Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters get in.

Happy Valentine's Day one day late lol

Step Five

As it turned out the Daimons had another reason for visiting Hugo aside from dropping off the 'books'. They were on their way to the Saturday morning market and had dropped by to see if Hugo wanted to come with them. They always got better deals when he was with them because all the vendors automatically wanted to shower the too thin boy with extra food. Rosie's brother just had that effect on them without even trying, which was a good thing, Sev informed his cousin, since his brother in law was a bottomless pit when it came to food.

"Unless you and Alexei have plans." Rosie gave her husband's cousin the beady eye, hoping that the younger man intended to leave so that she could get her brother alone and get it through his curly head that dating this particular Slytherin was a monumentally bad idea.

"I'm fine going to the market with you guys." It would give them a chance to present themselves in public as a couple and the presence of Sev and Rosie would validate the fact that they were together.

Immediately cluing into why Alexei would be willing to go Hugo shrugged and decided to play along. "I'll just quick grab a shower and change then. Or are you two in a hurry?"

"No, go ahead." Sev spoke before Rosie could, figuring that if nothing else his cousin's presence would be a suitable punishment for her having given away chocolate that was rightfully his to eat. "Rosie and I can clean up here while Alexei plots how best to go about traumatize the rest of the family with the news he's shagging you."

Shaking his head Hugo didn't argue, though the shower was going to be the shortest he'd ever taken. It would be safer that way.

All three watched the man hurry off, thinking to themselves that it was unwise for him to be moving that quickly given that he was even more prone to clumsiness when he wasn't fully awake. But there were no loud crashes or sounds of distress, so they assumed Hugo had reached his destination in one piece.

"You're up to something, aren't you?"

He didn't even bother lying, Alexei simply giving Sev a look that made it clear it was none of his business what he was and wasn't up to. He didn't stick his nose in the man's life and expected the same consideration.

"I'll figure it out eventually…and I will crush you like a bug if you hurt the kid." Hugo's evil cuteness powers had forced him to become as protective and prone to babying his wife's brother as everyone else in his wife's family.

"You could try…but hurting Hugo isn't part of my plan. You have my word on that."

Knowing that Alexei was always a man of his word Sev decided to believe that the other Slytherin didn't intend to hurt Hugo. At least not deliberately. He'd keep an eye on the situation, Sev silently decided, and interfere if necessary. Hugo and his cousin had always had a volatile chemistry, and while he'd rather not think about them shagging he figured that it was better that than Alexei plotting some new way to punish the Gryffindor for the affect he had on people.

His cousin was better than anyone he knew at withstanding Hugo's cuteness, but Sev knew the man wasn't nearly as immune as he would like to believe.

That settled the two cousins began discussing a recent article about a politician none of them could stand in the Prophet, Rosie quickly joining in as they all took turns giving their opinion of just how stupid the man really was while Sev helped Rosie put away stuff and Alexei finished eating what was on his plate.

Everything was put away and the men were deep into their discussion when Hugo interrupted them.

"Alexei? Can you come here a moment, please?"

Looking in the direction of the hallway Alexei excused himself and went to see what the Gryffindor wanted, taking in the fact that the man was only wearing a towel with decided interest. "You called?"

Hugo did his best not to react to the hot once over he was being given as he posed a question that had occurred to him moments ago. "I was just wondering if you'd prefer it if I shaved off my beard later. I noticed earlier that I gave you whisker burns, but I thought you might consider that an acceptable consequence given how vocal you were about liking the sensation of my beard against your inner thighs."

Rolling his eyes over the way the man had phrased the question Alexei told Hugo to keep the beard and left it at that.

"Okay. I just have to get dressed then and we can go. Did you want to borrow one of my shirts?"

"Do you have one that would fit me?" Alexei countered, not outright rejecting the offer only because wearing one of the man's shirts would give their relationship more visual proof. Plus it would freak Rose out a little, which appealed to him too.

"I think so." Calling out to his sister and brother in law that they were going to see if he had a shirt that would fit Alexei Hugo led the way to his bedroom, heading for his closet as he mentally evaluated his wardrobe and what he might have to offer. He was pretty sure he still had a few items left over from his student days; Alexei would never wear anything that was too baggy.

"Aha." Pulling out one he'd bought after a trip to the theatre Hugo walked back over to Alexei and offered it to him. "Try this."

Sliding the black T-shirt into place Alexei found it a little roomy but otherwise a decent fit. Moving over to a nearby mirror to make sure of it the Slytherin read the words printed across the front in a curvy white font. "To be or not to be?"

"It's a very famous Muggle quote. Taken from a play called 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare. Its exact meaning is well debated, especially since Shakespeare's been dead for quite a while and therefore can't set the record straight. Whether he's debating the merits of living, dying, committing suicide or facing the ills of the living world…at the end I think what it truly stands for is the importance of reasoning things out. Of not just jumping into something without considering the consequences to yourself and those involved. Not that Hamlet made very good choices, but then he was a very depressed and conflicted person. I've never been terribly fond of him as a character, though Shakespeare's Romeo was way worse in my opinion. What Juliet saw in him-well it wasn't like she really got to know him before they both died. Had she had the chance…well I doubt very much that play would have continued to be known as one of the greatest love stories ever told."

"Sorry I asked."

"Sorry you weren't interested. You might like Hamlet though, if you ever need reading material. Most everyone dies in it, if nothing else." While Alexei considered that Hugo allowed himself one more moment to enjoy the sight of the Slytherin wearing something of his before wisely turning his attention to finding clothes for himself.

This didn't take long since he didn't give two damns about fashion or fads. He wore whatever was on hand and didn't need to be laundered. Pulling out the necessities Hugo piled them on the bed and then pulled off his towel, tossing it in the direction of the hamper.

Watching the man with predatory interest, he couldn't help himself, Alexei raised an eyebrow as the other man pulled on a pair of jeans without anything on underneath. "Commando?"

Shrugging his shoulders Hugo just zipped them up. Less to take off later.

All but licking his lips over the knowledge Alexei moved up behind the Gryffindor as the man reached for the shirt, Hugo going still when the Slytherin deliberately slid his hands around the man's sides, splaying his fingers over the stomach that quivered in reaction.

"You smell good. Clean." Moving that much closer Alexei slowly dragged his tongue a few inches up the Gryffindor's back. "Makes me want to dirty you."

Shuddering in reaction, and very aware of the bed in front of them, Hugo prayed for strength as he pointed out that there would be plenty of time for that later. Currently they had guests they really needed to be getting back to, especially since neither was known for their patience.

"They would hear you, of course." Digging his nails ever so lightly into the man's stomach muscles Alexei wished he were taller so that he could torment Hugo better. "But I do so like how loud you get the closer I drive you to climax."

"If Rosie hears us having sex in here the shock would probably send her into premature labor." Hugo warned him, grasping at straws as his system screamed that one night wasn't enough to make up for the years it had had to go without Alexei's touch. "And if she did go into labor and anything went wrong you'd be on Sev's shit list for the next decade at the very least."

Normally he didn't care about such things but this was his cousin they were talking about. No one with a working brain ever wanted to be on Sev's shit list. He might annoy or needle the man occasionally, such was his nature and the man had married a Weasley, but he'd never crossed the line knowing that Sev was probably the most dangerous Slytherin of his acquaintance. Only Weasley and Potters were dumb enough to truly cross his older cousin, no doubt counting on the family factor to keep them safe.

And unfortunately Rose wouldn't stop providing Sev with chocolate treats if HE was the one Sev sent to St. Mungos for an extended stay. Hell, she might reward her husband for that. Ergo…

"Fine, but we're coming straight back to bed as soon as we're done at the market. If I have to spend at least an hour in your sister's company without killing her I expect to be well rewarded."

"That sounds fair."

)

Alexei had never been to a market before, that's what servants and house elves were for. He hadn't anticipated how cramped and loud it would be, with people arguing prices and hawking their wares at the top of their lungs. Though he'd been right to assume that this would be a great way to inform their peers that he and Hugo were now a couple, especially since the Gryffindor had taken his hand when they arrived and still held it. So they didn't get separated in the crowds, apparently, but Hugo had given him a look that said it was also a handy visual clue for those watching.

Sev hadn't been kidding about all the vendors loving Hugo either, the other man getting deals that had even Alexei marveling over the power the Gryffindor had over the weak minded. Hugo knew them all by name and their families too, which just proved that the man's brain really was filled with useless information.

They'd been in the market about twenty minutes when a familiar voice spoke to them from behind.

"Okay, so what…Dolohov was hit by a curse or jinx that fried his brain so that now he's a barely functioning zombie? And Hugo's decided to take care of him because no one else would?"

Everyone turned around to see Lily Potter looking at them in amusement, the redhead pointing towards Hugo and Alexei's joined hands and then at the shirt the latter was wearing, recognizing it as Hugo's since she'd been there when her cousin had bought it.

"They're dating." Sev informed her.

"Seriously?" Lily looked at Hugo and then Rosie for confirmation, not quite sure what to think when they both acknowledged that Sev wasn't just messing with her. "Well hell…I mean we always figured that one day his ability to think of a millions things all at once would cause his head to explode, but I never figured the damage would be this severe given he has brain cells to spare."

"I can't think of a million things at once, Lily. And my brain is working quite well, thank you."

"Don't you have someone to accidentally poison or blow up?" Alexei wanted to know, this one being his least favorite Potter, which was saying something.

Lily easily shrugged off the implied insults, she was used to being razzed about her little potion incidents. She was much more interested in figuring out how her baby cousin had ended up dating the baddest bad boy Hogwarts had had to offer when she'd attended.

"Nope, not at the moment. That's why I'm here, to pick up some stuff." Noticing the hickies that were just visible above her cousin's shirt collar Lily came up with a logical reason why Hugo would be dating the Slytherin currently glaring at her. "You two are sleeping together already, aren't you?"

Rosie gave Lily a pleading look. "Please don't remind me."

Taking that as confirmation Lily nodded sagely. "So that's why you're dating him. I always figured he'd be good in bed."

Alexei made a choking sound, horrified at the idea that the evil menace had ever considered what they'd be like in bed together.

"Oh relax, I never thought of doing you, eww, yuck. I just meant that you're not just the bad boy type, but the single-minded sort too. When you're focused on something you don't let anything distract you from your goal." The devil made her add, "Plus your Sev's cousin, and according Rosie he's amazing in bed."

"Quit holding that over my head and don't talk about it! I was drunk! It wasn't my fault! How was I supposed to know Roxie had put alcohol in the Jell-O? You should have told me, especially since you know how much I love Jell-O."

"She's very amusing when she's pissed." Lily informed them.

Okay, he was sort of curious as to what his wife had said about him, he was only human, but Sev didn't want to talk about sex with his wife's cousin because Lily just drove him nuts. The girl needed a keeper but thus far no one capable had proven dumb enough for the job.

Thankfully Hugo saved the day by asking Lily if she would take on the task of informing her immediate family that he was dating Alexei since it would take him a rather long time to track everyone down and inform them before the rest of London heard.

All but cackling with witchy glee Lily immediately accepted the task and began to speculate outloud as to how to best go about lowering the boom so to speak.

She really was scary sometimes.

)

The two men survived the trip to the market with their family members just barely, both thoroughly talked out since they'd run into Hugo's Aunt Angelina, who'd been quite floored by the news that her youngest nephew was dating a Dolohov. It had taken them a while to convince her that George wasn't pranking her and that it was really Alexei Dolohov Hugo was holding hands with and not one of the boy's cousins using a Polyjuice Potion to disguise him or herself. And after that they'd all had to convince her and Rosie that taking Hugo to St. Mungos for a once over, just in case, wasn't necessary.

"You have too many sodding relatives, you know that?"

"And you have too many disturbed or very rude relatives. It balances out in the end." Hugo pointed out as he started to put stuff away. He didn't mind that people were worried about him, he was actually rather used to it at this point. Though this was the first time he could recall them questioning his mental health to this degree just because he was dating someone. They hadn't been this worried about him since he'd told them he was thinking about buying a large house so he'd have room for more books.

Since he didn't like the majority of his relatives at the best of times Alexei shrugged off the insult to them, especially since the silly Gryffindor had been so polite about it. Some of the branches of his family tree were a lot worse than rude and disturbed and he knew it. "If any more drop by wanting to talk you out of dating me I'm going to curse them." Dating the man was hard enough without adding the rest of the family to the mix.

Making a vague sound that did nothing to distinguish his thoughts on the matter Hugo finished putting the rest of the food away and then walked over to grasp the hem of Alexei's borrowed shirt, pulling it up and over the man's head.

Handing the shirt over to the intrigued looking Slytherin Hugo smiled. "If you'd like to finish undressing in the bedroom I'll go and do a little magic to the door to insure that we're not bothered for the next little while."

"You do that."

Not letting his amusement show too much Hugo listened to the other man's retreating footsteps and then headed for the front door. Years spent with his nose buried in books had given him a vast and in-depth knowledge of magic and how it could be used and manipulated, spells already lying dormant around his flat that could be activated with a few key words. No one would be able to get in now unless he undid the spells, which was a good thing since Alexei was no doubt right about the likelihood that other members of his family would be coming to see him shortly.

Once that was taken care of he slid his wand back into his pocket and then headed towards his bedroom, a gleam in his eyes and a hint of a skip to his step.