Title: The Thrill of Under Me You
Author: scribbulus_ink
Characters: Remus/Severus, Severus/Sirius, Remus/Sirius
Rating: NC17
Warnings: Sort of a threesome and role-playing
Kinks chosen: pandering
Word Count: 11,860
Summary: Negotiating a successful relationship between three emotionally guarded men with a tangled and painful history together is a path paved with pitfalls; Remus devises a plan he hopes will smooth it out a little.
Author's notes: This is a story about a threesome without a three-way. Overall, the story is Remus/Severus/Sirius, but in terms of sexual dynamics, it breaks down into 3 different pairings. The title comes from "i like my body" by e.e. cummings. Thanks to lore for beta-reading!
Additional note: I'm dedicating this story also as a belated birthday gift for karasu_hime. Muchly belated, I know, but hopefully it will be worth the wait. This isn't the story I'd originally planned to write, but it was so similar - minus mpreg - that I thought it would be repetitive to do both.

Part One | Part Two

When Severus awoke the next morning, he was alone in the bed, and a glance at the clock on the bedside table revealed he had slept far later than was his custom. Little wonder, he supposed, given he had been exhausted, and not just physically. But it was Saturday, which meant he didn't have to worry about being on time for work, and he rolled onto his back and stretched leisurely before relaxing into his pillow again. He wasn't in any hurry to get up and face whatever awaited him downstairs. Usually, they spent Saturday and Sunday afternoons together. Remus, the eternal optimist, often arranged some kind of activity to foster good will and togetherness, which generally ended the same way: Severus and Sirius sulking, not speaking to each other, and sporting some kind of bruise, scrape, or spell damage, and Remus with frayed patience and a skull-splitting headache.

It wasn't that they were trying to be quarrelsome or give Remus a migraine. It just happened. Remus always asked them to refrain from winding each other up "just this once", and they promised they would, but then Sirius flung a thoughtless insult at Severus, or Severus couldn't curb his tongue when an opportunity to take a jab at Sirius arose, tempers flared, and they were off. It made him wonder if things really could ever be different, or if they were fighting a losing battle.

Finally, he decided he had procrastinated as long as he could reasonably get away with, and he rolled out of bed, gathered his clothes, and headed off to the loo to perform his usual morning routine, bathe, and dress. When he returned to the bedroom to make up the bed, he found the task was already finished, and both Remus and Sirius were there, apparently waiting for him. Remus stood at the end of the bed, while Sirius sat cross-legged in the middle of it, and Severus stopped short in the doorway, surprised and a little apprehensive about what this meeting could mean.

"I discussed the situation with Sirius this morning, and he has agreed to go along with my plan as well," Remus said, beckoning Severus to come further into the room.

"What exactly is your plan?" Severus asked cautiously as he moved toward the bed but didn't take a seat on it.

"Yes, I'd like to know what I agreed to," Sirius chimed in, and Remus regarded them both with his usual placidity, a small, pleased smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Normally, the sight of that little smile made Severus want to snog him senseless, but not this time; there was too much at stake for him to be distracted by his libido.

"After talking to both of you and giving the matter some thought, the problem seems clear," Remus said, turning to face them both. "You're stuck in the same old pattern you've had since you were eleven years old, and the reason is, you're both too-" He paused, appearing to think about his next word carefully. "-proud to let down your guard and make the first move. You each want the other to reach out first because it's safer that way, and you feel angry and rejected when that keeps not happening, and so the pattern of lashing out continues."

Severus shifted his weight from foot to foot and took an uncommon interest in the pattern of the rug, and a sidelong peek from beneath his lashes showed Sirius had suddenly found his fingernails utterly fascinating.

"Whether you believe me or not," Remus continued in a gentle tone, gazing at both of them with affection, "I know you both want the same thing. Our situation isn't hopeless. It's simply a matter of finding a way to let you connect without either of you being forced into a position of unwanted vulnerability, and I believe I've found a way to do so: role-playing."

"Role-playing?" Sirius glanced up, fixing Remus with a quizzical look.

"Yes." Remus nodded and smiled, appearing quite pleased with himself. "In fact, I've even devised what I think will be the perfect scenario."

Severus wasn't certain whether to feel relieved that there was a possible solution to their problem or concerned that facing the Dark Lord had been a cake walk in comparison to whatever Remus had planned.

"I," Remus announced proudly, "am going to be Severus' pimp."

About a minute of stunned silence greeted that remark. Sirius looked gobsmacked, and Severus framed and discarded several responses, settling at last on one that was unoriginal, yet expressed his reaction succinctly.

"What?"

"I'm going to be your pimp," Remus repeated, looking calm and self-satisfied as if there was nothing out of the ordinary about his remark. "Severus, you will be the prostitute in our little game, and Sirius, you will be the client. I thought perhaps we could rent a room at the Leaky Cauldron. It's best if we do this away from home to avoid any associations that might hinder the proceedings."

Severus was on the verge of demanding why he had to be the prostitute, but then he decided he liked the idea of Sirius paying to have sex with him rather than the other way around even if it was only in the context of a game. Besides, he knew Sirius preferred to top, which was fine, because he preferred to bottom, and the more he thought about it, the more that seemed to suit the traditional dynamic of prostitute and client. Fortunately for them both, Remus enjoyed either, and he switched between topping and bottoming, depending on whom he was with at the time.

"If you both agree, then we could enact the scenario tonight," Remus continued, growing more animated as if he was excited by the idea. "I, as the pimp, will begin the proceedings, and once you're ready, I'll leave the two of you alone to continue the scene. The only rule will be that you don't break character," he said, wagging his finger at them, his expression stern. "The whole point of this exercise is to help you break out of your usual behavior patterns, and you can't do that if you revert as soon as I leave the room."

Sirius glanced at Severus and shrugged. "Makes sense to me."

"To me as well," Severus agreed. In truth, he rather liked the idea. He had never played a role that didn't involve mortal peril, and it would be a pleasant change. Not to mention, the thought of pretending to be a prostitute made him feel wicked; it was an illicit thrill he wasn't accustomed to, but he liked it.

Remus nodded, bestowing a pleased smile on them. "Beyond that, what you do is up to the two of you to negotiate as client and prostitute. There is one other condition, however."

Severus narrowed his eyes while Sirius raised both eyebrows. "What's that?" Sirius asked, his tone echoing the suspicion Severus felt.

"Nothing too taxing," Remus said soothingly. "I want you to spend the night together in the same bed, that's all. Even when you've finished playing, I don't want you to return home, not until tomorrow morning. All right?"

Severus glanced over at Sirius only to find him glancing back with a dubious expression that Severus felt must mirror his own, but Severus nodded, and Sirius mumbled, "All right."

"Good. That's settled, then." Remus' voice was filled with relief, and he visibly relaxed. "Right. Well, I'll make the arrangements. Severus, I would like you to meet me at the pub at seven o'clock. Sirius, you will join us an hour later. That ought to be enough time to prepare."

With that, he turned and left the bedroom, a spring in his step that Severus hadn't seen in quite some time. That alone was reason enough for him to go through with this scheme, but the thought of it working, of being able to stay... It scarcely seemed possible, but if there was a chance, he was willing to take it, no matter how silly or mad Remus' prostitution role-playing game seemed.

The afternoon seemed interminable, the hours dragging on as Severus fussed around his workroom, trying and failing to find something to occupy his mind and hands, something that might make the time pass more quickly. He was torn between unpacking in hopes for the best and keeping his things packed so he could get away more quickly if Remus' plans failed; in the end, he kept everything packed, his innate pessimism reminding him that things tended not to go well for him. A thousand times, he considered calling the whole thing off and fleeing to Tahiti anyway. A thousand times, he forced himself to remember that Remus had said he and Sirius both wanted the same thing.

What he wanted was... He grimaced, scarcely able to admit the truth to himself. He wanted a place in Sirius' affections.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Love. He wanted Remus and Sirius to love him as he loved both of them. That was what he wanted. If Remus knew that - and somehow, Severus thought he did - and believed Sirius wanted the same thing, then perhaps all was not lost. Perhaps this game could help them break out of their old patterns and make a connection.

With that hope in mind, he went to the pub at the appointed time with every intention of taking the game seriously and doing his best to play his role. It would be difficult and terrifying and probably awkward and embarrassing too, but if it got him what he wanted most, it would be worth the effort in the end.

When he arrived at the pub, he asked for Remus Lupin's room and was shown upstairs to room #22. The door was unlocked, and it creaked when Severus pushed it open and peeked inside. His eyes widened as he looked around. He expected to see the dinginess and mismatched furniture that the rooms at the pub typically sported, but instead, he saw lush surroundings worthy of any seraglio.

Remus went to greet him and reached for his hand, pulling him into the room and smiling shyly. "Do you like it?"

"It's.... not what I expected," Severus said, still looking around in wonderment.

Remus had transformed the dark, drab bed curtains, drapes, and rugs into lush jewel colors, there were silk sheets on the bed, and thick candles burned everywhere, filling the room with a warm, golden glow. A small table hosted an array of toys, and Severus spotted a blindfold, fur-lined handcuffs and a large plumed feather before he averted his gaze.

"I thought perhaps creating an atmosphere might help set the scene." Remus squeezed his hand and then released it. "Come on - it's time to get you ready."

Getting ready by Remus' definition meant conjuring a huge claw-footed tub, filling it with hot water, scrubbing Severus down with something called "exfoliating gloves", and using products with names like "Apricot Glow" and "Lavender Chamomile Whipped Blend" on him. When Remus finished with him at last, Severus' skin tingled, but he had to admit whatever Remus had done to him had given his sallow skin a bit of color, and his hair - which was naturally oily and which he had long since given up trying to deal with - was clean and glossy. How long it would last, he didn't know, but for now, he didn't look half-bad.

"Here, put this on." After banishing the tub and packing away the bath products, Remus retrieved a navy blue silk dressing gown and held it out to Severus, who eyed it dubiously.

"What about underpants?"

"No underpants."

Severus swallowed hard. "Pyjamas?"

"No, just this." Remus pushed the dressing gown at him again, and Severus took it and shrugged into it, wrapping it around himself and tying the sash tightly. "There. See? Perfectly modest, and yet easy to remove once things heat up."

Severus thought about what "heating up" entailed and fidgeted a bit. For all that he had been living with Sirius for months, Severus felt as if he was meeting a new lover for the first time, and in a sense, he was. They had never even kissed, and suddenly, they were about to play a kinky game meant to end with sex. First time sex.

"What is he like?" he asked, the question falling off his tongue before he realized he meant to ask it.

Remus glanced at him, eyebrows raised. "I assume you mean in bed."

"Yes." Severus could feel heat suffusing his face, but he lifted his chin, determined not to back down.

"Aggressive," Remus said after mulling over the question for a few moments. "Dominating. He likes to be in charge, and he can be rough when he's in a certain mood. But for all of that, he's also quite eager to please. It's the canine in him, I suppose. He tends to focus on his partner's pleasure before his own." Remus stopped smoothing and tucking the sheets, which were already picture-perfect, and faced Severus with a rueful smile. "It seems so odd to discuss this with you. I've made love with you both, yet now I'm leaving the two of you alone to be with each other for the first time."

"You aren't jealous, are you?" It was Severus' turn to raise a questioning eyebrow.

"No." Remus smiled and shook his head, moving to stand in front of Severus and reaching out to caress his shoulders. "It's just odd, that's all. I've been in the middle for so long, but one way or another, that's about to change." His smile widened, and he framed Severus' face between his hands. "I feel like I'm sending my virgin son off to be deflowered, which makes no sense at all, since you certainly are no shy innocent, but there you have it."

Do you think he'll like me? The question burned on Severus' lips, but he refused to utter it, refused to admit such doubt and weakness, even to Remus. But either he was transparent, or Remus understood his trepidation without being told.

"It will be fine," Remus said, stroking his cheeks gently. "I think if the two of you could just put everything aside and get naked, compatibility won't be an issue."

With that, he stepped back and lifted his wand. "Time to get myself ready," he said. "Sirius will be here in a few minutes."

As Severus watched, Remus Transfigured his robes into a horrible Muggle garment that Severus remembered from the Seventies. A leisure suit, he thought it was called. Next, Remus conjured a broad-brimmed hat with feathers jutting from the band and a cane with a handle in the shape of a wolf.

"What the hell?" Severus gaped at him, feeling as if his eyes were going to start bleeding at any moment from the sheer tackiness of the ensemble.

"I'm a pimp," Remus said, looking down at himself and appearing pleased. "I thought I should look the part."

"All I can say is thank God you aren't my client, looking like that," Severus retorted with a disdainful sniff, and Remus grinned cheekily.

"Well, it is a game. We might as well have fun with it. Or I should, given I'm the one returning to a cold, empty house." Remus batted his lashes, and Severus let out a snort.

"Think of the good side: you'll have an entire evening of peace and quiet without any need to referee or bandage anyone up."

"There is that." Remus might have said more, but he was interrupted by a knock on the door, and Severus drew in a deep breath, bracing himself as Remus went to answer the summons.

Sirius stepped inside, glancing around and growing wide-eyed much as Severus had done, and Severus bit back an evil snicker. "This is... different."

Under normal circumstances, Severus might have said, "We can move to the nearest alley, if you'd feel more at home there," but tonight, he refrained.

Sirius' eyebrows nearly reached his hairline when he noticed Remus' costume, and he laughed as he circled Remus, studying the details. "Damn, I wish I had a camera. Maybe you should save this idea for Hallowe'en."

"I might at that." Remus smiled and then craned up to kiss him on the cheek. "Now that we're all here, shall we get started?"

Severus glanced at Sirius and once again found him glancing back; he thought he saw a flash of trepidation in Sirius' pale grey eyes, and the sight was oddly reassuring. At least he wasn't the only one who was uncertain, and perhaps it was a sign that Sirius was invested in making this relationship work, as Remus said he was.

"Might as well." There was no hint of uncertainty in Sirius' voice, however. It was a lazy, cocksure drawl, the kind that usually put Severus' teeth on edge, but not tonight. Tonight, Severus knew it was as much of a smokescreen as his own icy hauteur.

"Very well, then." Remus glanced back and forth between them and nodded. "The game begins - now." With that, he moved to Severus' side, hooked one arm around Severus', and drew Severus closer to Sirius. "If it's satisfactory company you want," he said with a lewd wink at Sirius, "here he is. He's my best."

"I don't know..." Sirius stroked his chin as he studied Severus, who felt like he was going to have his teeth checked at any moment. "He seems a little distant."

"I wouldn't worry about that, sir." Remus lifted his cane and ran the silver handle along Severus' jaw. "He's quiet now, but he turns into quite the wanton - in the right hands, of course," he added with a challenging smirk. "You see this mouth? Quite accommodating and quite talented. He has a wicked tongue, sir, in more ways than one."

Severus couldn't help smirking as well, Remus' praise giving him a little boost of confidence, so much so that when Remus brushed the wolf's head across his lips, he darted his tongue out to lick it. A flush rose in Remus' cheeks, and Sirius' eyes widened, and Severus felt quite smug indeed at having evoked such reactions.

"You just have to know how to touch him," Remus continued in a far huskier voice, and he splayed his free hand on Severus' chest, stroking it through the silk dressing gown. "Then all the ice melts away, and you'll be surprised what you find beneath."

"What will I find?" Sirius sounded a little breathless, and his eyes had darkened as he stared at Severus.

"That, sir, I leave for you to discover." Remus smiled wickedly. "Turn around now," he instructed Severus, tapping him with the cane. Exercising obedience - for once - Severus turned, and Remus patted his backside. "A lovely, tight arse, this is. He's quite the obliging bottom. A little pushy, but oh, so willing. You won't have any challenge to your dominance with him. This one loves it best when he's flat on his back with his legs spread wide."

Severus felt a rush of heat in his face, and he opened his mouth to protest, but then he remembered he was supposed to remain in character. Besides, he couldn't deny it; Remus had spoken nothing but the truth. It just seemed so sordid when couched in such terms. But then Severus peeked at Sirius and noticed a lusty glitter in his eyes and a telltale bulge in his trousers, so perhaps Remus knew what he was doing after all.

Feeling a little daring, Severus cocked his hip and smirked over his shoulder at Sirius, wiggling provocatively against Remus' hand; Remus cupped his arse and squeezed, and Severus didn't try to squelch the soft moan that rose to his lips.

"See?" Remus flashed a wicked look at Sirius as he squeezed Severus' arse again. "So responsive and such lovely sounds he makes. You'll get your money's worth if you stroke him the right way."

"I want to try." Sirius' voice was unusually husky, and the sound of it set off little flutters in Severus' stomach; the time was drawing near when it would be just the two of them, and that would be the true test.

"He's all yours." Remus gave Severus' arse one last little pat and then he moved away. "Play nicely," he added as he headed for the door, swinging his cane. Severus wasn't certain if it was an in-character or out-of-character admonition, but either way, he knew he wasn't the only one hoping things wouldn't degenerate once he and Sirius were alone.

When the door closed and locked behind Remus, Severus turned to face Sirius, and they stood and looked at each other in silence for an interminable moment. It seemed they had reached another impasse, neither of them wanting to take a risk and make the first move, and Severus felt a lead weight form in the pit of his stomach. Perhaps this simply wasn't meant to be.

But then he remembered Remus' instructions about not breaking character. If he played the part of a willing prostitute, then he could end this stalemate. If Sirius rejected him, then he would have to hex the damned mutt to hell and back, but at least he would be able to tell Remus he had done his best.

"You're paying," he said at last. "You don't have to play nicely if you don't want to."

Sirius blinked as if startled, and then a slow, lazy grin bloomed on his lips. "Yes, I'm paying - quite a lot, too. Let's have a look and see if you're worth it." He reached out as if he intended to unfasten the sash at Severus' waist, but then he stopped and glanced up, a fleeting questioning look crossing his face, as if he wasn't certain he ought to or would be allowed to do so.

Severus stepped forward, closing a little of the distance between them, and gave a brief nod; the hesitation fled from Sirius' face and fingers, and he made short work of the knotted sash. The folds of the dressing gown fell open, baring Severus, not quite fully, but close enough, and he resisted the urge to snatch the garment closed again or to fold his arms across his chest as Sirius gave him a slow, thorough once-over.

Instead of speaking, however, Sirius stretched out his hand and rested his fingertips at the base of Severus' throat, stroking gently, and then he splayed his hand on Severus' chest, sliding it beneath the folds of the dressing gown and flicking one pebbled nipple with his thumb.

Already Severus found it difficult to breathe, and he parted his lips as he leaned closer; Sirius bent his head, and he could feel Sirius' hot breath on his cheek. Their eyes met, both of them panting softly, swaying closer yet neither closing that last remaining distance to claim the kiss hanging between them. Severus could feel the crackle of heat and tension in the air, building, stretching - and then it snapped, and they were devouring each other, mouths eager and wet and hungry as they engaged in a battle of tongues and teeth and fierce, desperate need.

Severus' fingers were uncharacteristically clumsy as he yanked at the buttons of Sirius' shirt, but he fumbled them open at last and pushed the shirt down and off. Then it was his turn to look, and he pulled away enough so he could take in the details. Sirius' body was lean and spare from the waist up, and Severus imagined it was the same from the waist down; although his ribs weren't visible, he hadn't gained much extra padding in spite of living comfortably for several months. His chest was smooth and hairless, and Severus gave in to the temptation to run his hands over the expanse of skin, the heat of Sirius' body searing his fingers and making his arousal double.

"Like what you see?" Sirius cocked an eyebrow at him, and Severus smirked.

"You're better than some clients I've had." That earned him a swat on the arse, and he gasped, shocked by the unexpected playfulness. Usually a remark like that was prelude to a quarrel, but not this time.

"Time for you to put that saucy mouth of yours to better use." And then Sirius' mouth was on his again, forceful and demanding, and Severus moaned, surrendering without hesitation. He had wanted this - wanted Sirius - for so long, and now it was real. Sirius was kissing him, desiring him, and all Severus wanted to do was offer himself up, silver platter optional.

"What did you have in mind?" Severus' eyes were half-lidded as he tilted his gaze up to meet Sirius'. It was odd being the shorter partner in the embrace; his penchant for using height to loom and intimidate was of no use here, but he found he didn't miss it when Sirius was cupping his arse through the silk dressing gown and grinding against him.

"Suck me."

Severus was on his knees and unfastening Sirius' trousers in a flash, and he smirked with smug satisfaction at freeing Sirius' cock and finding it hard and leaking - all for him. He dragged his tongue along the underside, tracing the vein, and then gave the head a single, slow lap, liking the hissing breath Sirius sucked in almost as much as he liked the taste of Sirius. His cock wasn't as thick as Remus', but it was longer, and Severus squirmed with anticipation at the thought of that hard length inside him.

He curled his fingers around the base of it, holding it still so he could tease the slit with just the tip of his tongue before working his tongue beneath the foreskin, not giving Sirius what he really wanted until Sirius fisted one hand in his hair and pushed, not roughly, but a clear signal for Severus to get down to business - and he did. He relaxed his throat and drew Sirius deeper and deeper until his nose was pressed against the coarse, dark hair of Sirius' groin, and Sirius groaned.

"God... I'd no idea you could do that..."

If Severus had been less intent on rendering Sirius entirely incoherent, he might have smirked, but as it was, he deferred the smirking for later and cupped Sirius' balls instead, kneading them as he sucked and licked and took Sirius deep again and again until at last Sirius yanked on his hair, pulling him back.

"Enough!" Sirius was panting, his eyes glazed over with lust. "Get on the bed."

Severus' tiny smile was lofty as he rose to his feet. "How do you want me?"

Sirius flashed a feral grin. "On your back with your legs spread wide."

Severus swallowed hard past the sudden dryness in his throat, all smugness fading in the wake of intense arousal, and he hastened to shrug out of his dressing gown and leap onto the bed, eager to obey that particular request. Reclining against the pillows, he bent his knees and let his legs fall open, his cock brushing against his stomach and leaving patches of glistening fluid on his skin. He was tempted to stroke himself as he watched Sirius strip off the rest of his clothes, but he didn't think it would take much to send him over the edge, and he didn't want that yet.

Pausing long enough to grab the bottle of oil on the bedside table - another of Remus' little touches, Severus supposed - Sirius climbed onto the bed and knelt between Severus' legs. A predatory smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he poured a generous dollop of oil into his palm, but when he started to coat his fingers, Severus snaked his hand out and grabbed Sirius' wrist.

"I don't want your damned fingers," Severus growled.

Sirius' eyes widened, but he didn't hesitate to comply, putting on a show as he coated his cock with oil - licking his lips and moaning and giving Severus what he probably thought was a sexy, sultry look through half-lidded eyes. And it was, damn it, Severus thought sourly even as he ogled the wanton display shamelessly.

Sirius guided Severus' legs up to rest on his shoulders, and Severus' breath caught in his throat at the blunt nudge of Sirius' cock against his entrance. This was real. This was it. He was about to be fucked by Sirius Black, and then Sirius was pushing, thrusting, and Severus threw his head back, his hands scrabbling amid the sheets as his body was breached, taken, filled.

They were both panting when Sirius was sheathed within him at last; a bead of sweat hung suspended on the end of Sirius' nose only to fall. The only sound in the room was the echo of their harsh breathing, and for Severus, it seemed as if time had stopped in this moment, the culmination of their struggle - unity after nearly thirty years of discord.

The bead fell, splashing on Severus' chest, and the moment was gone, swept away by the sudden, relentless pounding of Sirius' hips. Severus clutched Sirius' shoulders, his nails digging into the pale flesh, but if Sirius even noticed the sting, he didn't seem to care. With a low growl, Sirius curled his fingers around Severus' cock, fisting it roughly, and a garbled obscenity burst from Severus' lips, followed by a litany of pleas and profanity intermingled. It was too much. He had waited and wanted too long to hold on now, and he clawed at Sirius' back as he came hard and fast, his world greying at the edges.

Heavy-limbed with satiation, he slumped against the mattress and gazed up at Sirius with slumbrous eyes, and then he dug his nails into the sweat-slick skin of Sirius' back again. "Are you going to fuck me properly or not?" He threw out the words as a challenge, and Sirius took it up, pulling almost all the way out and slamming into him again hard almost enough to make Severus' teeth rattle.

"Yes..." It was a low, sibilant moan that rose from Severus' throat as he clung to Sirius, holding on for dear life as Sirius pounded into him, fucking him with wild, relentless abandon, harder even than Remus on the nights before the full moon when the wolf crawled beneath his skin.

Severus didn't know how long it lasted; he only knew he didn't want it to stop. He reveled in the roughness, the possessiveness, and he let himself be swept up in the maelstrom that was Sirius Black, echoing Sirius' cry of ecstasy as Sirius drove deep and came even though he was already thoroughly spent.

There was a minute or so of heaving chests and labored breathing as they struggled to catch their breath, and then Sirius eased Severus' legs off his shoulders and rolled to collapse beside Severus.

"Remind me not to doubt Remus again," Sirius said, still sounding breathless as he sprawled, taking up more than his share of the bed.

"About what?" Severus rolled his head on the pillow, too sated to grumble about the encroachment.

"About you. I thought if the ice did melt, there would only be more ice underneath." He let out a barking laugh. "I'll admit I was wrong-"

"For once," Severus muttered.

"-and glad to be so." Sirius rolled onto his side and began nudging Severus until he took the hint and rolled onto his side too - and then Sirius spooned up behind him, throwing one arm across his waist and nestling close, just as he did with Remus. "We should clean up."

"Later."

"Wet spot?"

"Don't care. Shut up."

"Right."

Five whole minutes of silence reigned, and Severus relaxed, finding himself as comfortable in Sirius' embrace as he did in Remus'. It was different feeling Sirius' lean, rangy form pressed against him rather than Remus' shorter, stockier body, but he liked it. He liked them both in different ways for different things, and he thought he understood now why Remus said it would be like cutting off a limb to choose. But just as Severus was settling in and preparing to let himself doze off, Sirius spoke up.

"Remus said he found you packing." Sirius' voice was quiet, muffled against Severus' shoulder blade, and Severus felt Sirius' arm tighten around him. "He said you planned to leave on Monday if things didn't work out this weekend."

"Yes." Severus went still and tense, scarcely daring to breathe as he waited for whatever might come next.

"Don't."

It took a moment for that single word and all its implications to sink in, but once it did, Severus relaxed. He had no illusions that things would be perfect and harmonious between the two of them from now on; butting heads was simply what they did. It was as ingrained into their natures and their interaction as it was ingrained in Remus to be the peacemaker. But he knew he wasn't the outsider now; he belonged with both of them as surely as they belonged with each other and with him, and they would find a way to make it work.

"Very well," he replied, nestling back against Sirius' lean body. "Now shut up so I can go to sleep."

"Bossy git." The words were soft and sleepy as Sirius insinuated his leg between Severus' thighs.

"Annoying mutt."

But Severus' lips curved slightly upward as he closed his eyes and breathed out a slow, quiet sigh of contentment. In the morning, they would tell Remus that his plan had been a success. Better yet, perhaps they ought to show him, Severus thought. After all, there wasn't any reason why the three of them shouldn't play together now.

They would still need the Assignation Room, but they would have to revise the schedule, and Severus suspected there would be less call for time spent in pairs from now on - and he suspected there would be a great deal more voyeurism as well. There would still be quarrels, of course, but the chasm had been bridged at last.

Tomorrow, Severus Snape would be going home.


Part One | Part Two