Danse Russe
Chapter 8
And sing to me heavenly
As the world began to come into focus Sirius sat up a bit straighter. "You don't have to yell, McKinnon," he said gruffly running his fingers through his muddy hair. Sighing heavily, he wiped the drying mud onto the leg of his trousers.
Marlene, who had been ignoring him as she pulled off her hat and shrugged out of her raincoat, turned to him and fixed him with a glare. "I'm going to be late, Black. Get off the fucking sofa already."
Rolling his eyes, Sirius stood casting a few cleaning charms to rid himself of the mud and rainwater clinging to him. "Where are we going?" he asked flicking his wand to clean the mud stains from the sofa, his brow furrowing as they refused to budge.
"My brothers' nightclub," Marlene answered shortly dabbing on a bit of lipstick in the mirror.
"Nightclub?" Abandoning his attempt at removing the mud from the patterned sofa and looking at her, Sirius exclaimed, "What the hell are you wearing?"
Marlene blinked before glancing down at her attire, a bit self-consciously. Black kohl rimmed her eyes and her lips were painted a deep red that matched the new bright red streaks of hair spilling down around her chin. Her legs were incased in faded denim that was ripped in several places and tall motorcycle boots. A few safety pins were only holding the snug, long sleeved, black shirt she wore together. "Oh, um, well, it's rather the style. It's a muggle place."
When her eyes flicked back to him she sighed. "Fuck, we're going to have to find you something to wear." Sirius' eyes widened slightly the last thing on earth he wanted was to dress in anything similar to Marlene's outfit.
"I suppose something of Mark's will fit. I mean, you're taller than the whole lot of them, but we'll find some tall boots or something…" she rambled to herself as she strolled out of the room.
"Why exactly are we going to a bar? I thought you didn't drink," Sirius asked as he followed her from the room trying not to envision what the male counterpart to Marlene's clothing would be.
"I don't," answered Marlene simply, leading him into a small, clean room. As she shuffled through the wardrobe she tossed several articles out at Sirius. Sirius ducked and dodged, grabbing the clothes out of the sir as they zoomed toward him.
"Marley?" a voice croaked groggily and Sirius jerked around, his grey eyes jetting to the bed behind him where a sleep-drugged man was climbing out from under his pillow, rubbing his eyes. "What the hell are you doing?"
Marlene whipped around clutching a leather boot in her hand. "Mark! I didn't see you." She gave him a bright smile before falling into a rushed explanation. "Remus had a date. Sirius offered to come, so I don't have to walk back to the castle by myself. And, well, it was kind of a last minute thing. We're borrowing some clothes." Throwing the boot at Sirius and perching on the edge of the bed, she wrapped her arms around Mark's neck, in a greeting hug.
"You're what?" Mark asked before running a hand through his hair as she pulled out of his embrace. "They did fucking ask you again, did they? Please, Marlene, tell me they didn't."
Chuckling, Marlene shook her head. "Gotta stick to the rules, Mark. I'm just working the bar. It's no biggie."
"No biggie?" Mark groaned. "You're their fucking little sister and they're turning you into a barmaid." He crawled out of bed. "Go back to school, Marlene. I'll fill in tonight."
Marlene shook her head. "No, you need to sleep. You never sleep anymore. You never have time. This must be your first night off in months. I got it." Sirius stood at the foot of the bed watching the exchange in mild amusement.
"Marley, please don't make me play your father, I hate that," Mark said warningly, his eyes narrowing.
"Mark," Marlene gave an indignant whine. "It's not a big deal. Go back to bed. I'll be out of there by midnight, I promise."
As Mark released an annoyed sigh of "Marlene" Sirius smirked. The man was already caving.
"Mark," Marlene mimicked his tone shoving him back in the bed. "I'll be fine."
"Fine," Mark huffed crossing his arms. He didn't look nearly as intimidating as Sirius thought he should. Usually a bird's elder brother was someone to be slightly nervous about, but Mark McKinnon seemed practically harmless sprawled out across his bed, tangled in white and red checked sheets.
"Take my bike. I don't want you walking," Mark added as Marlene stood.
"Okay," she replied softly kissing his head. "This is Sirius Black, by the way." As she gestured to Sirius, Mark's teasingly bright eyes turned steely and unforgiving. Sirius resisted the urge to gulp and lifted his chin defiantly. Okay, maybe he was someone to fear.
After a moment of silent contemplation Mark lifted a cool eyebrow in warning. "I have four siblings, Marley is the decided favorite. Don't fuck up."
Before Sirius could answer a pillow smacked into Mark's face. "Save it for the guys I actually sleep with, Mark," Marlene said flippantly rolling her eyes. Mark's lips broke into an embarrassed smile and he mumbled a "sorry, big brother thing" and told her to get a move on.
"Come on," Marlene said giving Sirius' shoulder a slight shove, "you can change in the bathroom."
Sirius nodded and followed Marlene from the room. His stomach knotted in nervousness of what Marlene's group of brothers could do to him as Mark's brown eyes glared at him in warning. His cold expression informing Sirius that it wasn't just a "big brother thing."
--
When Sirius stepped out of the bathroom in a pair of way too snug, faded, black pants, a dark shirt with illegible writing across the front, and a pair of combat boots, he growled, "I look like freak."
"Let you're freak flag fly," Marlene quipped and Sirius scowled. "Look at it this way, leather skidding on asphalt is better than cotton skidding on asphalt."
"What?" Sirius choked out.
Marlene shrugged gesturing to her jacket. "Well, that's why I wear a leather jacket. So if by some weird twist of fate I crash I'll have a bit more protection from the skidding across the road."
"Oh good, my feet will be safe then," Sirius said sarcastically before choking out, "Wait, what are we crashing?"
"Mark's motorbike, of course," she answered simply. "But, I've never crashed before, so you don't need to worry."
"You're driving?"
"Well, yeah."
"Well, isn't this fucking brilliant?" he grumbled moodily. "I look like a freak and I'm going to die."
It was really one insult too many in such a short period of time for Marlene. She was trying so damn hard to ignore his previous actions and just get the night over with, but he just kept egging her on. With a loud huff she whipped around on her heel and stormed out of the room. "You don't have to come, Black. In fact, this whole thing was your idea! I don't even want you here," she ranted as her footsteps pounded on the hardwood floor of the room.
As Sirius chased after her, yet again, he seriously began to question his sanity. "McKinnon, wait," he sighed and she stopped in front of the door that lead out into the streets. "Look, okay, I didn't mean to imply that I didn't want to accompany you—"
"Stop pretending like you are doing me some grand favor, Black," Marlene hissed, yanking a jacket of the coat stand by the door. "You aren't. I am more than capable of—"
Sirius fought the urge to roll his eyes and stepped around her pushing the door open. "Of taking care of yourself. Yes, I know," he muttered cutting her off as he passed.
Gripping the leather of the jacket in her hands Marlene held back a scream before following him outside and locking the door behind her. "Damn, arrogant, bas—" she cut off and shoved the jacket into Sirius' hands. "Here, it should fit, Matthew's not that much smaller than you," she said angrily.
With a hint of a smirk Sirius shrugged into the coat, following Marlene toward the curb. What was parked there almost made his jaw drop. A gleaming 1973 Ducati 750 SuperSport stood sparkling brightly at Sirius as if it had fallen from heaven just for him. "Holy shit," he exclaimed, "that's your brother's bike?"
Marlene chuckled, her ire fading and his enchantment. There was really something wrong with her. Why on earth couldn't she stay mad at him? "Yeah, it's his baby."
Sirius just nodded still lusting over the bike.
"Helmet?" Marlene said questioningly, nudging Sirius' arm with the helmet.
Again, Sirius just nodded.
"You need to put it on," Marlene explained slowly and Sirius blinked, glancing back down at her.
"Oh, right."
O
As the roar of the engine faded into nothing, but a memory in Sirius' mind he slipped off the rear of the bike, ignoring the sense of regret that settled in his stomach at the loss of Marlene's body pressing against him as they whisked through the heavy traffic as if it did not exist.
"Where are we?" he asked tugging off his helmet and holding it out to Marlene as she placed several wards on the bike. Marlene ignored him for a moment engrossed in her task and Sirius just shrugged, letting his hand fall to his side as he gazed at the rundown warehouse they had parked behind, trying to determine where he was without her help. "McKinnon?" he asked as he felt her take the helmet from him.
"Well, it's rather underground, you know?" she answered. "Come on, I'm already late."
As they stepped inside the dark room Sirius blinked to adjust his eyes to the dim lighting.
"Fuck, Marley, what took you so long?" a dark haired man exclaimed as he pulled Marlene into a hug. "We were beginning to worry."
Marlene shook her head pulling out of his embrace and tugging off her hat. "Got caught in the rain, is all. No need to worry. Everyone else here, already?"
"'Course," the man said taking her hat from her as she slipped out of her coat.
"This is Sirius Black." She nodded to Sirius tossing her coat to the man. "Black, this is Michael, one of the brothers," she said quickly, before turning back to Michael. "Take care of him, alright? I've got to pee."
Michael nodded before stopping abruptly and wrapping an arm around Marlene's waist preventing her from leaving. "Black as in Black?" he asked wide-eyed, his face paling and causing his freckles to stand out starkly on his cheeks.
"No, black as in pink." Marlene rolled her eyes, wiggling out of his grasp. Sirius fought down a smile, nobody had ever written off his family like that, except for maybe James.
"I didn't mean–" Michael started, but Marlene cut him off.
"Then, don't say stupid things." She gave and exasperated sigh before running off.
Michael gave Sirius a nervous smile. "Sorry, man, just… my kid, you know?"
Sirius nodded offering his hand. "Yeah, I understand."
"Alright, well the crowd will be he–"
"Mikey!" a voice yelled from behind the bar, cutting him off. "Is Marles here, yet? I swear if she's not here in–"
"Just arrived, Mitch! She's taking a piss," Michael shouted over his shoulder as his double popped up from behind the bar. Turning back to Sirius, he started speaking rapidly again. "As I was saying, the crowd'll be here soon, so I'll give you a quick tour and then you're free to do as you please, as long as your hands stay off my kid." Sirius blinked at him and Michael smiled somberly. "Look, man, I was all for the threat of castration being below the belt, but the day Marlene got breasts, I realized it was nothing of the sort. And the other three agree, so don't try anything."
Sirius raised his hands in defense taking a step back. "Right. I'm just here to make sure she gets back to the castle safely as Remus was busy." If he hadn't been nervous about being stuck with Marlene's brothers before he was definitely nervous now.
Michael nodded gravely. "Good, bloke, Remus." A smile tugged at Sirius' lips at that statement. It was always nice to hear someone liked Moony, whether he knew about his condition or not. "Anyways, the place isn't very big, so this shouldn't take long." Sirius nodded glancing around the large square room, and followed Michael quietly.
The bar took up the majority of the sidewall in a long "L" shape, giving enough room for people to file down the staircase and spill out onto the main floor. A large stage took up the back wall and a rickety, spiraling staircase was shoved into the front corner of the room, just south of the doors. It led up to a gallery that edged three of the walls, which was littered with assorted tables and chairs. The majority of the place was black with bright bursts of color thrown in at random intervals. For instance, the bar was painted with a peeling black paint, but the barstools were various shades of bright yellow, hot pink, and lime green.
Michael patted the bar affectionately as they stopped in front of it. "Best painting job I ever did, right here."
Sirius gave the bar a withering glance as Mitchell chuckled. "Shittiest thing about this place, too."
"As you can basically see," Michael said hopping up onto on of the stools. "The bathrooms are there," he pointed to a two bright red doors at the far left side of the room each with a similar intricate designs painted in black. "Marley says one means 'bitches' and the other means 'pricks' in some ancient language she's studied. Not sure if she's telling the truth, but I like the idea of it." Sirius chuckled slightly. He never would have suspected Marlene McKinnon to do something like that. "Anyways, that's the stage there and then there's some extra seating upstairs."
Sirius nodded the awkwardness of being left alone with two of Marlene brothers beginning to wear on him. He was saved from further torture, however, when Marlene stepped out from behind the dark curtains covering the stage. "Black, how's your head?" she asked as she strode up to the bar before hopping over.
"Your head?" Mitchell repeated before cringing. "What'd you do to deserve that?"
"Nothing," Marlene answered before Sirius could speak. "He snuck up on me. I overreacted."
"What exactly was that?" Sirius asked hoping to get the answer this time.
Michael and Mitchell shot Marlene identical evil glares. "Mark taught her that one. He's always teaching her wicked shit like that."
Marlene smiled innocently. "It's all for self-defense. I'm just a wee little thing, after all."
Michael and Mitchell snorted. "Don't play innocent with us Marlene," Michael said and Sirius chuckled.
"We know better and you don't have us nearly as wrapped as you do Mark," Mitchell finished.
"Speaking of Mark. I'm off at midnight," Marlene said with a shrug.
"Why does he always get to play ruler of the universe, it's not fair," Michael whined.
Marlene rolled her eyes. "'Cause he pays the rent."
"Well, it's not like we couldn't—" Mitch started
"—if we wanted to," Michael finished.
"Oi!" a rough voice called from behind the stage curtain. "Are you two wankers coming or what?"
The two McKinnon brothers hopped off their seats. "Yeah, yeah, Jay, calm down," Mitch called. Kissing Marlene's cheek he said, "Hop to it then, little sis, we open in ten."
--
Sirius wasn't sure who was worse, the lead singer, or the guitarist; they seemed to be engaged in a war of who could make the loudest sound and Sirius couldn't decide who was winning. The only good thing about the band happen to be the McKinnon twins, who worked off each other; the driving beat of Michael's bass perfectly meshing with the wild configuration of sound drummed out by Mitchell. They were holding the band together.
However, Sirius had lost on interest in the music and swaying young people on the dance floor ages ago. He was quite entranced with the doe-eyed brunette currently straddling him as he sat at the corner of the bar leaning against the wall, letting her artful mouth tease him to oblivion. When the brunette finished trailing her path of hot kisses down the of his neck Sirius kissed her passionately once more before pulling his lips away and leaning over, pinning her to him with one hand, to grab his bottle of muggle beer and take a large gulp.
The brunette chattered something at him, but Sirius didn't hear as he watched Marlene grin widely, laughing at something one the patrons had said as she slid his drink across the bar to him. She looked like she was flirting with the guy.
Sirius shook his head and snorted. As if. McKinnon doesn't even know how to flirt.
The brunette in his lap blinked him as if she was waiting for him to speak. "What?" Sirius intoned.
"Who are looking at?" she asked craning her neck to scan the room behind her for the source of Sirius' distraction.
"You," he answered shortly before nipping at the soft flesh she exposed to him in her search.
"Oh," the brunette murmured before letting him chase the thought from her mind with his artful mouth.
--
The full moon was high in the sky as Sirius and Marlene padded back toward Hogwarts castle.
"So." Marlene yawned widely, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "Thanks for tagging along. I know spending your Saturday night in the company of muggles and my demented brothers couldn't have been what you wanted to do."
"Au contraire," Sirius said. "I've received six felly phone numbers tonight and if I am correct, I now have six new women begging to be shagged next time I'm bored."
Marlene overlooked his mispronunciation of 'telephone' and gave a mock bow. "I bow down to your prowess, Mr. Black. Six numbers in one night, damn. The most I've ever received is five and I have to chat with every man in the joint."
"Well, not everyone can be blessed with my smashing good looks and charm," Sirius replied haughtily before cracking a grin as Marlene burst into a fit of chuckles.
"You really are just an arrogant bastard, aren't you, Black?" she asked as she straightened.
"But, of course," he answered throwing an arm around her shoulders. Marlene shook her head rolling her eyes and biting down her grin.
"You confuse me, McKinnon," Sirius told her as they trudged along listening to the sounds of Moony's lonesome howls in the distance. Glancing out at the trees Sirius silently hoped Prongs had been smart enough to stay inside the shack until he arrived.
Tiredly leaning against him Marlene yawned. "Hmm, why?"
Sirius shrugged. "Only— what? six hours ago?— you were scolding me for shagging Meadows, and just two seconds ago you were bowing down to my skill. It's a bit contradicting."
"Hmm," Marlene sighed. "Well, to quote Dorcas herself, 'as a female I have the right to change my mind as often as I want.'" After a slight chuckle she continued, "But, to be honest, I could careless about who you shag and why. It's your business. And the girls who end up heartbroken because of you… well, that's their own damn fault."
"Oh, really?" he said teasingly
"Yes, really." Marlene nodded resolutely. "Black, I live with a group of moderately attractive males. Dealing with one-night stands and their after effects are part of my daily life at home. You have no idea how many whiny whores I've tossed out of our flat."
With a sigh Marlene stopped and looked up into his fathomless grey eyes. "Look, Black. You're not only a guy, but you're an attractive guy. A likeable and attractive guy. If I were you, I'd do the same things you do. So, I really can't blame you. And as far as Dorcas goes: if she gets hurt, it's her fault, really. She's smart." Marlene paused and frowned. "Okay, so maybe that's not completely true, but she's not stupid. I just…"
Giving him an uneasy smile Marlene sighed, her gaze almost begging him to understand. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't use me to make sure she knows nothing is going on between the two of you. That's what I was getting at this afternoon. Dorcas and I may not be the best of friends, but I'd really rather not lose the little bit of camaraderie that we have."
"McKinnon, I wouldn't do that," Sirius answered softly, nudging her onward again. Marlene nodded and allowed him to lead her toward the castle once more.
"After Emmy, can you blame me for thinking you might?" she asked quietly as they reached the doors.
Sirius stilled for a long moment his hand on the door and his fathomless, grey eyes gazing unwaveringly at her in the pale moonlight. "I suppose not," he responded gruffly pulling the door open. Marlene nodded once and stepped inside. Sirius moved to follow her inside and Marlene placed a hand on his chest, stopping him.
"Behave, alright?" she said simply gazing up at him with a weak smile. "I need to talk to Remus tomorrow, and I can't do that if you bloody him up too badly."
"He's told you, then?" Sirius asked almost angrily.
Marlene shook her head. "No, I just know you three always go missing on the full moon. So, you must be with him."
"Oh," was his stunned replied.
"Be safe, then," she said softly before disappearing into the depths of the castle. Sirius paused for only a moment and then shook his head and strode toward the Whomping Willow, his hands shoved deeply into his pockets.
Endnote:
1) I know, I am not fond of it either.
2) Reviews are lovely, if you've the time.