Yes. Yes. Yes. Albus repeated the words to himself, deliriously.

Gell pressed Albus' body into the force field of the pentacle. His hands wrapped around his neck as he indulged in Albus' lips.

Albus did not need to compare this kiss to any he had experienced before; just unravelling in the man's embrace was enough for him to forget any other lips he had kissed.

Albus' hair swam in the stream of magic as his head hit the tangle of fibres that made up their protective dome. His arms, his neck, and his legs stung wildly as the magical vines, like vipers, nipped at the intruder entwined in them.

The gentle hum buzzed against Albus' ear. Gell's kiss deepened as Albus wove strands of blond locks through his fingers, pulling him in closer.

They kissed as though they were famished and when their appetites were subdued for a moment, drew apart, gasping for breath.

"Satisfied now?" Albus asked, dreading to hear any other answer besides 'no'.

Gell's eyes flashed. He softly traced his tongue over the outline of his lips; the reply nearly sent Albus to his knees. Oh, at that moment he thought he would do anything to gain his approval. He'd kiss every inch of his neck, his chest, his navel, the skin between his thigh and his cock, begging Gell to continue devouring him.

"Patience," Gell said, letting the wet and reddened skin of his lips tease and play over Albus'. Then finding an opening, Gell nipped his tongue until Albus could barely feel it.

Albus had done this before, but with Gell, it was so much better. Where had he learned to kiss like that? Who had he kissed like that? Whether it was because of the heat of the moment or the way Gell's nails began to tear at his shirt buttons, Albus' questioning ceased. He wanted nothing more than for Gell to keep going.

His cock hardened as he imagined what Gell's hands would do to him once he stripped him of his shirt and moved on to his trousers. Merlin, to have those hands working every pent-up frustration out of him in slow, controlled bursts would be wonderful.

Gell's treacherous hands picked at the final button, then he tossed Albus' shirt off.

"Your turn," he whispered, grabbing Albus' wrist and guiding him to repeat the favour.

In a clumsy attempt, fuelled by the heat of the moment, Albus undressed Gell. He pressed into his chest, willing to be closer; wanting nothing more but to consume him. To his pleasure, Gell reacted similarly.

Albus never tasted a tongue as sweet as Gell's in his mouth, letting it roam over his teeth. Albus moaned, sending all of Gell's advice about keeping his 'vocalisations' to himself to Hell. Merlin, he didn't care if the entire Underworld heard him.

Albus pushed Gell off, smoothing his shirt and gazing into his eyes.

"I've only suspected you could feel so strongly about me," Gell said, as he gasped for breath. He leaned back into the magical fibres that parted for their master. Glowing under their radiance, he looked at Albus coolly.

"I thought it was plain and obvious."

"And you say I am secretive. Albus, you are no open book yourself."

"Yet here I stand."

Diverted of his shirt, Albus waved his hands to either side, a wicked grin spreading over his face. Gell's look darkened as he pulled both hands over his chest, not ready to reciprocate, letting the space between them cool.

"Come now, it's no use being nervous," Albus said. "You do want this?"

"I need to be certain."

"I want you, Gell." Albus walked closer, brushing his cheek with the palm of his hand. "I've said it and… look at me…what other proof do you desire?"

"What would it take for you to despise me?"

Albus shook his head as Gell's question cut through the silence. "Why would I despise you?"

"If I told you I was expelled from Durmstrang-" Gell said.

"-I'd again say you were too talented for that lot of -"

"-for killing someone."

That certainly changed things. Albus looked at Gell, and a small voice inside him admitted that he did look like the type of wizard who could kill someone. His skills, his use of Dark Magic, and his unusual confidence in his success could all be factors of his strength. Gell did cast an Occlumency spell to push him out of his mind…but that was for self-defence. Wasn't it? Gell wouldn't actually destroy him….would he?

"Killing someone?"

"Yes."

Albus searched Gell's eyes as the questions swirled on his tongue. It was a question he decided he didn't want to know the answer to. Was it only one person?

"It was an unfortunate accident," Gell clarified.

"But they died?"

Gell's bravado shrank. "I knew you would eventually despise me. You were always too good for me."

Too good.

Albus grimaced. How could he be too good for Gell?

In an act of comforting him, Albus placed a hand on Gell's shoulder.

One touch led to much more. Gell looped his fingers around Albus' belt and tugged his hips to meet his. Then, he slipped his hands into the back of his trousers, under his pants, caressing his arse as he began to kiss Albus' neck.

The quiet smacking sounds trailed over his jaw and neck; the smell of Gell's arousal was no less evident than the fact that he was trying to distract him from the truth.

"Despise is a…strong word," Albus said. "But…I am shocked."

Albus suddenly grunted as his belt buckle clinked against Gell's over and over again. In a quickening rhythm, Gell's hips ground into his core, as his breath left a hot trail on his neck.

"Only shocked? Perhaps you are not so good after all, Albus," Gell said.

Albus wasn't supposed to be succumbing so quickly after such a startling revelation, yet his hardening cock was completely detached from every negative thought that tried to rouse him into sanity.

What was he doing?

Gell just told him he killed someone, potentially more than one person. Gell tried to hurt him. Albus should've left, should be leaving right now. With every second, every thrust, Albus promised himself he would. Clearly, he was a better liar than he imagined.

Albus moaned desperately, bucking himself into Gell. The rough fabric of his trousers brushed over his head and length.

Damn it if he allowed himself to be pleasured just this one time. Or, it would be better if he didn't…

Albus grabbed the waist of Gell's trousers. He'd push him off now. He would be angry. But his fingers stayed put, nimbly clenching the material and the leather belt as he allowed Gell to grind his core against him, crushing him into a handful of dust.

The clench of Albus' teeth and his tireless grunts soon ceased to be anything but a display of reluctant submission.

"You do hate me, Albus. You want me to leave. Want me to stop." Gell's voice teased as he ground into his cock even more firmly. "You don't want to do this."

"I don't want to do this," Albus mumbled deliriously, simply unable to control anything his tongue said nor his body brushed. Words and sounds escaped his chapped lips as his body convulsed over and over again in a fit of rapture.

Waves of stinging electricity surfaced inside him, so close to release. He closed his eyes, unable to look at Gell as though falling into a vivid dream. But gods did it ever feel good to know this was better than anything he could conjure up in his sleep. Just before he could spill over, Gell stopped.

When Albus opened his eyes, Gell's hands were over his cock. When did Gell take off all of his clothes? He stood there, glistening with sweat and his blond hair falling recklessly over his forehead.

Here was Albus' chance to pry himself free and leave, but how could he when Gell steadied himself, rolled back his firm shoulders and began squeezing Albus' cock in such a decisive way?

"You can hate me," commanded the voice of the snake that sought to shove him out of the Garden of Eden with every quickening pump of his cock.

"- I won't hate you-"

"You might," Gell hissed. "You'll hate me even more once you've realised everything I've done at Durmstrang."

Gell steadied Albus' cock, pressing one finger under its head. "Say that you despise me, the real me, and I'll leave. Say that I am a monster, a murderer, a villain."

"What's one death?" Albus whispered, sealing his fate. "People die every day."

Albus groaned, his voice raspy as Gell worked his finger under his head, drawing hard, deep circles into the sensitive skin.

"I was certain there was a reason I chose you. We think alike," Gell said, mercilessly, taking him until his cock went numb with pleasure. "Doesn't the end justify the means?"

Albus bit his lip, nodding.

"You've never really fit in here. You despise these people, this village," Gell continued.

Albus' knees finally gave in. Before he hit the ground, a magical force steadied him. Gell gently sent him to float backwards. Albus simply trusted he wouldn't twist his neck and allowed himself to rest in mid-air like a doll. In a way, he was Gell's doll and he succumbed to his every move.

Gell kneaded him, working his hands from his balls up to the very tip of his cock. Albus had been taken like this before, but never when he was levitating. The lingering fear of suddenly being dropped was replaced by a safe and tender voice.

"Ever since your parents died, no one's offered to help you, to take on your load." Gell's said, soothing him with his tongue. He licked him from the base to the tip, in one satisfying smack. Albus whimpered, needing so much more.

"Reliable Albus. Strong Albus. He does not need anything from anyone," he cooed. "Don't you wish you weren't so alone?"

"Yes…yes…" Albus whispered as his release drew closer, bubbling at the surface.

"You cannot rely on those people. We don't need them, don't need anyone."

"Don't need-" Albus' thighs burned as Gell's nails made tiny indents on the surface of his skin.

"Trust me, I will never leave you alone."

Albus couldn't - shouldn't - have been so easy to coerce. His mother always told him he was too trusting, that he needed to be careful who he listened to. But his mother was gone, and Gell was right here and his hands and mouth felt so good, so…safe. Gell would never hurt him. Albus was different from those students at Durmstrang. They didn't need anyone.

Albus lifted his head, desperate to see Gell's expression throughout his speech.

"Will you trust me?" Gell said, lips glistening with Albus' sticky desire. He ran his tongue over the head of his cock and looked him in the eye. How could Albus say no to those deep blue pools of light that wanted the best for him?

"Yes…now let me come," Albus begged quietly, and Gell showed mercy.

Albus spilt into his mouth, crying from the pleasure that washed over him. He fell back into the trusting blanket of the magic behind him, eyes rolling back into his head.

He'd never have to be alone again. He had Gell and Gell had him.