Sorry about the long delayed update. I know I promised to be more punctual with this but things have been getting me swamped lately, what with college and family matters. But hopefully this series will be updated on a more weekly basis as before, with The Gravity Of Love hopefully being updated at the same intervals to bring that long delayed one also up to speed.
CHAPTER 6 - FROM LAUNDRY TO SULTRY
" I still can't believe you did that."
" Did what love ?"
Percy frowned, his cheeks still red as he began scooping the freshly laundered clothing out from the dryer and straight into Oliver's duffle bag, trying desperately not to snatch a look over his shoulder.
" What you're doing now Oliver Wood and you know it."
The Keeper grinned at the redhead, chuckling in turn when a pair of freshly dried briefs were chucked over to him and caught with the efficiency of a well trained sports star. Chucking them next to a nearby dryer Wood hooked his thumbs around the sides of the briefs he wore, now sheer and transparent thanks to Percy and his own personal bubble bath that happened on the laundry mat floor only twenty minutes ago. " Actually I don' Perce. I thought all we we're doin' is getting me kits washed and dried."
Percy stopped, the tips of his ears now red as beetroot and Oliver's cue the other lad was reaching his wits end with him. He turned around to glare at the Keeper but his mouth instead refused to let the words spew forth at the sight that greet him - a buck naked Oliver Wood standing right in the middle of the isle, one hand reaching for the dried briefs on a nearby dried while the other handed the soaked through white ones towards him.
Jesus Christ ! He's fucking massi...And with that soddin' grin plastered on his ruddy Scottish mug !
Oliver, amusement clear on his face, shook the sodden undies towards Percy and grinned so wide Percy could see the whites of his teeth and somehow, much to Percy's blatant amazement, hitching the clean underwear on with one hand.
" I don' mind you lookin' Perce but I'd rather you didn' right now."
Percy huffed, grabbing the offending wet garment before turning his back on the brunette to let him be and stuffed the rest of the laundered clothing.
" Just hurry up and get dressed Oliver. I'm in a hurry mind."
Still chuckling Oliver simply nodded even though he knew Percy couldn't see it with his back turned. Quickly he hitched up the briefs to rest snugly around his arse and generous package, giving it a good old grope and adjustment before reaching over to the jeans and black t-shirt Percy had chucked over. In front of him the redhead heard the grunts and curses as the Keeper hitched on the jeans and buttoned the fly into place, chancing a glance over his shoulder to make sure the Scotsman was significantly covered before he turned around fully. Of coarse he immediately regretted his decision as when he turned around Oliver was just halfway pulling down the short sleeved Bonds shirt, the effect being seeing a ruffled haired brunette whose six pack stood out like no bodies business clearly underneath the bronzed skin moment before the lad tugged the shirt down fully to rest on his waistline. And as for the tightness of the jeans...
" Is every item of muggle attire you own always so..."
Oliver looked up, grinning like a fool at the blushing Weasley as he tried to look anywhere but at the lad in front of him.
" What ? Does this attire bother you for some reason Weasley ?"
" No ! Well yes ! Well not really, but isn't a bit...well..."
The Keeper smirked wider, moving his right hand down to grab and grope the large bulge in the front of his jeans. " Does this bother you fer some reason Perce, the sight of another man's jewels in tight denim eh ?"
The white of Percy's skin went from cream to fire trick red in 2.3 seconds the minute he grabbed his crotch. Oliver admired the restrained Weasley had though in not sneaking a closer look at his deliberately tight attire, instead chucking his duffle bag at him as he walked past the lad towards the door up front and again looking anywhere else but him. " Your imagining things Wood. Now grab your shoes and socks and let's move it !"
Oliver shouldered the duffle bag, his eyes twinkling as he slipped on his sneakers while watching the blushing redhead hightail it out of the place. If the blush and stammering were anything to go by, not to mention his gaze constantly going straight to his crotch...
Hook, line and sinker baby.
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" Hey ! Wait up there Perce !"
Rolling his eyes the Percy slowed down until the brunette fell in step with him, the bigger man still practically beaming at Percy as he walked along side and threw his right arm casually over his shoulders. All around them people were pushing past in droves to get from one destination to the other and the noise of footsteps and car horns and traffic lights was undeniable.
Yet all I can think of is the immense weight of Oliver's arm across my shoulder.
Percy gritted his teeth and barely suppressed the urge to fling the other man's arm clear off, instead keeping focus on he task at hand of getting to the nearest apparition point and getting back to wizard London and Diagon.
And get him indoors before anyone takes a closer look at those jeans. Damn things look like their body paint for Merlin's sake !
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" I've just got to take care of a few things first Perce. Can you get dinner started without me ?"
Percy glared at the other lad as he let Oliver back into the warm apartment, noting then that one of them - most likely Oliver no doubt - had left the central heating on as they left. " I think I can manage quite fine Wood. Now bugger off and do what you gotta do and leave me in peace."
Oliver turned his head to look behind his shoulder, grinning when he saw the redhead suddenly want to look at the floor instead of at the man currently standing only a few feet in front of him. Oliver knew of coarse what the problem was and was glad his choice of clothing was having the desired effect. These jeans were not known as his 'Come Fuck Me' jeans for nothing.
" I'll be out in twenty love. Keep the home fires burnin' while I'm gone."
Percy snorted as he watched the other man literally saunter down the hallway, waiting with held breath until his ears heard Oliver's door slam shut before turning his feet in the direction of the kitchen.
Right. What'll we have for dinner then ? Wait...I know !! My speciality !
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Oliver paced the small confines of his room from one side to the next, his ears ready to register the pick up signal of the running dial tone of the mobile pushed tightly against his ear. So far, for the past ten minutes, was nothing.
Could be out with mates. Could be out for a dinner date. And I have to remember that the reception for muggle mobiles in the magic realm is shite to begin with.
But still Oliver expected her to pick up as it was the scheduled time he said he'd ring. And so far now bordering on fifteen minutes he was getting no reply what so ever. Growling he snapped shut the phone and flung it onto his bed and made his way out of the room and out the doorway with the intention of meeting Percy in the kitchen when something caught his eye.
He wouldn't have...Could he ?
Oliver had caught sight of the upside down magazine that was thrown rather carelessly on the floor in Percy's bedroom. He thought of letting it be because after all, it was Percy's room and it would be an invasion of privacy if he went in uninvited. But then another part kicked in and said he should go in and pick it up because one, Percy would appreciate a clean floor to walk on at night being the anal retentive clean freak Oliver knew he was and two, Oliver would never be caught dead face down and his arse in the air on someone's floor, magazine version or not.
At least not until after the third pint and fourth pack of pork rinds.
Chuckling to himself the Keeper moved in and scooped up the magazine from the floor, smiling when he saw his Photo Oliver coughing and spluttering but mouthing thanks when he saw who it was. Judging by the vaguely pissed expression Oliver noted before the Photo saw it was him, he was sure this Oliver would have had a more, eh, one fingered hello waiting for the rescuer if it was Percy himself. He carefully placed the magazine face up in the middle of Percy's bed and turned to walk back out but stopped, his eyes catching a movement from a picture frame situated on top of the lone small dresser at the other side of the room.
What's you got over there Perce ?
It was a picture all right, but not what Oliver expected at all. As he drew closer he made out a crimsome and black robed couple seated in the Quidditch stands, Gryffindor flags billowing in the wind he noted so the day was obviously windy when it was taken. He knew who the two figures had to be of coarse. Oliver knew instinctively it had to be himself and Percy even as he picked up the frame and pulled it closer for a better perspective. What he did not know, however, was how the photo came to be taken in the first place.
I remember this. Our sixth year, during the whole Chamber fiasco. I was stressed out that day about being beaten by Slytherin and went of sulking in the stands and stayed out passed curfew. And of coarse Percy came out as duty of a Prefect to find me and drag my sorry arse back to the castle and the Tower.
The Keeper smiled as he watched the Oliver and Percy sitting there in the bleachers side by side, both smiling and gently teasing the other as both tried to stare at anything else by directly into the other lad's face and eyes. Now and again their shoulders or thighs would brush against the other and cause more embarrassed looks and half smiles, Oliver noting with some surprise that it appeared Percy was the one who seemed to be deliberately making their bodies connect more than by accident.
By the end of it we both ended up with colds that lasted a week, both of us bedridden and unable to even attend classes or Quidditch practice. I thought I'd be pissed as hell about it, but I can't remember being so.
" OLIVER !"
Oliver jumped, catching himself when a clearly agitated Percy's voice abruptly snapped him out of his musings. " YEAH PERCE ?"
" DINNER'S UP YOU LAZY SOD !! MOVE YOUR ARSE OR IT'S GOIN' IN THE RUDDY BIN !!"
Oliver smirked, gently placing the photography back on the dresser and turned to exit the room. As he did Photo Oliver turned to Photo Percy and grinned, both of them smiling at the burly man exiting the room and going back down the hallway to the kitchen. If Oliver caught it he would have rightly assumed they knew something was up. Which was soon proved correct, as on the way back down the hallway Wood disrobed his clothing and shoes and chucked them into his room on the way down. Leaving only a pair of tight fitting briefs and his own charming self as Percy's dinner date.
This should be a laugh.
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Oliver stared down at the plate." Perce ?"
" Yeah Ol ?"
" Eh, not to be rude or anythin' like tha',"
Percy looked up from his meal, eyebrow raised. Oliver swore Percy's mouth was twitching at the sides at a desperate attempt to suppress a smirk. The Keeper didn't know why the former Prefect had anything to smile about right at that very moment because right now he was sure the sick look was plastered all over his face.
" Something wrong with dinner Oliver ?"
Oliver raised his eyebrows back at Percy, then looked down at the plate and it's contents that rested on his lap. Three thick beef patties piles higher than a muggle electrical tower and not one, not two, but THREE thick slices of cheddar cheese between each one. A large serving of fries on the side followed suit and that was slathered in so much tomato and mustard sauces Oliver was tempted to call the food lifeguard to rescue them from the red and yellow sea.
In short, Percy served him a calorie meltdown overload.
" You're trying to kill me aren't you ? For the whole laundry ordeal right ?"
" What on earth are you on about now ? It's dinner."
Oliver jammed a fork roughly into one of the patties and waved the thick piece of meat in front of Percy's face. " You're trying to kill me with calorie overload Weasley and you know it !"
Percy snorted, pushing Oliver's fork out of the way and turning his attention back to the show playing on the muggle television. It was one of those muggle detective shows set in the English countryside, Midsummer Murders or the other. And it was absolutely riveting as far as Percy was concerned. But he was being distracted by other things. Like a certain Keeper continually shoving his burger loaded fork in his face and giggling like a small schoolboy in the process.
" Oliver stop it ! I can' concentrate when you're waving that big piece of meat in my face !"
" I should hope not ! Many have fallen under its hypnotic proportions when I whip it out."
Percy gaped at him. Oliver grinned. " High opinion you got of yourself there Ol."
" Tis the truth though Perce."
Shaking his head the redhead turned his gaze back to the television and back to the plot, in doing so not knowing that Oliver was not watching the television as well but stealing glances at the thoroughly engrossed redhead. They ate the rest of the meal in silence, perpetrated only by the sounds of the television and the soft hum from the refrigerator back in the kitchen. It was only when the end credits rolled and Percy collected his dishes and Oliver's to turn towards the kitchen that he caught the other lad looking directly at him.
" Oliver ?"
The other lad shook himself as if awaking from a dream and smiled at Percy, already himself getting up from the lounge. " Sorry about that mate. Guess I'm more tired from the trip and my little dance show earlier than I first thought."
Percy looked like he didn't believe him but nodded and turned to go towards the kitchen, this time with Oliver hot on his heels. When he saw Oliver come around the corner following him Percy was mentally glad he was walking in front of him and not behind him as the last thing he needed to see before going to bed was a scanty brief clad Quidditch toned arse.
Got enough of that in those jeans he wore earlier. And I got enough problems with dancing kilted Keepers in my dreams as it is. I don't bloody well need low rider brief clad one's joining them as well. Knowing my luck they'd all wanna start an orgy or something.
" I wash, you dry aye ?"
Percy nodded, already turning on the taps and filling the sink of water for him before reaching underneath the cabinet for a cloth to dry. Oliver smiled as Percy handed over the two dishes and their cutlery before throwing them all rather loudly into the suds and water.
" I had a good time today. You ?"
Percy nodded, taking one of the washed plates from Oliver. " It was rather nice, though I hate to think about the state of my In tray when I get back to work tomorrow morning."
" What makes you sure you can go back to work tomorrow ?"
" I Flooed them while you were getting dressed, or rather undressed, before I started dinner. Said the problem was solved rather quickly and that I could return to work as normal tomorrow."
Oliver nodded but Percy noted the sharp turn of disappointment show on those sharp features as the man turned to hand him the other plate. He was about to ask what was a matter but the Keeper just as fast snapped on a happy smile, handing over the rest of the cutlery and pulling out the plug to let the water out.
" Well then, I guess that leaves me to my own devices tomorrow."
Percy nodded as he finished wiping the rest of the dishes before resting them and the cloth on the smooth side of the bench. " Maybe we could do something after work. See a movie or something ?"
Oliver smirked, raised an eyebrow rather suggestively. " The or something sounds rather good if you'd like to play it that way love."
Percy chuckled and lightly slapped Oliver on the shoulder before making his way out of the kitchen. " Save that for your girlfriend Ol."
A look of shock skipped over the Scottish lad's features but he quickly contained himself before replying, though his words were suddenly sounding hollow and forced.
" I take it you haven't read the article yet ?"
Percy paused. " Pardon ? What does the article have to do with.."
Oliver just smiled at the other lad, pushing himself off the bench and walking past Percy and in the direction of the hallway. " I'm beat Perce. I'll see you in the morning then."
" But Oliver, what are you on..."
" Goodnight Perce."
And before Percy could protest he was met with the sound of the door to Oliver's room slamming shut and the strong sense of jackass perpetrating his mind as he stared at the hallway and just beyond it Oliver's door.
Did I miss something ?
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BEEP. YOU HAVE, ONE NEW MESSAGE.
Hey, it's me here. Listen, I thought about this plan and so far it's not going as well as I'd hoped. I mean, I thought it would be easy at first, but that was before I knew I was encountering a bloke who was thicker than lead and just as bloody dense ! You have to give me more time or he won' get my messages ! He hasn' even read the fuckin' article for Christ's sake ! I need more time ! Can you get the ministry to give him sick leave or something like that so I get more time to be with Perce ? I need more time and you are the only lass who can help me out.
Call me as soon as you get this.
I'm countin' on ye.
BEEP. END OF FINAL MESSAGE. TO RETURN MESSAGE, DIAL...
TBC...