HP fic: Better the Instruction (13/22) [Teddy/Simon, adult]
Title: Better the Instruction (13/22) Authors: celandineb and emiime Fandom: HP Chapter pairings: Teddy/Simon (OC); references to Teddy/Remus, Remus/Sam, Teddy/Andrew, Teddy/Victoire, and Teddy/other boys. Chapter rating: NC17 Chapter length: ~7100 words Warnings: Frottage, mutual masturbation, nipple play, arseplay, references to rimming. Summary: Teddy decides to try coming out to some of his friends, and ends up bringing one of them home. Note: AU (Remus survived the war). See here for complete story header with all pairings/warnings. Also here.
Chapter 13
Somehow--Teddy was never quite sure how--he and his dad made it through dinner together, sharing a platter of chicken korma and vegetables and decent, if stilted, conversation. He was eager to get back home, to get away from the house where he'd made fools of both himself and Remus, but he thought a little father-son dinner table conversation might help the initial healing.
He wasn't sure if it actually did any good, for when he left, guilt was still gnawing at his insides. Remus had been so angry, not only afterward, but during, and Teddy's arse ached as much as his heart did at the memory.
He'd meant what he said--he certainly didn't want to come between his father and Sam. He liked Sam, and Remus did, too, and clearly they were good for each other. Teddy craved what they had--that casual companionship that he knew must come from being together for a long time, learning all the quirks and foibles of the other person. He had known it couldn't be like that right away with Andrew--with anyone--but still he craved it.
And wasn't that what he had with his father? Years of history, an intimacy only they could understand... fuck. No. Not intimacy. Intimacy implied all sorts of things that Teddy wasn't supposed to want.
Except that he did, dammit. But if he ever reached for it again with Remus, he'd lose... well, everything, probably. His father would cut the lessons off, and he'd probably never trust Teddy again. Teddy swallowed hard. Probably Remus wouldn't trust Teddy for a while now, anyway, even if he had said that they would pick up the next lesson in January.
Was there any way to make the situation better, he wondered. Just time, maybe. If he behaved himself for long enough, didn't push, didn't try to flirt or even talk about topics that could lead into dangerous waters. That included Andrew. Fuck. What was he going to do about Andrew? He supposed that Remus was right, and he should be as honest as he wanted Andrew to be. All right, then. First, he'd tell a few friends, and then he'd swallow his pride and send Andrew an owl.
Teddy found a quill and a piece of parchment, and sat down to write to Victoire. If anyone deserved to know, she did.
Two hours and three cans of beer later, he read through what he'd written one last time. It might not be the perfect way to explain, but he'd done his best to assure Victoire that he still liked her very much, but he'd realised that he was also attracted to blokes, and hoped she'd understand. Also that he was going to be telling some of his other friends, but she was the first, and would she mind not spreading it around yet? That ought to flatter her a bit, Teddy thought, to know that she was the first person he was telling--well, if she thought about it she'd know that there was likely to be someone else who knew, but that was a bit different. It was a good-enough letter, though, and Teddy sealed it before he could rewrite it yet again.
He posted it in the morning, on his way to work. Madam Poyt was in a good humour that day, to Teddy's relief, and the shop was busy enough that he didn't have time to think about either what he'd done or what he planned to do that week.
The Leaky wasn't the favourite place for Teddy's generation, but most of his friends turned up there at least one night a week, and so Teddy went every night, spinning out a couple of drinks to last all evening, waiting to find a good chance to bring up the topic. On Wednesday it happened.
"I can't understand why the Cannons keep Harkiss on as Beater," grumbled Roderick Pye. "He bats like a poof."
"How d'you know that?" Teddy said, his heart pounding. "You can't tell from how someone bats if he flies on the other side of the broomstick."
"'Course I can."
"Yeah? How?" Teddy implied a challenge in his words, and he leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Let's hear it, if you're so certain."
"He bats like a poof, that's all! Little swings, like this--" and Roderick made a dainty motion, setting the three others at the table to laughter--everyone but Teddy, who dismissed his theory with an eyeroll.
"What's so funny?" asked Simon Stewart, shedding his coat and scarf, coming in late as always. He scooted into the booth across from Teddy, and Roderick quickly engrossed himself in his pint.
"Nothing," said one of the others, and Teddy regarded Simon for a moment--small, pale, pretty Simon, whom some of the others wondered about behind his back. Teddy had always defended him, saying that just because he was a little girlish didn't mean he was queer, but now that Teddy's eyes had been opened, he wondered.
He decided to find out.
"Roddy here," he said, gesturing, using a nickname that he knew full well Roderick despised, "was trying to tell us all that he can tell gay from straight, even when the bloke in question is twenty yards up in the air on a broom. What do you say?"
Simon coloured faintly and signalled the waitress, ignoring the question, but when he'd ordered and turned back to the table, Teddy was still looking at him.
"What do you think, Simon?" Teddy repeated, and he got an elbow in his side for his trouble.
"Cut it out, Ted," one of the other boys muttered, but Teddy didn't want to cut it out. He wondered now too about Simon. Not that he was interested--Simon was far too delicate, for one thing, but he was an all right bloke and a loyal friend--but because he thought it might be all right to have someone else in his circle who was like him. He cocked his head to the side and wondered if it would be inappropriate to pull Simon aside and ask him straight out if the rumours were true.
The others had dropped the subject of who was and who wasn't a poof, and were discussing the merits of the Holyhead Harpies' new uniforms, which were more form-fitting than their old ones, a fact that did not escape the attention of the young men gathered there.
Teddy half-listened, laughing when the others laughed, but his mind was on how to tell his friends what he'd gone there to tell them. Perhaps he should start small.
And when Simon excused himself and went into the gents', Teddy saw his chance. He slid off his seat and followed Simon in.
Simon's expression closed off when Teddy stood next to him at the urinals, but there was no one else there, so this would be his best shot.
"Hey, Simon."
"What?" Simon sounded irritated, maybe a bit worried as well.
"I, uh. I didn't mean to put you on the spot, out there, but I do want to know what you think. Can you spot someone who's queer, like Roderick claims? I mean, not you necessarily, but can anyone?" Teddy realised he was beginning to babble, and closed his mouth hard, zipping up his trousers.
"Some people say they can," said Simon slowly. "Gaydar, they call it." He wouldn't meet Teddy's eyes in the mirror as they washed their hands.
"Simon."
"Yeah?"
"Are you? Queer, that is?"
Simon froze. "Fuck off."
"No--wait." Teddy grabbed his arm. "I just--I wanted to know because. Um. I am. I think. I'm pretty sure."
"Are you taking the piss?" Simon swallowed. "You went out with Victoire, for Merlin's sake."
"I know."
Teddy was about to continue when the door opened and an older wizard walked in. Teddy let go of Simon hastily. "Later," he muttered, and Simon gave a jerky nod.
They went back to the table, where the conversation had moved on to which witches each boy fancied most. Teddy could feel Simon's eyes on him, speculating.
When the group began to break up, a couple of them begging off because they had to work early in the morning, Roderick having to go meet his girlfriend, Teddy lingered behind, watching Simon wind his scarf slowly around his neck.
"So," he said when it was just the two of them standing by their booth, "um, d'you maybe want to go somewhere? My flat? I mean--" Simon's face had flushed and he'd backed away a little, and Teddy realised what his invitation must have sounded like.
He stepped closer to Simon and hissed in his ear. "I'm not coming on to you, you tit! I just thought--I wanted to finish the conversation we started earlier. You know?" He jerked his thumb towards the gents' by way of emphasis, as if Simon could possibly have mistaken which conversation he meant.
"Yeah, I know," said Simon, and he took another step away and stood there, regarding Teddy. "All right," he said after a moment. "Where do you live?"
They walked to Teddy's flat, bracing themselves against the December wind. Teddy shoved his hands deep in his pockets and wished he'd thought to bring gloves. Simon, on the other hand, was seemingly oblivious to the cold, wrapped as he was in a thick woollen coat and scarf, cap pulled down over his blond curls and gloves on his hands.
When they entered Teddy's flat, Simon just stood in the doorway for a moment.
"Well, come in if you're coming in, then," said Teddy, taking off his coat and hanging it up. He went into the kitchen to get a couple of beers, though probably Simon had had plenty at the Leaky--Teddy knew he certainly had, himself, but he also knew that awkward conversations were often smoothed by the presence of alcohol.
"You can sit. If you like." Teddy handed one of the beers to Simon and took a seat at one end of his sofa.
"Listen, Ted," said Simon, sitting at the other end, "I didn't mean to be so--I don't know, back at the Leaky? You surprised me. I didn't exactly expect to hear that coming from you."
"I know," said Teddy, wiping his palm on his jeans, "I didn't exactly see it coming, myself. The conversation or, you know, the other thing. The, um, queer thing."
"So you are."
"Yeah. Like I said. Pretty sure."
Simon studied the label on his beer. "And you're talking to me about it because you think I am too."
"Well... yeah," Teddy admitted. "I mean, I've never known you to go out with a girl."
Simon gave a kind of sideways smile. "Maybe I'm just discreet about it."
"Maybe. I guess it doesn't matter, anyhow. At least you don't seem to be wigged out about me." Teddy took a long drink, the cool liquid comforting. "I hoped you wouldn't be."
"Why'd you want to tell me?" Simon asked.
Now that was something Teddy wasn't going to explain. He fumbled for something to say. "It seemed like the thing to do. You know. Honesty the best policy and all that."
One eyebrow went up skeptically. "Right. Try again, Ted."
Teddy realised that Simon still thought this was some kind of come-on. He'd have to tell the truth; some of it, at least. "I... well. I kind of met someone. If you're discreet, he's positively secretive. So I thought that maybe if I came out, he might be more okay about us."
Simon laughed. "Sorry. Not trying to make fun of you, but if he really does want to hide, I don't think you being more open is going to help."
"Maybe not, but if he's that repressed, really, and not just nervous about it, then I'd have a hard time being with him. So I'm hoping that maybe me telling people and showing him that it's not that bad would convince him." Teddy bit his lip. He hadn't really thought about the possibility that this might backfire with Andrew, that Teddy coming out would make it less likely Andrew would.
"Okay," Simon said after a pause. "Well, for what it's worth, yes. What you asked me in the loo."
Teddy found himself grinning with relief. "You are?"
"Yeah." Now Simon seemed a little nervous about the admission. "But most people don't know, okay? Roderick, most of them. And I'm fine with that."
Teddy nodded. "Okay. I can keep a secret."
"Yeah, apparently," Simon laughed. "I'd honestly never have guessed it, not in a hundred years, Ted. I mean... Victoire. She's almost enough to make me... well." He smiled.
"Yeah," said Teddy, picking at a loose thread at the hem of his shirt. "I wrote her a letter and told her. All a part of this openness thing, you know?"
"Has she written back?"
"Not yet." Teddy frowned. "Probably she needs a few days to get used to the idea. I mean, it's been a while since we broke up, but still. And I guess she's busy with school and everything." He trailed off, not liking the way he sounded as if he was making excuses, rationalising the fact that he hadn't heard back from Victoire.
"Anyway," said Simon, "Good for you. Who else have you told?"
"Um, you. And, well, An--the bloke I told you about. Um, and my dad."
Simon's eyebrows flew up. "You told your dad?"
Teddy huffed out a breath. "Yeah. I did." He wasn't really up for explaining the whole situation to Simon--well, he wasn't up for explaining the whole situation to anyone, really.
He turned the tables on Simon. "Do your parents know?"
"My parents are divorced. I haven't seen my dad in ages, so I'd be shocked if he even knew when my birthday is. My mum hasn't got a clue. She keeps asking me when I'm going to meet a nice girl." Simon set his empty beer can on the coffee table and shrank into the sofa cushions, tucking his feet underneath him.
Teddy frowned. He hadn't known that about Simon.
"Maybe we could set your dad and my mum up together, then she'd leave me alone," Simon laughed. "She needs a boyfriend as badly as I do."
"He's seeing someone, actually," Teddy said. Simon didn't need to know that Remus liked men too. "Do you really need a boyfriend that badly?" He'd been so careful to make sure Simon didn't think Teddy was making a move on him, but was Simon hinting that he'd like that, now that he was sure Teddy was really queer too?
"Well..." Simon shrugged. "It'd be nice, that's for sure. It's kind of hard to meet likely prospects. You know that." He curled up tighter, his pale blue eyes solemn as he looked at Teddy. "You had Victoire at school. How'd you figure out you liked boys, anyway? Where did you meet the bloke you mentioned? I've always known I was gay, and I never seem to be able to find anyone."
"I've kind of known for over a year," Teddy said awkwardly. He didn't want to tell Simon about the boys he'd gotten off with at Hogwarts; he was fairly sure that none of them had been doing it for anything more than the physical release, because they didn't have girlfriends at the time or were fighting with them or whatever, so it wasn't as if any of them could be prospective boyfriends for Simon anyhow. Plus, he didn't want to make Simon feel badly that Teddy had had Victoire and boys at school, when it sounded as if Simon hadn't really had anyone. He could tell a partial truth, though. "I, uh, started noticing someone in the showers, and wanked over him. A lot."
A smile tugged at Simon's lips. "Adrian Sowerby."
"Yeah," Teddy admitted, only slightly surprised that Simon had guessed. Adrian was by far the handsomest wizard in their year, and a lot of people had been surprised that Victoire had chosen Teddy over him. On the other hand, he was a total tit as a person and barely scraped passing marks, and Victoire had good taste, if Teddy did say so himself.
"Me, too. But he's completely straight and a prat besides." Simon flicked his fingers. "Not worth it. So. Tell me about this bloke. Did he come into Slug & Jiggers?"
Teddy shook his head. "No, I met him at a pub. Not the Leaky, somewhere else, after a Quidditch match. He's a few years older than we are." That all seemed safe enough. Nothing to give Andrew's identity away there.
"And you like him, I can tell," said Simon, his voice slightly wistful. "Lucky Ted."
"Not so lucky if he's not willing for anyone at all to know he's gay." Teddy swallowed.
"Maybe not," said Simon, and he shrugged. "At least it's a start, I guess."
"Yeah, I guess," said Teddy, and they lapsed into silence.
"Have you--" Simon began, then stopped, and Teddy looked over at him. Simon's cheeks had turned pink.
"What?"
"You and--your boyfriend, or whatever he is--sorry, it's a bit personal. Maybe I should go. I don't want to make things weird." Simon stood. "Thanks for having me over, Ted. See you around."
"Wait!" Teddy stood, too, and he shoved his hands in his pockets, embarrassed by Simon's sudden departure and by his own show of emotion. "I mean, you don't have to go," he said, a little more quietly, keeping his voice even. "If there's something you wanted to ask, then ask. I just shared my biggest secret with you, so I don't see what could be so embarrassing."
Liar, said a little voice in the back of his head, that's hardly your biggest secret. Teddy ignored his conscience and smiled at Simon, who was wavering near the door.
"Well," Simon finally said, "I guess I don't have anywhere better to be."
"Oh, thanks," replied Teddy, laughing, "Glad to know I'm your first choice." He shoved Simon a little. "Sit down, you arse."
Simon did, and this time he didn't tuck himself into the corner. He seemed more relaxed, sitting back against the cushions, one ankle crossed over his knee while Teddy fetched them another couple of beers.
"Now," Teddy said, sitting, "What was it you wanted to ask me? Have he and I what?"
"You know," said Simon, and he made a lewd gesture.
"Oh," said Teddy. He thought he really should have seen that one coming. "Um, not--not in the traditional sense, no."
"Not in the traditional sense?"
"Well, have you?" Teddy retorted.
Simon shook his head. "I told you, I don't even have a boyfriend right now."
"Could've had a one-night stand," Teddy said. "But yeah, I wouldn't want to do that either, not for my first time."
"So, uh, what did you mean, not in the traditional sense, then?" Simon asked again.
Teddy could feel his face growing hot, and took a gulp of beer to cool down. "Um. Fingers. Tongues."
"Tongues?" Simon's voice was both shocked and eager. "Wow. There? I mean, sucking a bloke off, that's one thing--"
"And a very fine thing," Teddy interrupted.
"Yeah, but fuck." Simon looked extremely impressed. "He teach you how to do that?"
Teddy gave a one-shouldered shrug. "We did it to each other." Which was true. Remembering, his cock responded and he gave a little wriggle, trying to adjust himself without looking like he was doing so.
"Wow," Simon repeated. He drank from his beer, then traced a pattern on the can with his thumb. Teddy remembered that from school; Simon always doodled on the edges of his parchment when he was nervous. Before he could decide what Simon might be nervous about, though, Simon had put down his beer and rested a hand on Teddy's leg, about halfway up his thigh. "Just--for fun? I know you like this bloke, whoever he is, but maybe...?"
Simon really wasn't Teddy's type, but he was a friend, and his hand felt awfully good on Teddy's leg, and he was here. "Okay. Just for fun." Teddy scooted closer to him. Simon tasted of beer when they kissed, and his mouth was soft, almost like Victoire's, but when Teddy slid a hand under Simon's shirt he found rather more curly hair than he expected on that narrow chest.
"Ohh," sighed Simon, and Teddy, encouraged by Simon's response, rubbed his thumb over one of Simon's nipples, which stood at attention almost immediately.
Simon broke the kiss. "That's brilliant," he breathed.
"That's nothing," Teddy replied, and he put his arms around Simon and lowered him to the sofa cushions, kissing him all the while.
It was strange; both Remus and Andrew were taller than Teddy, and they had broader chests and shoulders. Holding Simon was different; he was smaller, fine-boned, and Teddy was at first disconcerted by the switch. He was used to being the smaller one, but maybe this was okay, he thought, as he licked at Simon's neck, eliciting a shudder and a moan from him.
He kissed Simon again, then, and they both moved slowly, nothing frantic about their movements.
Teddy wondered if they should maybe stop what they were doing and go into the bedroom, where they would have more room to thrash about and where it was darker, but then he thought that if they were really doing this just for fun, the bedroom might be too intimate, too serious. No, the sofa was fine, if a bit cramped.
"Do you want to maybe, um," he said between kisses, and he tugged at the hem of Simon's shirt. "Off?"
Simon nodded and sat up and pulled his shirt over his head, and Teddy knelt up and did the same, covertly admiring Simon's build as he did so. He wasn't actually half as girly as Teddy had always thought--but then, maybe that had something to do with the fact that he was half-naked on Teddy's sofa.
Simon reached for Teddy with one hand and Teddy took it and allowed himself to be pulled back down. They resumed their kissing, still unhurried, though if Teddy's growing erection had any say in the matter, they'd be speeding things up soon enough.
He shifted against Simon, trying to see if maybe Simon's cock was responding, too. Not that he was worried. He'd managed to seduce his father, for god's sake (don't think of that, stop thinking of that). But he wanted Simon to enjoy himself, too.
There. Yes, Simon was indeed hard, Teddy realised as they rocked together, each with a thigh thrust through the other's legs. Good. Teddy put his hand on Simon's chest again, exploring, liking the way that Simon hissed as Teddy rubbed over each nipple. He backed away a bit, enough that he could lower his head and taste the pink circles.
"Mm," Simon breathed, stroking Teddy's hair back. "Oh, that's fine."
Teddy raised his head and grinned. "One thing I learned with Victoire."
Simon gave a gulping laugh. "Hadn't thought of that, although I imagine she's less, um, furry." He reached down to touch Teddy's smoother chest, his thumbnail scraping lightly. "Feel nice?"
"Oh yeah." Teddy caught his breath as Simon's hand moved lower. "You can undo them," he said when Simon reached his trousers, and Simon did, stroking along the faint trail of hair that led to the elastic of his pants, sliding his fingers underneath to cup the damp head of Teddy's cock. Teddy fumbled at the zipper of Simon's trousers, and Simon obligingly lifted his hips a little so that Teddy could pull the bunchy fabric away.
Maybe it was just as well that they were on the sofa, with more light, because it was nice to see Simon's cock, Teddy decided. Simon might be on the small side in general, but he was by no means under-endowed; bigger than Teddy was, in fact, if not by very much. Teddy ran a finger along the hot length of it, enjoying the feel, then brushed over Simon's bollocks.
"Kind of awkward with our trousers still half-on," Simon pointed out. "And shoes."
"Yeah, true." Teddy rolled away and yanked off his shoes, not bothering to untie the laces, and wriggled out of his trousers and pants although he didn't bother taking his socks off. It wasn't that warm in the flat anyhow, although touching Simon was warming him up. He paused a moment, then turned all his hair bright red, just for fun. Simon laughed.
"I've always thought that was cool. Hey, wait--you can change other things than your hair colour, right?" He gave Teddy a wicked little grin. "Like size and shape?"
"Only up to a point. And it doesn't actually feel the same if I try to make my cock much bigger. I've never figured out why not, though," Teddy said. "But for a minute, just to show you." He concentrated, and his cock lengthened to almost a quarter again its usual size, and thickened in the same proportion. Simon touched it, his eyes questioning, and Teddy shook his head. "Feels more like regular skin, somehow." He let his cock shrink back as Simon held it, the sensation increasing as he resumed his natural proportions.
"Ohh," he moaned, and Simon smiled.
"Better?"
"Oh, so much better. Here, though--let me just--" and he sank down beside Simon so they could touch each other and kiss at the same time, face to face on the sofa, Teddy's back against the cushions.
Simon laughed into the kiss. "You'll have to hold me up, I think, or I'll fall off the front."
Teddy was more than glad to oblige. He slipped one arm under Simon, holding him about his waist, and continued touching Simon's cock with the other, teasing up and down its length while Simon did the same to him.
Hoping that Simon was in an adventuresome mood, but not knowing how far he'd gone before with anyone else, if at all, Teddy opened his legs to give Simon better access to--well, to whatever Simon wanted access to, really.
Simon took the bait, his hand creeping down to tickle Teddy's bollocks. Teddy hoped that wouldn't be as far as Simon went, though he also wished that Simon had both hands free, the better to stimulate him. He'd take what he could get, though.
"It's okay?" Simon whispered between kisses, and Teddy just nodded and captured Simon's mouth again, thrusting towards Simon's caresses.
Simon shifted, then, mirroring Teddy's movements, opening his own legs a little, and Teddy took his time getting his hand down Simon's cock and onto his bollocks, then scraping a fingernail just behind them.
"Fuck, Ted," gasped Simon, "Will you do that again?"
Teddy kissed Simon and smiled into the kiss, caressing him just behind his bollocks once again, then moved further back. Simon tensed, and Teddy kissed him harder, but he still remained rigid.
"It's okay," Teddy said, "We don't have to." He went back to playing with Simon's balls, rubbing his thumb over the loose skin there, then back up to Simon's cock, which was still rigid.
"Sorry," gasped Simon as Teddy thumbed over the head of his cock, "I just--you know, um, I wasn't planning on doing this tonight, exactly."
Oh.
"There's a spell," Teddy murmured. "I could show you, if you'd like--?"
Simon bit his lip and nodded.
Teddy said, "Hang on, I need my wand. In my trousers."
"I'll get it," said Simon, and did a kind of backbend off the sofa to grab Teddy's clothes and find his wand in the pocket, handing it to him.
"Thanks." Teddy kissed him again and manoeuvred the wand so that the tip pointed at Simon's arse. "Ablue," he said distinctly. "That's the cleaning spell."
Simon blinked. "I think--yeah, that kind of tingled? So I guess it worked."
"Then--lubricio. I'll do me, too." Teddy repeated the spells, feeling a frisson followed by slickness, and Simon mouthed the words after him.
"Those are good to know. I'll have to practise them."
"Yeah." Teddy grinned. "Not so good if you happened to date a Muggle, I suppose, but that's not something I'm fussed about just now."
"Hm, me either." Simon took the wand back from Teddy and dropped it on the floor, then slipped his hand back around Teddy's prick.
Teddy reciprocated, pumping Simon's cock for a few strokes before he moved lower once again, whispering, "Okay now?" as he rubbed Simon's perineum. At Simon's shaky nod, he brushed a fingertip gently over the pucker of Simon's arsehole.
"Oh, yeah." Simon sounded dazed. His cockhead was wet, leaking against Teddy's stomach.
"Hold us both together," Teddy suggested, although he still hoped Simon might try touching Teddy's arsehole too. Maybe in a few minutes, if they lasted that long.
"Oh. Okay," said Simon.
The feel of Simon's cock against his own was exciting, but the sound Simon made as Teddy wriggled his fingertip inside was even more so. He keened and pushed down against Teddy's finger.
"More," he gasped, "please?" He continued moving his hand up and down their cocks in an uncoordinated rhythm, and Teddy nodded and pushed his finger further into Simon's arsehole, up to the knuckle. He wriggled the tip of his finger, and Simon swore and jerked and moved his hand faster, and before Teddy realised what was happening, Simon was coming, dribbling sticky fluid onto his cock and onto Teddy's as he wanked them both together.
"Oh, fuck, oh fuck," chanted Simon as he came, and Teddy thrust against him, encouraging him, still wriggling his fingertip inside his arsehole.
"Oh, my god," said Simon after a moment, "I didn't mean to! Not so soon, anyway."
Teddy slipped his finger from Simon's hole and embraced him. "You kidding me? That was hot."
Simon grinned lazily. "Yeah? Well, thanks to you, really. Um--do you want me to--?"
Teddy nodded, still thrusting himself against Simon's belly, his cock sticky with Simon's seed. "Yeah, I mean, when you can. Take your time." His thrusting belied his casual tone, he knew, and he hoped that Simon would get the message.
And, thank god, Simon did, trailing his fingertips through the come that coated Teddy's cock. "Here, sit up," he said, and Teddy did, his legs spread wide. Simon moved to kneel on the floor before him. "Move to the edge," he said, and Teddy shifted, hanging his arse over the edge of the cushion to give Simon better access.
Simon smeared his hand through the come on his belly and cock and wrapped his hand around Teddy's erection, and Teddy groaned and let his head drop against the sofa cushions. "Fuck, Simon, that's amazing," he gasped, and it was, especially knowing what Simon was using for lubricant.
There was a finger at his entrance, then, scraping tentatively over it, and Teddy groaned and relaxed his hole as Simon eased the very tip of his finger inside it. "Yesss," he encouraged.
"'S tight," said Simon wonderingly, and pushed further in. "And soft."
His other hand was still moving on Teddy's cock, giving a little twist each time he came to the head. Teddy was close, close, but he wanted more. "Another finger," he begged. "Please?"
"If you're sure? Okay." Simon pulled out, then went in again with two fingers. "Like that?"
Teddy answered with a groan, pushing himself down against Simon. "God--yes--ohhh, I'm gonna, gonna come!" And he did, in sticky spurts, as Simon's fingers brushed over his prostate and Simon's other hand tugged at his cock.
"That's weird," Simon murmured and slid his fingers out of Teddy's arse.
Blinking languidly, Teddy peered at him as Simon rose and crawled back onto the sofa. "What's weird?"
"When you came. You squeezed my fingers. It felt funny, that's all, I didn't expect it." Simon rubbed his thumb in the splatters of come on Teddy's stomach. "Guess I never thought about those muscles."
"Mm." Teddy put an arm around Simon. "Yeah. It felt really good to me, though. Thanks." He still didn't fancy Simon as a boyfriend, but he'd definitely enjoyed this.
"Me too." Simon's ears had gone pink. "I haven't--I mean, it's been a long time since I messed around with anyone. I'd almost forgotten how much better it is than wanking."
"Yeah. Definitely more fun," said Teddy. He thought about saying that they could maybe do it again sometime, but he didn't want to make it sound like he wanted it to be more than the just for fun they'd agreed on. And anyway, they could do it again sometime, without having to say they could, right? For now, though, it was good enough just to know that he had a friend who knew he was queer, and who was himself at least semi-out, if not to his mother or the blokes likely to tease him about it. Maybe Simon would be willing to go to a gay club with Teddy, sometime--if there were two of them, it would be less intimidating.
"Do you ever go out?" he asked and Simon blinked at him.
"To the Leaky, yeah. You know that. Or--what do you mean, 'out'?"
Teddy shifted on the sofa, but kept his arm around Simon's shoulders. "I mean to clubs. For, you know, blokes like us. There are lots of them, lots more than I ever expected, anyway. I just wondered if you ever went. Thought maybe we could go together sometime."
"No," said Simon, and he bent forward and rummaged in the heap of clothing on the floor for his pants, then stood, tugging them on. "If I went to clubs, I'd've had a boyfriend by now, don't you think?"
Teddy frowned as Simon began dressing--he'd been so comfortable, but now he supposed he should get dressed as well. He reached for his t-shirt and wiped the come from his stomach with it, then pulled on his jeans, neglecting his pants, and flopped back down upon the sofa.
"I guess," Teddy said. "Yeah, I don't doubt you'd have about seven."
Simon laughed and rolled his eyes at this, pulling on his own jeans, and followed Teddy's lead, leaving his shirt off and sitting on the sofa again. "Maybe not seven," he said.
"Would you maybe be interested in going sometime? I mean, not as a date, or anything--not that this wasn't fun--shit, I mean--"
"No, it's okay," said Simon, interrupting Teddy's babbling. "I know what you mean. And this was just for fun, anyway. Yeah, we could go sometime. That could be fun. Which clubs do you like?"
Teddy bit his lip. "I've never, um, actually been to any."
Simon made a face at him. "Then how do you know there are so many?"
Teddy laughed. "Research! You were a Ravenclaw; you should've got that one right away."
"Humph." Simon rolled his eyes and stuck an elbow in Teddy's ribs. "Okay, then. So if there are lots, which are they?"
"Lots of Muggle clubs," Teddy clarified. "I only know of a couple for wizards. Charon, for one."
"That club on the corner of Amor Alley? Kind of a dodgy area, I've always heard."
"People probably call it dodgy because the customers are queer," Teddy pointed out. "It looks fine from the outside, no different really from the Leaky or the Three Broomsticks, certainly better than the Hog's Head. Or would you rather go to a Muggle club?"
"No," said Simon thoughtfully. "I mean, I did all right in Muggle Studies--"
"You got an 'O,' you prat, I remember," Teddy interrupted. "'All right,' hah."
"--but I think I'd be more comfortable in a Wizarding place to start with," Simon finished as if Teddy hadn't spoken. "Wouldn't you?"
"I think so," Teddy agreed. "And hey, one thing is that anyone there must be queer too, right? So they might be surprised, but they're not going to call names or think any less of us for being so too."
"I imagine not." Simon fidgeted with his shirt. "Although I'm sure it's like any social group. Those who are in, those who aren't. You know how that goes."
Simon had always been on the fringes, Teddy knew that. Never the centre of things, sometimes joked about a little more than was kind. Teddy had been more popular, although it wasn't something he'd paid much attention to, just accepted as the way of things. Now he realised how much that had doubtless undercut Simon's confidence.
"Two of us together, we should be just fine," he said stoutly, promising himself silently that when they went, he'd stick by Simon, not leave him alone or let anything bad happen to him. Simon was too good a person for that. He put his hand on Simon's knee and squeezed it.
"Yeah." Simon laid his hand over Teddy's. "Yeah. It'll be good to go with you." He looked at the clock on the wall. "Bugger, it's after midnight. I'd better get going." Pulling his shirt on hastily, he grabbed his shoes and shoved his feet into them. "I'm--I'm glad you told me, Ted, and thanks. Send me an owl or something about going out to that club, okay?"
"Definitely," said Teddy, "Maybe this weekend?"
Simon nodded. "I think I'm free, but owl me, and I can make sure. I'll see you later," he said, putting on his coat and hat and winding his scarf around his neck again. Teddy crossed the room and the two of them stood awkwardly in the doorway for a moment.
"So, um--okay," said Teddy, and he reached out to smack Simon on the shoulder in a very blokey and not at all homosexual-type way, despite what the facts might have been, but Simon mistook Teddy's gesture and hugged him, and a moment later, Teddy said oh and he fell into the embrace as well.
Hugging was kind of nice, he reflected, after their brief and stilted embrace, when Simon had left. He could get used to hugging.
He closed the door and leaned against it, then sighed.
"What a bloody bizarre night," he said aloud, and a minute or two later, he made his way to the bedroom, collapsed onto the bed, and fell asleep, still wearing his jeans.
Teddy was awakened in the morning by a tapping at his window. He sat up, rubbing his bleary eyes, cracking his back. Bloody owls, delivering at unfuckinggodly hours of the morning.
He didn't recognise the owl, but that didn't mean anything--not many of his friends had their own owls, and nor did his dad. It looked like it could have been one of the Hogwarts school owls, and that was when it dawned on him who the letter was probably from.
"Victoire," he said as he arose and made his way to the window. The letter was, indeed, from Victoire; her looping handwriting covered the envelope, betraying nothing of what the contents might be.
Teddy decided it was too early to deal with the letter just yet, so he made his way to the kitchen with it shoved in his pocket, and made some tea, letting the steam awaken his senses.
"All right," he said aloud, steeling himself, and he pulled out the letter and opened the envelope.
Dear Teddy,
She would call him "Teddy" and not "Ted," but at least the "Dear" was promising.
It sounds as if you have been rather busy this autumn, or do I misunderstand?
Teddy groaned. Trust Victoire to think that him being queer meant he'd been sleeping his way around Wizarding Britain.
I have no such exciting news to share with you in return. I cannot say it was altogether surprising, once I stopped to think about it, though. You were more of a challenge than the other boys; I think that is part of the reason why you interested me. (As well as being an interesting person, even though we had known each other since we were tiny children.)
Hm. He wondered if that were really true, or if Victoire were indulging in a certain amount of self-blindness. Hindsight and 20/20 vision and all. But maybe it was. Girls were odd, especially girls who were one-eighth Veela.
Since you asked, I'll tell no one here for the time being, but if you are going to be telling other friends, it will of course reach Hogwarts eventually and then I shall say that I already knew. It will give me a cachet.
Fair enough. Teddy could picture Victoire looking mysterious and knowing, whispering to the other girls. And she might be right.
I have been seeing Geoffrey Camborne, you will remember him, the Hufflepuff Beater, but he's becoming tiresomely possessive. You were far better about that (I suppose now I know why!). I think I'll break up with him before the Christmas holidays and get it over with. Uncle Harry will have his usual Boxing Day party, I imagine, so I'll hope to see you then. We can talk properly in person.
Has your taste in clothes improved since you've realised you're queer?
Fondly, Victoire
Teddy rolled his eyes at the last sentence, although he knew she meant it as a joke. Well, that was far better than he'd hoped for. Perhaps this entire coming-out thing wasn't going to be bad at all... although there were those like Roderick whom he hadn't tackled yet. He drank a long draught of his cooling tea.
If you are going to be telling other friends, Victoire had written, it will of course reach Hogwarts eventually...
Yes, that was true. Everything eventually did. And, he assumed, the news would eventually reach his less accepting friends. Maybe he wouldn't have to make a big announcement to Roderick and his ilk after all. He worried his bottom lip between his teeth. Was that really the right course of action to take? He knew the things they'd said about Simon when Simon wasn't around, and how they would all laugh and laugh. No, he knew he didn't want that.
Maybe, he decided, being confronted with the reality of Teddy Lupin being queer would make them rethink their attitudes.
He snorted at his own egotism and finished his tea. No, probably not.
There was really only one way to find out, of course, but Teddy wasn't sure he felt up to it. He was exhausted from the previous night's exertions with Simon, and besides, it was time for him to start thinking about showering and shaving and going to work. It wouldn't do to be late, no matter what.