Author: WhtChoc
Title: Runaway Love
Chapter Title: About Chelsea and Spare Bedrooms
Chapter Began: I forgot to add this so I don't know. It was a couple weeks ago.
Chapter Finished: Saturday, November 17, 2007
Chapter Published: Saturday, November 17, 2007
Rating: R…
Disclaimer: None of the HP characters are mine.
Author's Note: Enjoy this chapter!
Also, there are a few things in here that are unrealistic but this is a fake story, so I hope you will forgive me!
Chapter Twenty: About Chelsea and Spare Bedrooms"—Whoa, whoa, say that again?"
Bella narrowed her eyes in frustration at her boyfriend, feeling the sudden urge to smack him upside the head.
Remus stepped in, though. "Sirius, she's repeated it four times for you--"
"—And it never sinks in." Sirius threw his arms up. "The only thing I got is that guy over there speaking to Lily, James, and Moody is--"
"Chelsea!" Bella whispered harshly, trying to keep her voice down as the three of them watched the awkward exchange between James and Chelsea from a distance in the Auror Headquarters lobby. "The guy! The one who everyone thought had been murdered!"
Sirius stared dumbly. "Aren't people who get shot supposed to stay dead?"
"Well, obviously, he faked his own death." Remus answered easily, folding his arms.
"It's not legal, right?" Bella asked, nodding to Chelsea who was trying to put distance between him and James. "He's going to get arrested, isn't he?"
"Technically, he's in the custody of the Headquarters, now. He has to comply with all of their rules." Remus explained. "But, seeing as he saved Lily and turned in a kingpin of the only feared gang on the West Coast, I'm thinking Moody's going to let him off on partial charges, maybe all of them if they get what they want from him."
"What makes a guy want to fake his own death?" Sirius wondered aloud as they watched James walk away from Moody, Lily, and Chelsea.
Remus shrugged. "In that kind of world, there could be a dozen possibilities, each one as relevant as the last."
Bella frowned in concern as James joined them. She rubbed his shoulder. "What's going on?"
James sat down on the couch and moved his hand through his hair. "They needed some privacy. They said I was a distraction, that I was sulking too much."
Bella smirked knowingly. "How could that possibly be?"
"It's not my fault." James folded his arms stubbornly, fixing his gaze on the floor. "Isn't a guy who gets shot supposed to be dead?"
"James--" Remus warned.
"That's what I said!" Sirius clapped his hands together.
"Sirius." Bella glared at him and then looked at her brother again. "Do you think we'll be able to get anything out of Chelsea about--?"
James shrugged. "Who knows? He's only willing to talk to Lily and Moody about it." He paused, shaking his head. "And the way he looks at Lily, like he knows her more than anyone--"
"Which we all know is not true," Remus said quickly.
"Absolutely." Bella said at once. "Right, Sirius?"
"No, I'm with James on this." Sirius shook his head, glancing at Moody's closed office door and gaining annoyed looks from Remus and Bella. "A guy who fakes his own death and won't tell anyone why? I wouldn't trust him, especially if I were James."
"Well, since we've all benefited from your advice before…" Bella remarked sarcastically.
"James, Lily's with you now." Remus looked concerned. "I think you should keep a cool head with Chelsea around."
"And please, I beg you not to turn into a freaky guy." Bella said, smiling at her brother.
Remus nodded shortly. "Bella's right, James. If Lily thinks we should give Chelsea the benefit of the doubt, then we should trust her judgment."
Sirius patted his best friend on the back, sitting beside James on the couch. "Don't worry, Prongs. I'm on the same page as you."
…
"What would you like, sweetie?" The bartender asked.
"What do you have?" Lily asked, knowing she sounded like an amateur.
"She'll have a coke and rum…" A voice said from behind her.
Lily turned and saw a man with dark brown hair and attractive blue eyes coming to take a seat next to her, glancing at her with a smirk. "Who the hell are you?"
The man looked at the bartender. "—And I'll have the same."
The bartender glanced between Lily and the newcomer before nodding and walking away to do his job.
Lily glared at the man sitting next to her. "I asked you a--"
"Chelsea Kiaz and you are?" He held out his hand smoothly.
She disregarded his hand and continued to glare. "None of your goddamned business."
Chelsea whistled. "Temper, hmm?"
She sent him a sarcastic smile. "It happens when someone assumes that they know what I want."
The bartender came back, setting down their drinks.
Chelsea took his and stood up. He leaned in closer to Lily, his lips brushing the outer shell of her ear as he spoke. "I was doing you a favor. I'll be expecting something in return."
She blushed deep red as she watched him disappear in the crowd.
…
Chelsea sighed when he flipped on a switch in his apartment.
"You were flirting with her."
He turned to see the older man he'd only gotten to know over the last nine months sitting on his favorite chair with a book sprawled about in his lap.
Chelsea narrowed his eyes. "You were there?"
"She's very pretty, isn't she, Chelsea?"
The younger man shrugged. "She's just different."
"And you're confused as to why she's purposefully putting herself in harm's way."
Chelsea leaned against the small desk in his studio apartment, folding his arms and studying the white haired man in front of him. "I'm confused about a lot of things."
"You can't get too close, Chelsea."
"I'm not."
"Not in accordance to Severus--"
"You had Snape tracking me?" The younger man scoffed. "I thought you didn't want him anywhere near--"
"If something were to go wrong, if someone were to suspect you, I would need to know about it. You can't have all eyes, Chelsea. Not if you desire what I desire."
"I'm still not too clear about all of this. You come to me nine months ago, load all of this war shit on me, and expect me to--" The older man cut Chelsea off. The worst part was that Chelsea always felt useless, not in control when he did that.
"I need to know that you will not jeopardize this mission, the task I have set ahead for you. It's very important…"
"I gave you my word." Chelsea said, clenching his jaw.
The older man nodded briefly. "And now I need your action."
…
"Stalking really isn't a turn on for girls…"
Chelsea smirked when he saw the redhead turn to face him. They were alone in an alleyway.
"What the hell are you doing following me?" Her emerald eyes blazed with anger.
He shrugged, nonchalantly. "I saw you walking."
She frowned, narrowing her eyes. "From where?"
He smiled, slowly approaching her and he couldn't help but notice that she tensed. He'd watched her for a couple of weeks and since their first encounter at the bar, he'd been careful to stay out of her sight. It was hard but he'd been able to track all of her usual hangouts and parties. It sickened him, the places and people she surrounded herself with, but he was told he couldn't interfere. This was just a setback. He wouldn't hear the end of it, after.
"Um, from your house…" He looked at her, guilty.
"I could have you arrested." She gritted her teeth.
"You could." He shrugged. "But, with all of the drugs you carry on your person and the illegal parties you've been spotted at…"
"How do you know about…?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Then why are you following me?" She tilted her head up.
"You owe me."
She frowned. "What?"
"I bought you a drink a while back." He gave her a half smile. "I said I expected something in return. I want it now."
…
"And your middle name?"
Lily smiled, shaking her head and looking down. "I can't—I'm too embarrassed."
Chelsea laughed. "It can't be any worse than Muriel."
"You're right." She shook her head again and locked gazes with him. "It can't be."
He flicked her ear lightly with his forefinger. "I was honest and now it's your turn."
Lily didn't answer but stared down at her half empty bowl of ice cream. "I think I'm full."
He frowned, glancing into her bowl. "You've barely touched anything. Eat a little more."
"I can't. My stomach is going to explode." She frowned, rubbing her abdomen.
"You look like you haven't eaten in days." He studied her carefully. He knew she hadn't and he was curious to see if she would share that information with him. Part of him knew she never would. There was a certain pride and dignity in this girl that he couldn't quite place. It was enough to make him lie on his bed at night in wonder.
She chanced a sideways glance at him, worried.
He frowned, concerned. "What?"
"What did you just say?"
"I said you look like you haven't eaten in days." He looked into her gorgeous green eyes.
"Chelsea…" She stood up from her spot at his kitchen table. "This is—this is too much right now."
"What is?" He stood up as well.
"I know what you do." She said, looking up at him as he came to stand directly in front of her.
"What?"
"I know that you watch me. All of the time." She began to tremble. "Even when I know it's impossible that you can all of the time. I know you do. Somehow."
He couldn't deny it. He was taught to, trained to, but looking into her eyes and standing so close to her, he couldn't lie. "Lily, why do you go back to Lucius? Lionel?"
She froze.
"You're better than both of them." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Better than me."
Her eyes softened. "Can I tell you something? Something I haven't even—something I haven't shared with anyone?"
He breathed in deeply, his mind racing. His heartbeat accelerated. This was his reason for getting as close to her as he had. This was his sole purpose, he was sure of it. But he was scared. "Sure, what is it?"
She smiled. "I have this—this book."
He tensed at the word. It was.
"It has this list of names. Something my dad always wanted me to have but only gave it to me just before they took me away from him." She paused, breathing in deeply. "They're famous, too, Chelsea."
He knew that.
"Anyways, when the time is right, I'm going to contact them. And I'm going to go act like I've always wanted." She seemed to stress over the last part of what she wanted to say. "Do you—do you, maybe, want to come, um, with me? Maybe?"
He looked at her.
…
"I'm telling you that you were right. She has it and she showed me."
The older man sighed, rubbing his temple. "Chelsea, would you sit down?"
"She asked me to go with her."
"You know--"
"I know!" He shoved the books off his desk in unbridled anger.
"Chelsea, it's necessary for you at this point to keep a level head." The older man advised, calmly. "I think it's time that I tell you."
Chelsea paused. "Tell me what?"
"Miss Evans' book, it has a name. The Book of Six, named cleverly by a small group of ambitious young men striving to get up from underneath their fathers' strangling hold and to make a name for themselves on their own. Without their father's help."
Chelsea shook his head, confused. "Du--"
"Miss Evans knows the Book of Six as the only possession she has left of her father and a guide to a world of fame and fortune." The older man paused and swallowed calmly. "And it was that, but unfortunately, is not anymore. The names are long outdated. The only use the Book of Six holds at this time are names and numbers of people able to sneak in keys to provide the underground with endless supplies of drugs."
"Why is this important?"
"Miss Evans is in danger, Chelsea." The other man scratched his beard thoughtfully. "She has very dangerous men plotting to rob her. And you've faked it long enough to know that a woman who gets robbed in this world stands little chance at survival."
"What can we do? What can I do?"
The other man stood up slowly. "It is obvious that you harbor feelings for Miss Evans and before long, your feelings will have clouded our original plan. I plan to remove you from the mission temporarily and place you under the watch of Severus."
Chelsea made a loud sound of disgust. "I strongly dislike--"
"You will have no choice, Chelsea." The other man waved his hand dismissively. "The way in which I plan to pull you out of this mission is definitive. There is no coming back."
Chelsea followed his mentor. "And what is that?"
"Death, Chelsea." There was a pause. "You will die."
…
"Severus has told me the news. You have been initiated as one of them as we planned."
Chelsea nodded briefly.
"And there were no problems that arose of your supposed demise?"
Chelsea shook his head.
"Good. Then, Riddle is more desperate than I suspected."
"How is she?" He had to know.
The older man paused. "She is hurting. You meant a lot to her, Chelsea. She'll never forget you."
"She needs someone."
"I agree."
…
"Riddle recruited Malfoy, just as you thought." Chelsea reported.
"And is he upset that Malfoy hasn't fulfilled his task?"
"Furious." Chelsea answered. "Riddle has ordered an attack on—on Lily for tonight, at the Shelter."
"Very well."
The younger man shrugged, helplessly. "Are we not to interfere?"
"If the Order of Phoenix interferes, Riddle and the Death Eaters will know that someone was informed in advance. A little digging into backgrounds and the answer will lead straight to you. I do not wish for a revelation, Chelsea. It is best we only watch."
"And what?" Chelsea asked, anger boiling in him. "Hope the bullets don't kill Lily?"
"Hope, Chelsea, is the strongest form of prayer."
"Still, you're playing with fire, old man."
"If you wish for revelation, go then." There was no movement. "The drive by will not be the killer. Riddle is cleverer than that. It's a scare. But luckily, I am no fool. The drive by will scare Lily, true, but it will propel the Potters who are closer to her to initiate an investigation. I have a dear friend in the PI business. We will be able to man handle the results from there."
"How do you know all of this?" Chelsea wondered.
The older man simply shrugged. "I guess."
…
"You interrupted--"
"She was about to find out who you were, Chelsea. Severus had to--"
"I wouldn't have let her pull my mask off or something!" Chelsea shouted, throwing his arms about. "And besides, what is Snape still doing near the case? He got caught last time!"
"Chelsea, calm down."
"No!" He didn't feel like calming down, he felt like shouting. "I'm tired of pretending I'm dead. I hate seeing Riddle up close and not being able to do anything about it. Same with Lily! You know, she's with that stuck up Potter fool, right?"
The older man looked contemplative. "I am aware…"
"They don't belong together! They don't…"
"Chelsea, it is imperative that you not do anything rash. We are so very close."
"You keep saying that but I don't see it."
"Very well." There was a pause. "Kingsley has informed me that Riddle has ordered Lucius Malfoy to kidnap Jordan Gakdut during Thanksgiving. He hopes that it will lure Miss Evans away from the Potters long enough for Damek to snatch her. If you wish, it is close enough to the time where you can reveal yourself alive to the public again."
"And then what?"
"We expand our team, Chelsea."
…
Moody stared at Chelsea for a long minute, taking in all of the information and situation laid out in front of them.
Moody cleared his throat. "You've left out gaping holes."
Chelsea rolled his eyes and answered, "I told you all that matters."
"Except for names and details." Moody leaned in closer to Chelsea, gritting his teeth. "I hate liars, Chelsea."
"I'm not lying." He glanced between Moody and Lily before settling his gaze on Moody's and holding it. "Severus Snape was already a Death Eater when Du—when our mentor went to him to ask for help."
"And you expect us to just believe that a Death Eater dropped all of his stuff to follow an old man whose best case scenarios were guesses?" Moody asked, incredulously. "This is all a load of bullshit, Chelsea. Don't feed me B.S. What was this old man's name?"
"I can't tell you that."
Moody laughed. "Why did Lucius kidnap Lily? How did he?"
"Lily went to them. Damek attacked her, drugged her, and she passed out." He seemed careful not to look at the redhead just then. "Malfoy kidnapped her because she has the Book of Six. His boss, Riddle, wants it."
"So why not steal it from her?"
Chelsea shook his head. "They don't know where it is."
"Why does this book matter?"
"It has names. Most of the names are outdated but the ones that count, if you know who you're looking for, can get you keys imported into the States. The more keys, the more power and pull you have in the underground."
"Seems a little common for a dangerous kingpin like Riddle." Moody said off-handedly.
"It's not." Chelsea answered. "The Death Eaters' influence in the underground world is quickly taking over. Their brutality and greed are much less preferred than the underground's usual petty crimes and illegal raves. You're almost talking about the Mob or the KKK when you talk about the Death Eaters."
"And some mysterious old man came to you to get close to Lily?"
"I was studying criminology. Top in my class." Chelsea said quietly. "I was interested."
"And you faked your own death when you got too close?" Moody asked, narrowing his eyes.
Chelsea nodded briefly.
"And it was you who kept contacting us?"
Chelsea nodded again.
Moody leaned in closer. "Faking your own death, associating with a well known kingpin, and probably a whole load of other shit you've done while wearing the Death Eater mask is what you're up against so you better comply with all of our rules and do exactly as I say, you hear me?"
There was silence.
"But because you've been polite so far, I'm going to take you out of these cuffs. You go anywhere without our consent, we send you straight to the feds. Understand?"
Chelsea nodded and lifted his wrists as far as they could go. Moody unlocked the cuffs and they fell away from the younger man's wrists. He exhaled slowly.
"Now, you're in a lot of danger. It's almost crucial that you do nothing without informing us first." Moody said quietly. "And I'm assuming that you have a place to stay?"
The younger man shook his head. "I attacked Lucius Malfoy and now he's been arrested and sits in jail awaiting answers. His minions will know it was me who attacked him and will have already informed Riddle of my involvement with the investigation. Before today, Riddle suspected Damek's betrayal. Now, there will be no doubt."
"Is that your long way of saying that you don't have a place to stay?" Moody asked, dryly.
Chelsea nodded briefly.
Moody rolled his eyes and for the first time, he settled his gaze on Lily, who sat in the chair next to Chelsea, staring at her twisting hands. He realized then how nervous she was and just as he opened his mouth to address her, she looked up at him with a determined blaze in her eyes.
"Detective Moody, I think we have a place for him to stay. Just until you find a safe-house, or something." Her voice trembled slightly with uncertainty but the look she had upon features let Moody know that she was serious and adamant on her next suggestion.
Moody humored her. "And where will that be, Miss Evans?"
"Well," she began slowly, her eyes quickly glancing at Chelsea and looking away just as suddenly, "if you give me a moment or two with James, I could try to persuade him to allow Chelsea to stay in the extra bedroom in our apartment."
She didn't miss the sharp intake of breath from the strange man sitting beside her at the mention of sharing an apartment with her boyfriend. An image suddenly appeared in her mind of the moment just before he leaned down to kiss her passionately and she remembered the feelings of shock and betrayal that sprung to life within her stomach. She shoved those reemerging thoughts out of her mind and she focused on gazing at Moody with a confidence she didn't feel on her insides.
"I'm sure Chelsea doesn't cause a threat now, as he did save me from a sick kind of torture at the hands of Lucius Malfoy." Lily added quickly, although she was sure that if Moody were to make his decision, he would think the last statement was irrelevant and disregard it. Of course Chelsea Kiaz posed a threat, whether criminally or personally.
Moody shook his head. "That won't be necessary, Miss Evans. I'm sure--"
"I insist." Lily interrupted firmly, causing Moody to close his mouth. "Although Lucius has undoubtedly informed Riddle that I am staying with James, I'm certain Mr. Potter has seen to it that no one knows the exact location to where his children live, save Bella who lives on campus. James's apartment is secure. And if it's not," she glanced at Chelsea again who seemed equally surprised by her boldness with the private investigator, "then I'm sure you will provide special services to make sure his apartment is safe and secure."
Moody regarded the young woman sitting in front of him carefully, wondering if she was as dangerous as Chelsea Kiaz.
…
James stood up quickly when he saw Lily step out of Moody's office alone. He watched as she quietly closed the door behind her and turned. He was only vaguely aware that his sister and friends watched the redhead approach them in the lobby. She looked tired and sad, and he mentally cursed Chelsea Kiaz for causing her those emotions.
He remembered coming home with her earlier, and wanting to gather her in his arms to comfort her. She only said that she wanted to go for a walk. It was only a few hours later when he received a phone call from the Auror Headquarters that Lily was missing but that the informant had contacted them, letting them know exactly where she was being held that he began to get really nervous. And then, all at once, he was relieved again because they found her and some mysterious man had saved her. And then, they found out who the informant was, and everything began to go down hill from there for James.
"How are you guys doing in there?" Bella asked as Lily came to stand in front of James.
He wanted to reach out and take her in his arms. He didn't want his sister or his friends to ask her a lot of questions.
Lily shrugged. "It's difficult sorting out the story but he's cooperating."
"I just can't believe the guy faked his own death." Sirius muttered and received an annoyed punch from Bella.
Remus fixed his concerned gaze on Lily. "How are you holding up?"
Lily glanced up at James and tried to smile but failed. She shrugged again, looking away from her boyfriend. "I could use a whole lot of sleep right now." She paused and gazed at James again. "Can I—can I talk to you for a minute? In private?"
James nodded and followed as Lily led him away from the lobby and down a narrow hallway. She stopped just before a door and turned slowly to face him. The tired smile slid away from her facial features and she sighed heavily, running a hand through her red tresses. He clenched his jaw to keep from touching it.
"I'm so sorry."
He looked into her eyes, confused suddenly. "Why are you sorry?"
She shook her head, shrugging carelessly. "For everything. For going to the campus and looking for trouble. I just needed to know that Jordan was okay."
James tried to smile to reassure her. "Hey, everything is fine right now. You're safe. He's safe. We caught Malfoy and Moody's working on the informant."
She looked at him suddenly when he finished the last word. He knew she would figure out that he refused to acknowledge Chelsea's name. As far as he was concerned, Chelsea was still the informant, nothing more. But, he was also curious and suspicious and angry all at once. He knew she would be able to realize that.
He smiled and said playfully, "So, you brought me down a sketchy hallway to apologize for something that isn't your fault? Really?"
She inhaled deeply. "No, I—I needed to ask a favor of you. Please."
"What is it?"
She seemed to have difficulty answering right away. "I—I was wondering if Chelsea could stay in the spare bedroom at the apartment. I mean, he has virtually no place to go and if he goes back to his apartment, he could be killed. Really, this time. Now that he's revealed himself to the investigation, it would be dangerous for him to return back to similar locations. And Moody wasn't able to come up with a place right away and--"
Jealousy flared to life in James's stomach as his girlfriend stood in front of him trying to persuade him to lend his spare bedroom in his apartment to the guy that she almost fell in love with two years ago. Part of him was diplomatic enough to keep his facial expressions neutral but the ugly thing inside him that erupted when Lily revealed that the informant was Chelsea Kiaz reared its head and started its poison in his blood.
"—And Moody has even agreed to have investigators stake out across the street. Chelsea will have an ankle bracelet that will track his every movement. It'll just be until Moody can get him into a safe-house." Lily's eyes pleaded with James to understand and to accept. "Please, James? As a favor to me?"
James took a long deep breath, his mind racing with all sorts of things to say to that. Instead, though, he smiled tightly and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess. I mean--"
She smiled widely for the first time that day and leaned up, cutting his sentence off with a kiss. What she intended as a simple, thankful gesture, he took greedily and turned it into a passionate kiss. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against the full length of his body. His tongue ran along the entrance of her mouth and she moaned, granting him access.
He growled in satisfaction when she walked him backward so that his back hit the wall and she pressed into him intimately. Their thighs entwined as her hands massaged and tangled their way through his thick, dark hair. Their kiss became hotter and more x-rated than it should have been when their tongues began to duel wetly and wildly. His erection grew larger and he shoved it into the juncture of her thighs, causing her to moan deeply in the back of her throat.
His lips, tongue, and teeth traveled across her face to the crook of her neck and shoulder. Her hands held his head firmly as he began to rock his erection against her. She responded whole-heartedly, throwing a leg over his thigh and moaning his name through parted lips. Their lips met again as he slammed her against the opposite wall, thrusting wildly against her.
"James…" Her voice sounded like a plea.
"Lily, I can't stop," James answered, rocking still. "I need you."
She moaned in satisfaction at his admission. "I know. Me too."
As much as he wanted to continue, he knew that his sister and friends were only yards away and taking Lily in the hallway, although tempting, was inappropriate. He reluctantly pulled away and released her just as she slid down the wall so that her feet were firmly on the floor. He looked at her and loved what he saw: a woman who wanted him just as much as he wanted her.
She patted her hair, nervously. "You think we'll make it?"
James frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Well, not to start anything all over again, but I can't keep my hands off you."
His hard-on throbbed painfully in his pants and his frown deepened as his expression took on a pained look.
"I don't know about you, but I'm used to being able to have you whenever I want." She motioned to the lobby. "Now we have to be nice."
He groaned. "You should go."
She nodded and quickly agreed, "Yeah, I'm going to go—tell Chelsea he has a room."
He watched her walk quickly down the hall and out of sight. He stood there for a long time, taking in deep breaths to calm himself before making his way back into the lobby to where his friends sat, pretending they didn't know what the couple had been doing in the back. He came to stand on the carpet and placed his hands in his pockets.
"You guys can stop pretending, you know." He smiled slowly.
"Do you two ever think about anything besides sex?" Bella groaned.
"She looked pretty frustrated that you lovebirds had to stop, Prongs. Good going." Sirius patted his friend on the knee.
Remus rolled his eyes. "What did she want to talk to you about?"
James's smile wore off. "The inf—Chelsea. He'll be staying at my apartment for a while."
Silence greeted him and it was so much worse than he could have ever imagined. He glanced at Moody's office and could see Chelsea stand up slowly as Lily probably told him that her boyfriend had said yes. He clenched his jaw tightly and dangerously when Chelsea leaned down and gave Lily a hug.
"Breathe, James. Breathe."
…
A/N: It took a while but this is it. Hope you enjoyed! Next chapter should be fun.