18th of June 1996
Lucius had been agitated all afternoon. He was trying to hide it from Percy. Indeed, he had hoped that a session of their delectable lovemaking might have taken the edge off his excitement and touch of nerves. It was just stage fright, he told himself. It was a way to make his adrenaline aid him when it came to it. He had no doubts; the plan was fool proof.
They lay tangled together on Lucius' double bed and usually Percy would have dropped into a doze by now (he really did work far too hard) but instead he was staring into Lucius' face. Lucius felt as though he were being examined, studied like one of Percy's crib sheets for his internal Ministry exams. He wasn't sure that he liked it. There was a power shift there and it was all wrong – not that anything felt right today.
Lucius found himself reaching out to Percy, and grasping his slim, freckled upper arm a little too firmly. "Stay away from the Ministry tonight," he heard himself say.
"What?"
"I know how hard you work. All hours sometimes. But not tonight. Stay here. Stay safe."
There was some nasty Gryffindor spark of brave curiosity waking in Percy's face.
"I will explain everything tomorrow, my love." Lucius kissed Percy's shoulder. "I promise." Then he couldn't help himself, he added, "You are going to be so proud of me."
"You are worrying me, Lucius."
"Just do as I say for now, sweetest one." Lucius relaxed his grip. "I'm under a charm which prevents me, or I would share with you what I know." That was a lie; fear of the Dark Lord was spell enough on its own, but Percy need never know that. "Suffice to say that I am to lead an important task for influential people. They will be impressed. I will be in such a strong position when I introduce you to them. That's my plan, my clever, beautiful boy. You will be such an asset to us." He stroked Percy's face. "They could offer you such power, such opportunities for power, such positions of power..." Language failed him at the soft feel of Percy's skin under his finger-tips, at the hints of his skeleton still tangible under that skin. His body was still boyish and yet he was undoubtedly a man: one of the few who was a full match for Lucius.
"Something's happening at the Ministry tonight?"
"Don't think about it now. Tomorrow all will be clear. Rest your wonderful mind, my love." Lucius stroked Percy's straight amber locks back from his forehead. "The future will be magnificent. It will be ours."
"Do you want to make love again?" Percy asked.
"Would you be willing? So soon?"
"Would you be able?" Percy asked with one teasing eyebrow raised. His hand slipped down to press against Lucius' hardening cock. "Oh, yes, I see you would. You really are very over-excited today."
Lucius closed his eyes for a few moments as Percy stroked him and played with him. Then he murmured, "I wish I had time."
Percy's hand stopped moving. "Off to give her the same treatment are you? The same pretty speeches?" Percy's tone was icy.
Startled, Lucius' eyes flew wide open. Percy's mouth was set in a hard line. "No!" Lucius was too shocked to manage his voice or his facial expression. "Only you. I've told her nothing. I promise. She's no more than a convenience, you know that. A man in public life must have a wife. That's all." There was, of course, much more to his partnership with Narcissa than that, and yet while he was with Percy that felt like the truth. "No, I'm going straight from here to the briefing meeting. I can tell you everything in the morning. I need to shower now, and dress, and go."
"I'm sorry." Percy looked away. Then he turned his whole body and put his back towards Lucius. He lay stiffly. Reluctantly, Lucius rose from the bed.
It was clear that Percy was not sleeping, but both men chose to pretend that he was. By the time Lucius had finished in the shower, Percy had pulled the sheets up over his body. Lucius gazed for more time than he had to spare on the sweet curve made by his bottom. Assuming that his young lover really was asleep now, he whispered ever so softly, "I love you."
Perhaps Percy heard and perhaps he did not. Lucius dressed quickly and quietly. As he summoned his cane and cloak, however, Percy certainly muttered, "Stay safe."