"You're jealous of them, aren't you?"
Blushing a telling bright red, Albus tore his eyes away from Louis and Scorpius. On what would probably be the last nice Saturday of the year, all four of them - Albus, the couple, and Rose - were out enjoying the sunshine by the lake. The idea had sounded nice enough when proposed. N.E.W.T. level classes were tougher than he could have imagined. A break was definitely welcomed. But the instant they all reached the water, Louis and Scorpius peeled off and did their own thing. Just like they'd done for the past few weeks. He was left behind with Rose on the blanket they'd laid out, watching the boys splash around at the edge of the water, thinking it might have been better to stay inside and study after all.
"Scorpius and I are over as boyfriends. Why would I be jealous? I'm happy for him…."
His tone must have been convincing, or perhaps Rose was being kind enough to call him out on what she'd really meant. "You're jealous he has someone. I can see you fuming."
Albus shrugged and repeated himself, his mask wavering just a touch. "He's my friend and I'm happy for him…. Honest, Rose."
Even after she let it go, Albus couldn't shake her words. He'd tried not to put what he was feeling into words. But he supposed that fit. Jealousy. He was jealous, not just of what they had, but also of Louis in particular. That would probably explain why every time he saw his cousin, he wanted to hex him. Of course, he had come to terms with still being love with Scorpius. That was in no way new. But this violent jealousy over seeing him with someone else….
That stuck with him. He couldn't shake it. Well into that night he just couldn't push away the overwhelming feelings that came with having a real word for it. A word that echoed around in his mind over and over again, always in that judgmental voice only Rose had mastered.
He supposed it was jealousy that brought him into Scorpius' bed that night. Jealousy and another one of those dreams that had him waking in the middle of the night with a deep pit of longing in his belly. It was a bad idea. He knew it was a bad idea before he'd even left the warmth of his own sheets. But it was in his head and it wasn't leaving after what felt like hours of trying.
So there was no other cure for it but to slip in next to this boy's warmth. And once he was there, he just couldn't help himself. Scorpius was next to him…and then he was under him. From there….well, he just couldn't stop, could he? He pressed his lips to those beneath him, savoring the forbidden taste. Scorpius always ate one of his father's home-baked cookies before bed. Just one and he never shared. That was exactly what he tasted like. It was what Albus remembered him tasting like. He tasted familiar and Albus was finished.
"Al…?"
Scorpius' question was soft, like he couldn't believe his current reality. Not that Albus could blame him. He couldn't really believe it, either. But, apparently, down south there was not a single question about it. He was kissing Scorpius and there was not a single doubt about how that made him feel.
"What are you doing?" Scorpius chuckled sleepily, pushing him away. "Are you sleepwalking? Did you forget I'm a taken man?"
Jealousy could only be quieted for so long. The ugliness roared in his belly again the instant Albus' mouth left the cookie-flavored sweetness of Scorpius' breath. He had no answer. He didn't know how to answer that. All he could manage was to sink down against Scorpius' chest, combing his fingers over the smooth, naked skin.