Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original character and the situations all characters find themselves in. Everything else belongs to someone else and that's the way the lawyers intended to keep it. Thanks so much for reading, I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!
Internal Storms
Standing on one of the castle's turrets with arms comfortable crossed over the stone wall in front of him, Scorpius looked out into the night's sky. The sky was grey and cloudy, a lightening storm well in the process. The rain was coming down strong but light and Scorpius was already soaked from head to toe. But he was beyond noticing or caring, his mind consumed by the show nature was putting on for him. He was part of the storm, and saw himself in it.
Ever since he'd been a child Scorpius had loved storms, had headed outdoors as soon as one started if he could get away from his parents, who were convinced he'd be hit by lightening. It hadn't happened yet, but that didn't seem to comfort them at all. Scorpius figured there were a lot worse ways to die, especially when you were a Malfoy, but had always thought better of saying so.
He had for a time stopped watching, had been unable to watch, but those days had thankfully passed. Thinking of those days made his hand go to the ear Al had touched earlier in the day. He'd never told Al, but he'd gotten his first earring because of him. He'd overheard some of Al's female cousins in Diagon Alley discussing whether men should wear earrings or not, and he'd heard Al side with the pro earring cousins. Getting the earring after that had been an impulse, and he probably would have let the hole close up and heal over if Al hadn't kissed him senseless shortly after he'd gotten it.
He couldn't see a thunder storm and not think of that kiss.
It had been like it was now that day. It had been just before supper, most everyone indoors because of the crappy weather. He'd come out to watch the show, not really all that hungry or eager to share a meal with a table full of people who likely hoped for him to be struck by lightening. He'd been standing out on one of Hogwart's many balconies, his eyes closed and head tilted upwards towards the sky, water sliding over his face and body, soaking through his school uniform minus the robe, which he'd left on a nearby bench. It was then that he'd sensed another's presence.
He'd opened his eyes and turned his head, mind boggling when he'd seen Al Potter in the very same pose, head tilted upward, though the other boy had turned his head to look in his direction when he'd felt the questioning gaze. Al had grinned at him then, his own white school shirt and trousers drenched from the rain. Al hadn't said a word as he he's turned back to watch the sky, and he himself hadn't seemed able to find any. So they'd gone back to watching the sky, Scorpius aware of the silent company in every nerve of his being.
They'd stood out in that rain for at least an hour, not speaking a word to each other until the rain lightened up and the clouds began to dissipate. Only then had Al turned to face him, and had asked him a question that had startled him, so seemingly random and out of nowhere.
'What would you do if a guy kissed you?' was what he'd asked, and Scorpius had responded without thinking, stating that he'd break the guy's nose. And then Al had reached out, running the back of his hand over his cheek and said words he'd never forget.
"Then here's hoping it's worth a broken nose."
And Al had kissed him.
Up to that point he'd had no idea Al was remotely interested in him. He'd had a crush on him, but had never thought he'd have a chance in hell of even being friends with his natural enemy. How could a Malfoy ever hope to be liked by a Potter after all? Al had told him later he'd thought the exact same thing.
He'd never been kissed before, and Scorpius knew instinctively he would remember till the day he died every detail of that first kiss. The scents of fall and rain, of each other as they stood chest to chest, their hair and clothes plastered against their skins. Rain had slithered down their faces, cool in contrast to the shocking heat of mouths meeting, hands hesitantly, so slowly placed on soaked clothing and through drenched hair. Only vaguely had he been aware of the thunder, the sound of their hearts beating far louder in comparison. Al had tasted of the rain, the chocolate he'd eaten earlier, and the unique flavor all his own. He'd never been able to get enough of that flavor.
And it was while Scorpius was lost in remembering that particular moment that his senses picked up the presence of another, sharply drawing him back to the present. His eyes remained closed though, knowing exactly who it was who'd intruded upon his thoughts.
"You'll get sick if you stay out in this much longer." Was all Al said, the Gryffindor shoving his hands in his pockets as he turned around and headed back inside, his steps fading until all was silent once more.
Eyes opening then Scorpius felt the rain drops spill down his cheek like tears.
How appropriate.
)
His back up against the castle wall while sitting width wise on his bed Gellert silently fumed as he edited an assignment he had due for Arithmancy. He barely had to think about what he was doing, it wasn't like there was any assignment a professor could assign him that he couldn't handle with both hands tied behind his back. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd found school remotely challenging, which was unfortunate, since he could really use a distraction for his brain right about now. Anything to take his mind off Albus.
Gellert was still fuming over Albus's refusal to tell him whether or not he had any piercings, not to mention the fact that there was still one tattoo he hadn't seen. The way his luck was going it was probably horribly tacky or sentimental, he thought darkly. He'd wasted several hours now coming up with various possibilities, ranging from the names of people who'd played an important role in Albus's life to some sort of tribal tattoo. Tribal tattoos always seemed to be in style for some reason. Probably saving the worst for last, knowing his luck. He could tolerate the Gryffindor coat of arms, and there were worse things to tattoo on ones wrist than the eight symbols for the samurai code of honor, but still, he didn't like it. He really, really didn't like it.
Looking up from the assignment he wasn't really working on Gellert raised an eyebrow when his bedroom curtains parted slightly and Albus stuck his head in.
"May I come in for a couple minutes?"
Since there were few things he wanted more than Albus on his bed Gellert only problem with the idea was that Albus only intended to stay for a couple minutes. He'd just have to change that, Gellert decided as he motioned Albus in. Come into my web, said the spider to the fly.
Thinking along those lines as well Albus nervously crawled onto the bed before sitting up on his knees, absently pulling out his wand to sound proof the area so that their conversation would not be overheard. This was embarrassing enough as it was. And it could probably get much worse, he thought as he returned his wand to his pocket.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Gellert inquired, amused both by the sound proofing and by the fact that Albus was so obviously keeping distance between them by remaining so close to the curtains and the exit they provided.
Taking a deep breath Albus launched into his planned speech before he lost his nerve. "I want to know if you really do find me physically attractive. And before you go into a rant about how I've become vain and narcissistic I want you to listen to my reasoning. One is that you've never said so before, and two, I know what a good lair you are. You're the best I've ever come across. Lying is like a spell or charm to you, something to be said to get the results you desire regardless of the consequences. I don't want to be lied to anymore by you. We are never going to remotely get along if you do. So I'm asking you, point blank, was what you said earlier a lie you told me because you thought it was what I'd want to hear? And if you weren't lying, why did you never say so before when we were actually together?"
"Seeing as we were sleeping together you would think the answer would be obvious."
"People sleep with people they don't find attractive."
Opening his mouth to point out that people who did that were generally prostitutes who did it for personal gain a new idea occurred to Gellert. Cocking his head to the side in deep concentration Gellert really thought about everything Albus had said to him earlier, analyzing the words, taking into account Albus's reactions and body language, Albus's comments about his manipulative habits. Then taking into account his past behavior, the determination and drive he'd shown for his past cause, and his decided lack of morals, well, Gellert suddenly had a very good idea why Albus could possibly think he would do such a thing.
"Albus…do you think I slept with you because I saw it as a way of manipulating you?"
"The thought's occurred to me. Often."
Since Albus was essentially calling him a whore Gellert knew he should probably be a bit more pissed off than he was. But truthfully, if he was being honest with himself, Gellert couldn't deny that in his past life he wouldn't have been above using sex to manipulate someone for his personal gain. Not that he had, but then he had never needed to go that far to get what he wanted since the Muggles had always made it so damn easy for him in that respect. And truthfully, after Albus he hadn't really cared overly who he'd had sex with. He had actually avoided the whole thing all together as much as possible, scratching the itch only when necessary. Since intellectual stimulation was his favorite foreplay…well to say the sex after Albus was subpar would be a major understatement.
"How will you know I'm telling the truth either way, no matter what I say?" Gellert finally pointed out, his mind still whirling away as he continued to analyze and dissect. "If I'm so great a liar, you've only my word, which you apparently have little trust in."
"I do know when you're lying…I was just really good at lying to myself back then about what you did and didn't mean."
Intrigued at the idea Gellert wondered just how much of that was true. Probably most of it, or at least the truth as Albus liked to believe it. He wondered what Albus would say if he were to tell him that he'd been more honest and real with Albus than he ever had with anyone else.
"So will you answer me?" Albus pressed, seeing easily that he was losing Gellert to whatever thoughts were going through the other man's head.
Turning his attention back to Albus Gellert considered various approaches, before deciding that blunt honesty was necessary. Setting aside his work and recapping the ink pot Gellert motioned Albus's closer with a wave of his hand. "Come here. You have my word I won't try anything."
Since he didn't remotely trust Gellert's word Albus simply crossed his arms in front of him stubbornly.
Not the least put off Gellert drew his wand and had casted the spell before Albus had time to register the action. "Accio Albus."
Flying forward Albus quickly found himself straddling his former lover's lap, one of Gellert's arms wrapping around his waist to hold him there while Gellert threw his wand onto the bedspread so that he could use that hand to effectively cut off Albus's ability to speak. Giving serious thought to biting Albus glared at Gellert over the man's fingers, eyes promising dire consequences if he wasn't freed ASAP.
"Just listen, then I promise I'll let you go." Mentally cursing again the difference in their heights Gellert looked up into Albus's eyes, his serious face in place. "In the past, and even now to some extent, I never saw people. They were just background, interchangeable blurs that I knew only as I needed to. People were all the same, and when we met in that graveyard I dismissed you like I did everyone else. I didn't see you, really see you, until that first night we had together. When I snuck into your house to talk to you and found you already asleep in your bed. I saw you then, and you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen then and now. I manipulated you plenty in those days, Albus but I slept with you because I wanted to. Because I wanted and needed you. My other goals had nothing to do with it. I didn't rhapsodize about your looks because I didn't realize you were stupid enough not to already know how beautiful you are. And that's the truth whether you care to believe it or not."
)
Drawing his hand back Gellert watched Albus watch him, the now deep blue eyes betraying nothing as they picked apart his words as he had done earlier. Gone was the blushing, stammering boy he'd been earlier, and he was now the Albus he remembered best. The Albus who was quite capable of shutting everyone out and revealing nothing. Strangely, he rather liked the stammering blushing more.
After a minute or two to digest Albus framed Gellert's face between his hands and gently placed the briefest of kisses on the other man's lips. "Thank you for answering me." Was all he said, moving his head so that they were cheek to cheek, closing his eyes so that Gellert couldn't see, couldn't know what those words meant to him. Wrapping his arms around Gellert's waist Albus simply held on and waited for Gellert to demand to be turned loose. Gellert wasn't the hugging sort unless sex was involved.
Unlike before Gellert was used to being hugged now, his mother and Anya seemed to like to do it with distressing regularity. He could tolerate it, especially when his mind was busy trying to figure out why such a brief kiss seemed so important somehow.
"You've become more affectionate." Gellert commented lightly, not returning the hug but not pushing Albus away either. He'd seen Albus and Potter exchange hugs and touches in the past week, simple displays of affection and bond that were at odds with the more reserved person Albus had been before. Public displays of affection had definite not been in style during their teenage years.
"I wasn't partially raised by the Weasleys before." Albus returned as a small smile crossed his lips. "My mother went back to work soon after having me and my father is not someone who should be left alone with a child younger than five. When my mother couldn't watch me I went to the Burrow to be babysat along with Al and whatever cousins happened to be visiting that day. Weasleys, especially Grandma Weasley, are very affectionate. It sort of rubbed off."
"And that's why you two are so close?"
"Actually, that's only part of it." Drawing back so that he could watch Gellert's face Albus grinned at him rather impishly. "Al is only an hour and twenty three minutes younger than I am. According to our mothers, who love to tell the story, he and I were even conceived on the same night. Al and I have been together since they put us side by side in the nursery."
"The same night?" Gellert returned with a skeptical look.
"Well you see." And now the grin widened. "My father and Al's worked together as Aurors and one day they were heading back to headquarters after lunch when the windows of a nearby shop exploded. Some kid disliked being told he wasn't old enough to purchase the Firewhiskey he was after. Anyway, our fathers went in, sorted out the mess, and repaired the window for the witch who had only just recently bought the shop. To thank them for their trouble she gave them each a bottle of her homemade liquor, a secret family recipe she told them. None the wiser they took the bottles home with them that night and popped the corks to share with their wives, unaware of the fact that what they were drinking was the soon to be illegal liquor known as Veela's Kiss."
"And they officers of the law." Smirking Gellert got the picture. Veela's Kiss was a banned substance owing to the fact that it took about a shot glass worth of it to have one's sex drive max out. Hence it being banned, since it could be used on someone without their knowledge and lead to sex that wouldn't have been consensual otherwise. It didn't take away a person's choice, but one apparently had to have a strong will to hold out against its affects and the cravings it inspired.
"Needless to say both our mothers were very happy the next morning, even more so when less then a month later they both found out they were pregnant."
"Do they still have the bottles?"
"Emptied, but yeah, or at least my mother still does. She keeps an arrangement of dried flowers in it on her bedroom dresser. She'd given up on having children you see ."
"Malfoy said your parents were older."
"Nearly twice the age of yours I'd imagine. My mother was almost thirty nine when she had me."
"And what happened to the witch who gave them the liquor in the first place?"
"Oh she and my mother are still very good friends. My mom was planning on naming me after her if I'd been born a girl. Thank God I wasn't, or I would have been Wilhemina Wimbledon."
"Say that ten times fast."
