Title: Jaded Amber 7/9
Pairing(s):Lucius/Remus
Word Count: 32,705
Rating: NC-17
Language: British English
Warning(s):Prostitution, OC Character death, hurt/comfort, dubious-con, switching, . Er... there's a six year age difference between Remus and Lucius (courtesy of HP Lexicon)
**See chapter 1 for full Disclaimer and Author Notes**
Summary: Lucius never would have thought that such an impulsive act of rebellion – spurred by Rabastan, of all people – would change his life so profoundly. Remus never would have thought that accepting one unlikely client would have such a profound effect on his outlook.
***
Jaded Amber 7
Six days later, Lucius stood opposite his father, who sat at the desk in his office. He'd returned yesterday to get a solemn stare before Abraxas walked off to his wing of the manor, leaving Lucius in the entry hall alone. The grand staircase faced him and, if he'd been brave, he would have turned his head to the right to see the spring room entrance empty. But he wasn't, so he didn't. He walked upstairs, turned to his wing and remained in his room until his father called him.
The group of men his father met with had just left, including that strange man with the penetrating stare from his mother's funeral. Lucius was glad he'd learned Occlumency from his father early on. It had definitely come in handy in his time. He'd introduced himself as 'Lord Voldemort'. Lucius had not asked, 'Lord of what?' like he truly wanted to. The last time he had, his mother had told him not to ask it in person. She'd said that was rude. But, really, what a stupid name.
That was some time ago and now, he stood waiting for his father to finish speaking to his colleague. He was a big man, his hair greying and a little matted. Are those whiskers? he thought to himself. The dark and heavy robes looked like he found them uncomfortable, perhaps even tight, and his voice was raspy. The man kept turning to him and smiling knowingly. Lucius was disturbed to realise his teeth were pointed. His father's gaze shifted between the two, his mind obviously working to find out the secret so obviously present in the room. Lucius wouldn't mind the answer himself. His curiosity lingered beneath the surface, only his anger to his father's order kept it in place. He had more important things to deal with than Abraxas' odd colleagues.
Still eyeing the pair, Abraxas gestured with the roll of parchment in his hand. "Thank you for the message, Fenrir. Inform our Lord that I will be present at the next gathering." Fenrir turned at the dismissal, his gaze finally pinning Lucius to the plush carpet. He walked towards the door, meaning he was also walking towards Lucius. When he was near enough, Fenrir leaned closer to him, his eyes still narrowed.
"You smell... of kin."
The words were whispered so lowly, like it was a secret. And that chilled Lucius to the bone more than any threat that could have ever passed his lips. Kin. What does that mean? He was confused. He looked it. In his surprise, the reaction was forced from him. It granted him a knowing smile and a keen, narrowed gaze. "I see."
Lucius stared at him, not a little scared. "What do you see?"
Those abnormally light eyes, strange like Remus', but so unlike the warm, rich, amber traversed his frame. "Enough." The man turned once more to Abraxas, nodded and left with a parting glance to Lucius as he passed him.
"What was that about?" he heard behind him, since he was still staring at the door.
Lucius did his best to look nonplussed. It wasn't hard. "I have no idea." It didn't take much to sound winded, or confused. "Who was that?"
Abraxas looked disapproving, but since Lucius obviously had no idea what was going on, he had little to disapprove of and let it go. His hands opened the drawer to his right and pulled it out. His eyes rose to his son. "Fenrir Greyback. Be careful around him, he's a werewolf." The feeling in his chest, it had to be a heart attack. Lucius' heart hit his ribs like a caged beast and his eyes widened. He hoped his father couldn't hear it.
Kin.
Wolf.
Luckily, Abraxas nodded at the reaction he could see. "I know. Not exactly the best company to keep, especially in our house, but our Lord likes him." He shrugged and lifted a folder of documents onto his desk from his drawer. "I have your betrothal papers here. Narcissa has already signed them." He pushed them forward.
Lucius walked up to the desk and reached for a quill. Five weeks abroad and an additional few days mourning and – dare he think it – finding himself (when Remus had said that to him, he'd actually laughed) made for an eye-opening experience. It was time to grow up, take on his responsibilities like a man and get on with his life. "When is the wedding?" he asked.
"June next year," Abraxas answered as he watched Lucius signing his name on the parchment next to all of Narcissa's signatures. He was satisfied that Lucius was not fighting him anymore. This was a good thing. It meant the continuance of their family line. A pure heir. Narcissa Black was perfect for them. He melted the wax stick he pulled out of his drawer and pressed it to the parchment next to the Black Family coat of arms. Toujours pur stood out under the shield in the deep blue wax. Two dogs raised their front paws off the ground as he stamped his own emblem next to it. The Malfoy coat of arms hardened on the parchment as he watched it. Finally, their future was set. He hoped his grandson gave Lucius as much trouble as the whelp gave him. It would serve him right.
"Is this all?" Lucius asked him and he nodded. "Alright." Lucius put the quill down and waited. "Do we have any meetings today, Father? Only, I had plans to meet with a friend."
Abraxas sat at his desk and shooed him with his hand in dismissal. "You may go. I'll see you at dinner."
Lucius left the room. When the door closed behind him, he smirked as he turned towards his room. He may be growing up and getting on with his life. But what was life without a little danger?
Remus laughed against his neck. "Stop it." But his breathy laughter didn't exactly make Lucius take him seriously. In retaliation, he tightened like a vice and laughed again when Lucius groaned. "I said stop it, it tickles." He'd noticed him as he followed behind James and Sirius in Diagon Alley. He'd seen the gesture, the invitation, and had fallen for the coaxing. He'd disappeared, taking the opportunity just as they'd gone inside Garbel and Japes for the Wet Start No-Heat Fireworks that had taken the nation by storm, and run away from his friends. He leaned down from where he sat, astride the blond, and crushed his mouth down onto Lucius', shoving his tongue into the other man's mouth with a biting, bruising kiss. He wrapped one arm around Lucius' neck, playing with his very dishevelled pony tail where he'd tied it back, allowing himself to be lifted and pulled back down. It felt amazing, and a little naughty, since he'd completely ditched his friends to be there.
Lucius' hands drifted down from Remus' waist to his hips, pulling him down harder as he thrust up, grinding into him. Remus' tongue was hot on his neck once he'd relinquished his mouth and he felt it flicker across his skin. Not able to take it anymore, he turned, making Remus lose balance, and flipped them over. Blunt nails dug into his back as his next thrust hit home, and then again, deeper this time. Remus threw his head back, exposing the long column of his throat and tightened around him in reaction. It felt glorious and he was about to explode. Remus couldn't speak, he didn't even try. Instead, he pulled Lucius' head toward his own and moaned against his mouth, arching into him and gripping his hair tight to guide him into the kiss. Letting go of his lips, he rested his head, temple to temple, against Lucius, holding on to his shoulders as he met him thrust for thrust. He could feel Lucius' hands against his skin like a brand, the burn only adding to the heat he could feel building in the pit of his stomach.
Lucius could tell Remus was close by the way he was clenching around him. Remus was getting tighter and tighter and he, too, was almost there, pounding into him with his last shred of self-control until his orgasm rippled through him, like waves. When Remus followed him over the edge, it felt incredible. When he was able to take stock of his surroundings, he was on his back, staring at the ceiling and panting heavily. Remus had a smile on his face and a hand over his eyes. Lucius had an idea how he felt; energised, yet worn out at the same time. After those meetings today with his father, this bout had used up what little energy he had left. He shut his eyes for a second.
"You awake?" There was a hand on his stomach. He groaned and stilled the hand with his own.
"Give me a minute. I'm tired." Remus laughed next to him, but he couldn't open his eyes to check if he was still waiting. He hadn't realised he was so tired before.
The next thing he knew, he was waking up. The ceiling looked a lot darker than before, which meant he'd been asleep for a while. He looked around him. The room was empty, except for Remus lying down next to him. He was facing away from him, even breaths signifying he was asleep. I don't know how much longer I can do this with him. Since their encounter in his father's private office last week, Fenrir hadn't said anything to his father. He was positive about that, since he'd not received a summons and a severe lecture, nor any threats to disown him. Lucius sat up. There had to be a way around this.
Remus stirred and turned over to see Lucius sitting up and staring at the wall across from the bed. The blond hadn't noticed, so he simply watched him in silence. He looked concerned, worried. "It's not my business," he said propping himself up on his elbows, "but you've called me three days this week. What's going on?"
Just making sure you're still available. That you're still around. He'd taken Fenrir's words to heart. He couldn't stop thinking about them. "Nothing is going on. Go back to sleep," he snapped.
Remus frowned and sat up properly. "Why are you talking to me like that?" Lucius didn't answer, simply continued to stare. He let out a humourless laugh and flung back the covers on his side of the bed. Getting up, he located his pants and pulled them on.
"What are you doing?" he heard and turned.
He gave an obvious gesture. "I'm leaving."
Lucius narrowed his eyes, his arms resting on top of the quilt that lay on his lap. "Why?"
Remus raised his arms in frustration. "Because I don't understand you!" He grabbed up his shirt. "You've called for me three times in a row and I've actually cancelled my plans to come and see you. I left my friends today to come here." He was laughing to himself as he buttoned a couple of buttons on his shirt. "And the stupid thing is, I'm not even here because I need the money." He seemed to be reprimanding himself. "But you know what? I still want it, so hand it over." He held out his hand. Lucius watched him for a second, figuring out if he meant it before sighing and leaning over to his robe, hanging on the chair, and pulling out the money bag there. He handed it to him. Remus saluted. "Don't worry, I am the idiot here and I'm conceding defeat and leaving while I still have my dignity intact." He walked to the door, twisting the knob. "Goodnight, Lucius." The door slammed back into place. Remus didn't even bother to turn around, he just took in the two pale hands that were palm flat against the door on either side of him. His shoulders slumped, the fight going out of him. He was exhausted trying to keep up with this man. "What are you doing?" he asked hopelessly. Silence followed his question and he rested his forehead against the cool, cheap wood of the door. He really didn't understand this man. He could feel Lucius standing close behind him, most likely still naked.
"I don't know." Remus shut his eyes. That voice sounded so lost. Lucius' forehead rested against the nape of his neck. It made him shiver.
With a heavy sigh, he turned around. Yeah, still naked. He placed his hands on Lucius' chest, making him back up a little, and then just rested them there. "Lucius-" He searched for the right words first. "You don't want to hear what I'm about to say, but I'm going to tell you anyway because, either you've worked it out and you're denying it and taking your frustration out on me, or you haven't worked it out and you're taking your frustration out on me." He paused and swallowed, his throat feeling dry. "Now, whether you like it or not, you feel something for me." Before Lucius could interrupt, he cut him off. "You'll go home now, after you yell at me in denial, of course, and you'll think about it." He bit his lip in thought. "However long that takes, you'll come to realise it and you'll come to me and do one of two things. You'll either break this arrangement completely or you'll accept it and break this arrangement completely. Then you'll go back to your high society living." His hands dropped to his waist, his thumbs brushing back and forth over Lucius' skin. "I'll see you in Diagon Alley sometimes," he continued to narrate, "and maybe I'll be lucky enough to get an acknowledging nod from you, maybe not," he added shrugging. He looked up. "Life will go on."
Lucius was silent, his eyes pinning Remus to the door. His nod was barely there. "That's what you think?" he asked, his eyes narrowed in question.
Remus shrugged. "Yes. That's what I think." His eyes were searching, but he knew he wouldn't find what he was looking for. He'd fallen in far too deep to get out of this one. It was going to be hell letting him go. "And I'll let you do it."
Lucius didn't understand. "Why?" he asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
Remus laughed a self deprecating laugh. "I have a problem, you see," he said pointing to himself. He let his hand rest on his chest. "I'm the guy that likes to be liked." He was smiling, but there was nothing funny or happy about what he was saying. "I let my friends get away with things no legal citizen should," he listed, "I give them the power to treat me however they want and they, in turn, take the invitation and walk all over me. I know it and I do it anyway, because in return, they remain my friends." He shrugged. "I don't have any outside of them and I can't afford to lose them." He licked his lips. "People like me, we don't get along alone. Wolves are lone creatures, but we still need Pack. It's buried deep within me, I can't shake it." He stepped forward and pushed a little to get Lucius to move back some more. "We'll skip the yelling, yeah?" He leaned forward and kissed him slowly, much like he had when they finally got upstairs a few hours ago. When he let go, he opened his eyes and Lucius drowned in a sea of amber. "I'll see you around." Remus turned and opened the door. He was stopped by the grip on his arm. He turned back, his body still in the doorway, to see a very determined look in Lucius' eyes.
"Yes. You will."
"Wait, wait a moment." Lucius raised his hand, resting it then against his head, with his fingers along his brow shielding the light of the candles in the room and his thumb against his temple. He shut his eyes, the weight of what his father had just told him putting pressure on his already existing headache. The brandy in his glass warmed in his left hand. The heat rose with his anger. "Let me just get this straight. You're telling me that you're threatening to kill my fiancée if I don't join your men's club, is that right?" He raised his head, his eyes open, but narrowed. It had been like this for a while now, since his mother died. There was no one to temper the fires anymore. If they didn't tone it down, someone would end up getting burned.
"The group of our Lord-"
"Your Lord," he interrupted. "I haven't joined."
His father continued as if he hadn't spoken. "We are called Deatheaters." Abraxas raised the sleeve of his shirt. Lucius' eyes were drawn to the unexpected shape of a tattoo on his father's forearm. It did not, however, surprise him. A lot of things had changed since his mother died. He couldn't tell if he was grieving in a special way or if this was a part he had been hiding – something he'd kept at bay all along.
Luicus took a sip of his brandy, forcing his chuckle back. "Oh Father, you would not believe how much I truly do not care what you're men's club is called. Honestly, if I told you, you wouldn't believe it." He absorbed the fury in his father's eyes and shook his head. "So," he said as if concluding their meeting. "You go ahead and kill her, but you're telling her family what happened to their prized stallion." He stood up. "I'll get back to you when I go through the folios again and choose yet another woman that I do not want to marry." He bowed his head curtly and walked to the door.
"You will do it."
Lucius was surprised at the anger in him, especially since it was making its way out. "Like hell I will." He'd been spending far too much time with Remus. It was either that, or he'd drank far too much brandy. Though he was sure the wolf would be proud of him, standing up for himself. For a change. His hand curled around the handle of his father's study door.
His father was obviously occupying the same thought-pattern. He went silent, as if weighing his options. "Did you know that werewolves are severely adverse to silver?"
Lucius frowned, the change in topic was so random yet well-placed to throw him off. Lucius turned and eyed his father, warily curious to what he meant, to where this was going.
Abraxas had lowered his sleeve. He reclined easily into his chair by the window. "Have you ever seen one in contact with silver? It's not pretty. They scream. Like a stuck pig." The syllables were over pronounced and Abraxas' face contorted, as if he were disgusted by the mere mental picture of it. Lucius held back a cringe, aware of the cold glare he was receiving. "I hear you've been making... friends." The word 'friend' sounded dirty, Lucius was sure that was the point.
It took a second, but the alcohol-laden fog cleared enough to let the realisation in. And there it was. The final word after three weeks of silence. Fenrir had tricked him into complacency. He should not have trusted him. This could not be happening. "You wouldn't dare." It was the brandy's fault. That was not what he'd meant to say. And now that he'd given away his weakness, he was paying for it.
His father stood quickly. "Wouldn't I?" he said with extra bite. Lucius had never heard that tone in his voice before. It was laced with disgust. "You have no idea how humiliated I was when that dog announced it to the room." Lucius had a good idea, actually. He'd only met Fenrir once and in that short space of time, he was sure that anything depraved anyone told him Fenrir was capable of, was likely to be true. This included the humiliation of his father. "I'm surprised you find this a shock, Lucius." Abraxas stepped up close. His father was a tall man, taller than him and he used his height to his advantage. "You defile yourself with not only a halfblood, but an animal, and you expect me not to react?" The man turned away from his son and stood tall behind his desk. His hands planted as fists on the dark oak as he leaned forward. "You will join, or I will have your mutt put down."
Lucius breathed heavily through his nose, his hand gripping the brandy glass in his hand so tightly, he had to put it down before it broke. Standing straight, he glared at his father. "Goodnight, Father." He left then, walking out of the room. He wanted to slam the door, but he wouldn't give Abraxas the satisfaction. He walked to the main entrance and then up the stairs, speeding up as he went. Before he knew it, he was running.
Lucius shut the door of his bedroom quickly. His heart was racing. He was not willing to believe it before, but his fear confirmed it. That teenage wolf was right. Remus Lupin meant... something to him, if not as a lover then as a friend, at least. He wondered when that happened, only to realise they'd had plenty of opportunity over the past three months to become close. Very close.
Before it had been a little fun, a way to ease the tension for a couple of hours with someone he didn't know – didn't need to know. Now, he was in serious trouble.
tbc...