of a hard cock on his collarbone.
"No peeking."
Percy smiled slyly.
He had peeked under his arm, and Ron had been treated to the sight of Niko's cock looming towards him... exposed, smooth and very hard. Of Niko fisting it for a moment, stroking the lush thing with its large head and well-defined shape, and the faint sheen of either sweat or oil.
Percy was unrepentant. "You have the most beautiful dick," he sighed. Still peeking.
"Shut those eyes. Or you won't get any." The soft, hairy parts of him shifted on Percy's chest. Percy closed one eye, grinning mischievously. "Both eyes, Percy," Niko said.
Either he could see what Percy was doing, or else he knew that guilty grin.
"We're going to have a taste test." Ron's mind sort of shuddered at the thought, but in a way, when it wasn't him…
"My, I wonder what I'll be sampling. Hmm. Such a mystery." Ron felt the shake of laughter all the way down Nicko's thighs, as both men snickered.
"I should turn you over my knee for that."
"Oh, please…."
There was a huff of an aroused sigh over him, and Ron felt Percy's warm pleasure shift across his skin.
"You… oh, fuck these games…."
"Thank goodness, I'm not in the mood - give me that work of art." Percy's eyes fluttered briefly as he leaned up and devoured that cock, and - okay, someone here knew what he was doing. It was unbelievably odd, not as nasty as he'd maybe thought, if he'd thought about it, but Niko didn't give Ron much time to get used to it, let alone get any practice in, and he was quickly slithering down Percy's chest.
Something tugged at his arse, pulled out slowly. Wow, that almost hurt - Ron visualised a sock turned inside out. He desperately wished Percy would cheat and look now, although he didn't want to think about how very much he wanted to see… there was a grunt and something warm and large slid in, easier than Ron expected, stretched Ron out openly in a way that felt as strange as anything else. Then Niko set a bruising rhythm.
Percy opened his eyes (yes!) and held onto the headboard to keep from knocking his head. The wind was forced out of Ron with a rush, and Percy gasped too, which Ron was really grateful for, since for once they were on the same page.
Omigod. Here we go. This, Ron realised with a bit of a shock, was what he'd come for. He didn't want to waste this on that question, but focused in and set to memorising every second.
The wet sound of heavy, hot breathing surrounded him, both Niko's and Percy's. He felt a rush of heat, his whole body flushed with sweat, and Percy - he - Ron whimpered; his mouth was open as Niko pressed in again and again. Full, he was almost uncomfortably full, uncomfortably hot, not quite slippery enough, but so... oh. God.
And it was incredible really, seeing that smooth man all over him, undulating into him, his cock forced inside. Aching for more every time he pulled out, Ron wanted it deeper, wanted something namelessly more, and would have pushed upward if he could. Mentally he grit his teeth at Percy's passivity.
Strong, firm hands dug into his hips and he really, really wanted more of this. He had to laugh at that too, because how much more could he take?
Ron's own cock ached, neglected from all but accidental touches of his moving body. The friction was getting hot, too much, but his cock was definitely there.
He watched the way Niko shut his eyes and then tossed his head. What a sight. The strong angle of his shoulders and arms and neck - Ron couldn't believe the way it looked. Percy's body leaned forward in Niko's arms, and pressed more earnestly, eagerly. Oh, yes.
Niko's eyes met Percy's and they were so warm... he slowed... and they shut again. Percy's heart hammered.
A firm stomach nudged against his balls and the base of his cock, pressing his knees backwards. One knee clipped him hard and Niko slid forward again with a heavy breath. The hot sting of the knee cleared blearily, and then Percy reached down and - thank you - he was finally stroked, the heat built.
Niko's breathing stuttered and he lost his rhythm and Ron realised he'd never seen another man do this before. Niko's eyes squeezed shut and he looked like he was in pain but Ron knew better. He humped into Ron again, once more and -
Fucking firehose you got there, the working part of Ron's brain wanted to say, forgetting Niko couldn't hear him. But Percy smiled, probably thinking the same.
His dark hair like black streaks stuck to his sweaty forehead, and he milked his cock in Ron a little more, slowly, an expression of utter bliss on his face. It was really wet inside now, and those last strokes felt so smooth and niiiice... Percy's hand slowed, carried away in the soft dance.
Niko slid out and Percy murmured a protest but Niko lowered Ron's legs - now that felt good, hadn't realised he was tired until that moment - and then removed Percy's hand from his cock. Which was really unfair, considering.
Then, without looking up, Niko swallowed him down, and they were both lost in that heat. Niko's mouth was slow, almost cool, and far gentler than before.
It took very little time before the pressure built - and Percy came without the kind of warning Ron recognised in a series of shuddering aftershocks. That was different too and he was quieter, but who the fuck cared? Niko just... drank it down, which was something Ron hadn't imagined but he couldn't think of a reaction, because frankly he was a bloody dishrag right now.
One thing was certain. Ron couldn'y quite imagine this in his own body, but he sure as hell wanted to try. The damnable thing about great sex was that as soon as you were done, you wanted more.
~*~*~
Percy lay with his arm flung out, sprawled on his pillow, one knee tenting the sheets. He breathed softly, like he was on the edge of sleep, and for Ron the easy tingling smoothness of his body was the same and different. A soft white glow suffused the room from where Niko had opened the drapes, and now Niko stepped out of the bathroom, toweling his hair. The furniture was delicate and ornate, with framed pictures on the walls; it didn't seem the sort of place that could take a lot of sex, not without something getting broken.
The bed dipped as he slid in beside Percy, and Ron could feel his warmed body shifting closer. If it was up to him, he was pretty sure he'd be interested…
A scull and snake tattoo was clearly visible on his left forearm.
With a flash of shock Ron realised he had seen it before, but he hadn't thought - there'd been other things.
They lay there a moment in quiet intimacy, and then Niko indicated Percy's arm with the point of his chin. "When are you going to get yours?"
Percy stirred uncomfortably and winced. He avoided the subject with a deliberate light tone. "You know I'm not fond of pain."
He shook his head, not accepting the excuse. "You can't sit on the fence forever, like some Ministry steud, Percy."
"The Ministry polices are my policies, Niko. You know that." It felt like an old argument revisited. "One can't set aside the rule of law on a whim, because we happen to disagree. And just what is a 'Stude'?"
"That word. Um. Studge -?"
"Oh. Stooge," Percy clarified, in a professorial tone.
"Still my language teacher…."
"The pay's gone up." Percy smiled fondly. "You're a lax partner. I never did learn much Russian in that program."
"You talk too much in English. You should go to Durmstrang for a year. Then you'll learn." Niko threw the towel carelessly onto a dainty chair. It staggered but remained upright. "And you are deliberately changing the subject. Percy, when the Dark Lord has his day, if you're not loyal - one hundred percent His - you'll be food for the cockatrice."
"I've buried enough of my friends," Percy said firmly. "On both sides. Look, I know your politics, but you ought to have checked with me before you did anything so... extreme. It was a bit of a - a shock when you showed up with that. Thing."
"You see it all the time with Lucius," Niko pointed out.
"He did that years ago, when he was young and rash. But he's a pragmatist. Given the chance to do over, I don't think he would," Percy said with complete candor. "For a lot of reasons."
Niko shook his head. "You are completely blind where he's concerned." Ron rather agreed. "If you won't do it, at least stay out of the way." He said sincerely, "I don't want to have to kill you, Percy."
"Would you?" Percy's voice was sad, but resigned.
"At Lucius' orders? No. I'd tell him he can go fuck himself. And how hard." Percy smiled a little at that. "But if the Dark Lord said? Yes. Of course I would. In a second."
Percy didn't seem surprised by this, but it was all Ron could to hang on and listen. And he couldn't tell right now if he was relieved or astonished to find Percy thought the man he was, Ron struggled with a coherent thought for it, sort-of-in-love-with, wasn't a particularly committed follower of Voldemort.
"Sorry, Percy," Niko said into the quiet pause. "It's how the world works."
"Lucius would never ask me to kill anyone," Percy observed.
"Lucius Malfoy is not the Dark Lord. Even though he thinks he is." Disdainfully.
"No," Percy seemed not at all unhappy about that. "No, he's not. Thank god. For one thing, if he asks anything of me, I can say no."
"You don't."
They were quiet together again for a moment. Yeah, sort-of-in-love-with. Despite this other naked man, lying so close to him.
Percy snorted bitterly, startling Ron out of his contemplation of Niko's smooth skin. "And you say you don't like leashes."
"This isn't a leash." Niko made a fist and brandished his arm proudly. "This I chose. There are going to be changes in this world, Percy. Big ones. Skulking and ignoring our heritage? It's at an end."
Some of Percy's familiar stiffness returned. "Well. It looks an awful lot like a leash to me." Waspish. "I just wish you'd told me before you did it."
"It was personal."
Then, Niko added more honestly:
"I didn't want to argue about it. You're too stubborn."
Percy frowned at the ceiling. Finally he added in a petulant voice:
"It's ugly."
"That it is." Niko said, catching his eye with a steady intense gaze. "All of it."
Percy accepted that; sighed. "At last, common ground."
Niko leaned over a little and ran his hand through Percy's hair; his arm wrapped around his shoulders and rested his cheek on the top of Percy's head. Then he kissed Percy's brow, stroked his hair off his face. "Don't do that. You understand being part of something bigger than yourself, don't you?"
Percy nodded hesitantly against his chest. "Niko… of all the stupid… Just forget about it." He stared up at the ceiling and laughed. "I don't think I want to know how late I am."
"Oh, just tell them you were fucking the ambassador's no-good son in a cheap hotel."
"This place isn't cheap."
"Yes, but the looks on their faces! It would be worth it."
"Ah. I'll take that under advisement." Percy sat up and began dressing. He picked up his shirt with a delicate, prim gesture. "They'll be shocked enough that I didn't show up. What to say -? This time? Stalled broom?"
"No, no." Niko pulled on his trousers, hopping on one leg. "If you're going to lie, make it dramatic, something so strange you could never have made it up. Be sure you're upset when you tell the tale, too. Act all snippy and rude, like you get."
Percy made a face at him, but didn't argue. "All right then, let's see, ah… I was crossing the street, carrying my broom, when I was… I was… nearly run over by a horse-drawn carriage. It trampled my broom. So I went to the Magical Law Enforcement -"
"Nothing traceable, Percy. They make reports."
"Don't interrupt! - I went to Enforcement to report the driver -"
"They'll believe that of you."
"- but it took so long, I finally gave up and went back to the office." Percy gave him a smug look. "See? No reports."
"But why didn't you firecall?"
"Oh. Right." Percy thought about that a moment. "Um. I would have lost my place in line, and then I would have been even later?"
"Yes. Good. Add to that you were taking your broom in for repairs - the details are everything - and you have it." Niko nodded with approval. "Not bad. Snape couldn't come up a smoother lie - you'll make a Death Eater yet." This last was added with a devious grin.
A shocked look crossed Percy's face, then he threw his trousers at him. Thwack! "Oh, fuck you, Niko!"
Niko laughed, and retaliated with a pillow, which Percy took full in the face.
The scene misted….
~*~*~
When Ron touched his thoughts in the pensieve, he had frozen. At first Percy was worried, but he appeared to be breathing normally, if a little fast.
For a moment, it looked as thought Ron might wake from it early. His eyelashes fluttered like someone in a dream, but then he settled back down.
It occurred to Percy that he'd never told Ron how to leave the pensieve if he needed. So he kept a close eye on Ron for any trouble. He could go in after him, fetch him out. Otherwise, Ron would play out the entire memory.
It was like watching paint dry. He was terrible company like this.
The clock ticked, and Percy finally washed the dishes - shooting his spells from the living room. Then he levitated the laundry and folded it on the couch next to Ron.
Percy chided himself.
He should have asked Ron to enter his body before his brother took off his clothes; he should have reviewed that 'Andrew' memory more closely - frankly, he'd been so sure Ron would want the dark-haired boy, Geoff, given, well, his feelings for Harry. He thought it would be easier to imagine it was Harry who was doing this with him.
It was... a little exciting, if strange, to share this with Ron. Percy had the feeling that after this, Ron would understand his interest in men, not theoretically, but he would really know what it was like. It was a good part of the reason Percy had agreed, not just to help Ron, but to have a common ground. It wasn't the same as taking his brother to a club and watching him take up with someone. Though, in a way it was better, because he didn't have to worry.
Ron's first time would be a gentle introduction, simple, sensual and uncomplicated. There was the elegant dinner with the spectacular view - they had really good seats. Then apparating to the nearby hotel, a little wine in the lobby before Andrew decided, yes, he'd try it. He was bashful, and one of Percy's rare attempts to be 'in charge.'
It was taking too long.
He and Andrew had been fairly young, and well, they'd been so excited They'd come pretty early in the night. Half hour? Forty minutes? But Ron's breathing had been heavy for a good hour and a half.
After two hours, Percy started to worry.
Then Ron gasped, a slight hitch one would miss if you weren't watching carefully. And a tell-tale wet patch spread along his cotton trousers.
Percy selected a fresh pair of trousers. They'd be short on Ron, but they'd fit otherwise.
But still he didn't wake.
Percy was just about to pick up his wand and go get him, when Ron blinked and his eyes opened. Unseeing at first. Then he seemed to grasp his surroundings. Percy breathed a sigh of relief.
He looked a little shell-shocked. Which was unsurprising, given this was his first experience.
"So. Ah. How was it?" Percy asked, wishing he could read his brother's mind. Ron blushed.
Oh, gosh darn it.... Ron must have waited till he was all naked and involved before he dove in - though he did go into Percy's body, the wet spot was proof enough of that.
"I was glad you went with the blond," Percy began. "Andrew's very sweet, and I thought you might like the experience of… ah… topping. More familiar, I'd think."
The look Ron gave him was speechless, like Percy was completely out of his gourd.
Finis.
I can't believe she and I wrote a story this long -- in LJ posts, back and forth. Wow. (Note: it does change from present tense to past once Ron steps into the pensieve. I can't deal with fixing it right now...zzzzz...)
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Date: 2003-10-26 06:05 am (UTC)Pensieve
Date: 2003-10-26 11:17 am (UTC)I really glad you like the devil-may-care charmingly lawless and would-be revolutionary Niko. I've grown rather fond of both him and the nefarious Torvald (who is, alas, not found in
Icarus