859402.doc
Title: Sirius For a Change
Summary: Sirius finds himself the pawn in an unusual game. Will S/R love win out in the end?
Chapter 1.2: The Game Begins
A/N: I added to the first chapter. I will post it here as chapter 1.2.
Now, one would think that such a display of lights, followed by the sudden appearance of a tall, dark haired and very naked woman would elicit some kind of a response. Yet the pub was as quiet as a Catholic church ten minutes before mass is scheduled to begin.
Sirius crossed his legs and wrapped his arms around himself, attempting to shield himself from the wide eyed stares of the local patrons. Where in the hell was he? Who in the hell was he? What did he do this time? What did he do to get himself into this situation?
At the moment these things seemed less important than getting out of there. He leapt from the chair fully intending to run as quickly as he could across the room and out the door. The thought of what was waiting outside never crossed his mind. Action then thought was his first response. The need for revenge was building inside and may well become his second response. He would think everything through once he was away from here.
Sirius' movement woke the pub from its shock. The room was abuzz and the patrons became animated, moving towards him. The exit was blocked.
In the corner booth, the two dark mysterious strangers continued playing chess. Not one of the bar's patrons could see them. Yet muggles never looked properly at anything. If they had, Winston and Thomas would have seemed to be two rangers sitting in the Prancing Pony, waiting on Frodo and the ring.
Winston rolled his eyes. "Leave it to Cooper to muck it up."
"Oh my, it does look bad." Thomas looked worried. "Do you suppose we should step in?"
"Not on you life. I got a lot riding on this, remember?"
Thomas downed another shot and rested his face in his hands. Maybe he could just slip in a bit of help without anyone noticing.
Winston watched carefully. He knew Thomas. "Someone from the SRS should be arriving at any moment."
"You think so?" Thomas was relieved. He couldn't have lived with himself if he had let something little like a bet get in the way of doing the right thing. Even if he had bet everything he owned.
"Damn straight. Dante wouldn't pass up a chance like this. He's been bucking for a promotion and this will look nice on the old resume. Opportunities like this don't come along too often."
"I can see it now." Winston raised his arm and pointed into the air, causing his sleeve to fall back and his hand to be completely uncovered for the first time that night. He seemed to be writing in air. "Accomplishments: The betting game was going down the tubes, I saved it. Result: All the important muckety mucks didn't lose their shirts."
Thomas glanced up at Winston, who gave him a quick wink and then sat again with his robe covering his face and hands.
Winston sure wished Dante would hurry. Most considered Winston a real shit, looking out for himself. Yet when push came to shove, he even surprised himself. If Dante didn't get here soon, he would have to intervene.
Thomas reached out and held Winston's hands tightly. Together the two black hooded figures sat in silent anticipation.
Meanwhile Sirius decided to do a forward dive onto the floor. If he moved quickly enough he could belly crawl to freedom. The idea of his skin against that cold dirty floor wasn't appealing, but when compared to the alternative….
He hit the floor with such force that the wind was knocked out of him. Gasping for breath, he lunged forward, but to no avail. He had been found out. His exit was again blocked.
Sirius was ready for a fight. No way was he going to stay in this place. He was prepared to scratch, bite, kick….anything to clear a path to the door. What happened next made all these weapons unneeded.
Dante arrived in a flash of light. He was as round as he was tall and dressed in a velvet purple robe, giving him the appearance of a rather large grape. A man of some importance, he carried a golden cane with his initial carved into it.
"Incompetence," he said without moving his lips. "Why they allow this,…" Dante knew that this was easily put to rights, yet he loved to feel important. Even more, he loved for others to view him as important.
Dante surveyed the room, nose in the air. How could Cooper choose such a place? Then he eyes came to rest on Thomas and Winston.
"I should have known you two would be here," he spat, "ready to see a pro at work?"
He turned back to Sirius.
"Winston, how did he know it was us? Could've been anyone..robes and all."
Winston winked and squeezed Thomas' hands.
Dante stared into Sirius' eyes. Sirius felt like there were fingers moving around inside his head. Was his mind being read? Whatever was happening, he didn't like it. Teeth bared, he growled loudly and lunged forward, knocking Dante to the ground.
A moment later Sirius found that he was lying flat on the floor and Dante standing above him, looking down. "That will be enough of that young lady," he said with a smirk, "I am here to assist, nothing more. Now stand up."
With a wave of his hand, Sirius was on his feet. A second wave and Sirius was no longer naked. He was clad in below waist cut jeans topped by an embroidered white cotton cami, just long enough to touch the top of his jeans. The Italian black leather jacket would keep him warm and the black leather boots would keep him dry in a flood. They were knee high and cuffed at the top.
"I know that you will find those suitable."
Sirius thought they were more than suitable. They fit him like a glove and were just what he would have picked for himself.
SRS Stupidity Reversal Squad