Authors:lee_west and ceria Rating: R Pairing: Gideon/Kingsley Summary: Written for the AWDT prompts, “What good would it be to kill you if we're both already dead?” and "The Lobster Thermidor looks delicious." Gideon and Kingsley prove the power of resourcefulness, but Fabian is a force to reckon with. Disclaimer: We don’t own the boys at all; if we did, their story would have a happy ending. And we don't own a movie theater or a trendy wizarding café. We do have a good recipe for Lobster Thermidor, though. Warnings: Chan-ish - but the minor in question isn't innocent at all!
A million thanks to nocturnali (on lj) for the beta.
***
Gideon was embarrassed at how simple Gringotts turned out to be. Almost. He didn't mind, since it was the only chance he'd have to spend time with Kingsley - away from Mac and Fabian, that was. That was his only reason of course, and he wouldn't tell anyone that, especially Kingsley - he wasn't a girl.
Leaving the building with various combinations of Muggle money, he questioned Kingsley further on the use of it, and again about the underground and how it worked. He didn't tell Kingsley that he really wanted to be able to find the Muggle bars again. That wasn't necessary to explain.
It must be close to lunchtime; he had met Kingsley in the Leaky Cauldron over an hour ago. It was amazing how long it took to walk through the summer crowds as it got closer to August. Students would be returning to Hogwarts before long.
He didn't mind the crowds; Gideon was used to the press of people around him. Putting a hand against the small of Kingsley's back, Gideon fumbled with his loose shirt, rubbing fingers briefly against bare skin. He leaned close to ask, "Is there somewhere to eat besides The Leaky Cauldron? I believe I owe you at least a dinner or two."
Kingsley had been pleasantly surprised with Gideon's Floo call that morning, asking for his help at Gringotts. He hadn't expected to meet Gideon until the movie, and then in the company of his father and grandfather - and Fabian, of course. He wondered how Gideon would behave in the presence of his brother.
He dressed carefully, forgoing the extremely tight jeans and choosing something that, while still fashionable, wouldn't call his father's attention.
Leaving a message for his father to meet him at the Leaky Cauldron, he stepped into the Floo to meet Gideon.
***
An hour later, he and Gideon were walking out of Gringotts. Kingsley explained to Gideon how to use Muggle money and how to manoeuvre through London using the Tube. He wondered what Gideon would do with that knowledge, especially because he could Apparate just as easily.
The streets were crowded and he was walking as close to Gideon as he could without being blatant about it. He felt Gideon's hand touch his bare skin and started a little. They were in the middle of Diagon Alley – not that he minded, but he was normally the aggressive one.
He leaned back onto the touch and answered Gideon's question. "We can go to The Wand and the Cauldron. It's a club at night, but they have better food than the Leaky Cauldron. Wanna try it?"
"Sounds great to me, lead on."
He withdrew his hand a moment later, unable to sustain any reason that left him touching Kingsley. He briefly wondered where The Wand and the Cauldron was located and hoped it wasn't close to St. Mungo's.
Covering a yawn with his hand, he followed Kingsley toward the restaurant. It had been a long weekend and, while he looked forward to seeing Star Wars again, what he needed was sleep.
He had seen his brother since that afternoon's fiasco. Lydia and Renee joined him and Fabian for dinner on Friday and it had been a late night fraught with tension between them, but the witches seemed to have had fun - they didn't know either of them well enough to sense the stress.
Saturday morning had the potential to be awkward, but Gideon escaped early before anyone else woke up, using practice as an excuse. He had left a nice note for Renee. At least he thought it was nice, but she hadn't owled him yet.
Kingsley rolled his eyes when Gideon moved his hand. It never lasted anyway. Aggressive Gideon always turned into prudish Mr. Prewett rather quickly.
He noticed that Gideon seemed incredibly tired and wondered briefly why. He had been exhausted on Friday afternoon and had had practice on Saturday, but since the match on Sunday he'd had ample time to rest.
Thinking about Friday brought a mixture of excitement and frustration. They had been so close! Why did that git have to barge in like that?
Kingsley had had a great weekend, especially on Sunday at the monthly Shacklebolt gathering. He had talked to his cousin Santini at length and had told him about Friday's Floo incident. This was the first time he'd been able to talk to Santini about Gideon and was very pleased when his cousin said he'd like to meet "that bloke". He assured Santini that he'd have a chance at the August gathering, which would be held on his birthday.
Thinking about the conversation with his cousin, he almost missed Mystic Alley, where The Wand and The Cauldron was located. He touched Gideon's arm to direct him toward the narrow street.
Finally away from the jostling crowd, Gideon sighed in relief. He was tired of waiting. Looking around, he realized that they were briefly alone in the narrow street. Stepping to the side, he grabbed Kingsley's arm and pulled him close, hiding behind some discarded crates thrown up against the side of the building. Whoever had haphazardly piled them up had left a small nook out of sight to any passerby.
Gideon cast Silencio around them. "I've been wanting to do this all morning," he said, wrapping his arm around Kingsley and kissing him.
Kingsley made a little surprised sound, but immediately responded in kind, putting his arms around Gideon's neck and threading his fingers through soft hair. Me too, he thought, I've wanted to do this since I saw you in the Floo this morning.
Burying his fingers in the top of Kingsley's trousers, Gideon moved closer. Tilting Kingsley's head to the side with his other hand, he peppered kisses across his jaw line, stopping at his ear. Licking its contour, he whispered, "Do you know what I did Friday afternoon?"
Kingsley closed his eyes as Gideon kissed his jaw. He didn't recall ever been kissed like that - he normally kissed people on the mouth as a prelude to sex and they did the same to him. But this was different. It was sexy, very much so, but it had a touch of something else he couldn't identify. All he knew was that it felt wonderful and he could only groan a soft "No, what?" to Gideon's question.
"I'm sorry I didn't ask you to come back when I Floo'ed you. I wanted to, but I thought it was too risky. He's angry with me, but I don't think he'll say anything, not if we're careful."
Slowly coming back across his jaw, Gideon kissed the corner of his mouth, teasing him with his tongue.
"But Friday, I was so tired and worked up, and I couldn't sleep," he grinned as he pulled away from Kingsley, briefly kissing his chin and moving along the other side of his face. Gideon leaned against the wall, spreading his legs to pull him closer. "I lay in bed, thinking about what we almost did, all the while wanking, imagining it was you."
Holding his face with both hands, Gideon finally kissed him again. “Do you think I can finish what I started? Right here, right now?"
As Gideon kissed his face, Kingsley's mouth couldn't stop mimicking him, and his mouth kept kissing the air, sometimes touching a bit of skin here and there. His eyes were closed and he was enjoying the very novel sensation of being seduced!
His hard cock twitched when Gideon spoke about wanking and, when he heard the invitation to finish what they had been interrupted on Friday, his only possible answer was a "Fuck, YES!" in a very loud voice.
His hands moved to his jeans and he started unbuttoning them, being very glad that these weren't as tight as usual.
Laughing, Gideon put a finger against his mouth, "We are in public, keep it quiet!
Kneeling down, he settled his knees on Kingsley's feet, grinning up at him. Uneasy suddenly, probably because he couldn’t see around them anymore, Gideon grabbed Kingsley's hips and steadied himself, sucking him deep into his mouth.
While he wanted more, Gideon knew it was lousy timing. But seeing Kingsley today made him regret his decision to not invite him back on Friday, Fabian be damned.
Without any finesse, part of the reason for the bit of seduction beforehand, Gideon sped up, moving his hands closer to rub the base while he teased with his tongue, wishing he had the time to continue the seduction.
At that time Kingsley couldn't give a damn if they were caught or not. He moaned, thrusting into Gideon's mouth, his hands wrapped tightly in Gideon's hair. The weight on his feet, albeit painful, only managed to increase the sensation of pure ecstasy he was feeling.
As Gideon sped up, so did Kingsley, fucking Gideon's mouth in earnest and saying, "Yes! Yes! More! Fuck, Gideon! Ooohh, this is so good!" in a rather loud voice.
Finally, he couldn't hold up any more and came, holding Gideon's head in place with his hands.
Swallowing, Gideon waited patiently for Kingsley to let go of his hair. When he didn't, Gideon quietly cast a Scourgify, slowly standing up with Kingsley's hands still tangled in his hair.
He liked them there, which was surprising, as he wasn't used to anyone directing his movements for him. He kissed Kingsley on the cheek and pulled away.
"I really felt bad about Friday," he said, grinning.
Still breathing heavily, Kingsley pulled Gideon closer and kissed him. He didn't care that his jeans were still bunched up around his knees and he was in the middle of a street in broad daylight. That had been a rather unexpected head and he'd enjoyed it immensely.
In his book, however, one didn't come leaving one's partner unattended, and he touched Gideon's waistband, looking to undo his trousers.
Gideon returned the kiss, leaning against Kingsley until he felt the fingers tugging at his waist. Shaking his head, Gideon gently removed his fingers, squeezing them, "I'm not sure we should take the time," he said, trying to peer through the holes in the crates.
Pausing for a moment, Gideon realized several things at once: first they were on a public street, for all that it was a narrow alley. Second, he'd just done something totally out of character for him, like giving Kingsley a blowjob, in the middle of the afternoon where anyone could have seen them.
Embarrassed, he realized he was acting like some fifteen-year-old with no self control. Shaking his head he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. What in the hell was wrong with him?
Startled to realise he was still holding Kingsley's fingers, Gideon dropped them, raising a hand to run his fingers through messy hair, trying to put it back in order. He'd been doing and saying the oddest things lately. He hated feeling off balance and, most of the time he was around Kingsley, that was how he felt.
Instead, he said the first thing that made sense in his confusion. "I'm starving," and tilted his head toward the way they had been walking.
"But – Gideon! Are you out of your mind?" That was another first for Kingsley. Never before had a partner refused his offer. Reluctantly he pulled his jeans up and fastened them, trying to make sense of Gideon's very strange attitude.
Frankly, to think about food at a time like that?
For whatever reason, Kingsley had been distracting him of late. From little things like taking him home to liking the time they spent together. He felt unsettled and couldn't understand why or fathom a reason for it. All he knew was that he suddenly needed some space between them.
Maybe Renee was a good thing after all; she didn't leave Gideon with these odd feelings. Tilting his head toward Diagon Alley, he said softly, "Look, there are people coming anyway," as if this was the excuse for him not wanting reciprocal treatment.
Feeling strangely unsatisfied, Kingsley nodded. "This way," he said, leading the way towards The Wand and The Cauldron in silence. He didn't know what was happening to him: it had been very good, but he was left wanting for…more, for something else.
Soon they arrived at the restaurant. Kingsley opened the door and motioned Gideon inside.
The place was filled with teenagers which left Gideon feeling strange. He abruptly asked about Hogwarts and whether or not Kingsley had bought his supplies already. "Have I asked you what electives you're taking this year?"
Lifting his eyes from the menu, at which he'd been staring since they sat down, Kingsley shook his head. "No electives. I'm only taking my NEWT courses: DADA, Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Arithmancy, Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes." He focused on the menu again. "Do you know what you want? Their specialty is –" He was interrupted by a shadow over their table. Looking up, he saw the smiling face of Frank Longbottom. He smiled at his friend, knowing that his girlfriend Alice wouldn't be far away. He stood up to greet Frank. It was a nice distraction from the uneasiness he was feeling suddenly around Gideon.
Gideon leaned back, still confused and not wanting any attention while there. He was surprised it took that long to run across someone Kingsley knew, and he was only glad they didn't see anyone that knew him.
The two young men shook hands and Kingsley briefly introduced Gideon to Frank, as the brother of a friend of his father's. He knew that Frank had identified Gideon as the Arrows Chaser, but counted on Longbottom's natural shyness to avoid any reference to the fact. Kingsley knew that Gideon wouldn't appreciate being in the spotlight at The Wand and the Cauldron.
After a brief chat, Frank waved at the door and left to meet Alice. Kingsley sat down again and, once more, stuck his face in the menu.
After deciding what to order, Gideon folded his menu and set it on top of Kingsley's, pulling it down so he could see him. He really wanted to talk about Fabian and what had happened. The thought of Fabian seeing them together was nerve wracking, not to mention that Kingsley's family would be there as well. Gideon wondered if he was worried at all.
"Whatever I did this time, I apologise. Now, I do get to talk to you and not the menu?" he asked, smiling.
"Not so much what you did, but what you didn't," Kingsley replied, finally looking at Gideon, who looked surprised by the comment. "Why didn't you let me get you off, Gideon? Were you not turned on? I thought you were, but if you weren't, you shouldn't have done it. And what was the reason for not accepting it if I was there and willing?" He stopped Gideon with a hand gesture. "Don't tell me it was because you were afraid someone would come. We were pretty well hidden there. I don't like unilateral sex, Gideon. You get off and I get off; otherwise it's just like one of those quickies at Shaft - and not even there I like it like that."
He closed the menu, still unsmiling, but visibly more relaxed. "Yes, we can talk over lunch. What do you want to talk about?"
Surprised by the straightforward answer, Gideon just stared at him for a moment. "Well," he began, unsure what to say, "I've never considered it that way. It has to be mutual, does it? Maybe you should consider it a return from the lake." Curious about something else from that day, he asked, "Is that part of the reason you were so irritated with me that day?"
"A return from the lake?" Kingsley blurted out a little too loudly, forgetting momentarily where they were. "It doesn't quite work like that," he added in a lower voice, although there was no-one sitting around them. "This isn't a loan, Gideon, not something like 'I get you off today and, whenever you feel like, pay me back.' This is about two people enjoying each other's body at the same time. And yes, I was irritated with you that day because I felt you came and then you didn't really care about me. And now you tell me you're paying me back?" He snorted. "Maybe you should go to Shaft; there's a bloke there, Gerard, who gets off just by giving head. Seems like your kind of partner."
The waitress arrived, stopping Kingsley's tirade. He curtly asked for steak-and-kidney pie and pumpkin juice and looked around the restaurant while Gideon placed his order, noticing that half of Hogwarts seemed to be at The Wand and The Cauldron that afternoon, most of them in couples.
He rolled his eyes, thinking that all of his schoolmates were way too young to be attached to one person only.
After ordering, Gideon shook his head; no matter what he said, Kingsley found a reason to not agree. "I agree it should be mutual, but that can't happen all the time. I didn't consider it a loan, or something I felt I had to pay back. What I did today was something I've wanted to do for a while. But you don't see it that way, do you?
"It's nothing to be irritated about, Kingsley. I agree it's been lousy timing throughout this, but have some patience. I told you before, it's building and it'll make it worth while. And how in the world can you think I don't want you?"
He ignored the comment about the bar; it wouldn’t be prudent to say he agreed with Gerard's reasoning sometimes.
Kingsley sighed deeply. Gideon was right – the timing sucked. He wondered what things would be like if he was of age, if he and Gideon had been able to have sex from the word go. Would they have sated their desires and… what? Be friends? Be occasional fucks? Or not even acknowledge each other's presence?
He didn't want the last option. Gideon was a fun person and he'd hate not to have him to talk to any more. Besides, Gideon had admitted once again that he wanted Kingsley.
All they needed was patience, the one virtue that had always escaped Kingsley. Shrugging, he said simply, "I'm sorry. You're right: it'll be worthwhile."
Casually stretching out at their table, Gideon smiled as he batted his legs against Kingsley. "It really will be. I know I can't wait." Accepting the drinks from the waitress, Gideon smiled and thanked her, waiting for her to leave before continuing the conversation. "So, I guess the real question is, what do we do about Fabian? I truly believe that he won't say anything, as long as we don't do anything stupid."
"Of course he won't, Gideon. He's your brother. He loves you. Why would he say anything to incur my father's wrath? Besides," he made a face, "he's already done enough damage. I can't believe he chose just that moment to come in. A little bit later and…" He laughed loudly, then wriggled his brows at Gideon. "Define stupid."
Laughing with him, Gideon had to set his water down before spilling it. "I think he got that impression either way. Fabian will be expecting trouble no matter what I do or don't do around you.”
"Stupid as in me giving in to temptation to kiss you, or grabbing that fine arse of yours. Blatant would be a better word choice. And don't think for a moment he wouldn't tell your father. Fabian will do what's right first, brother or not. If he thinks we're continuing this, he'll put an end to it anyway he can."
Kingsley opened his mouth to answer, but at that time the waitress arrived with their food. While she was setting their order on the table, he looked at his watch and told Gideon that they might have some time to visit Quality Quidditch Supplies to check out his new broom.
The conversation changed to Quidditch and to the latest Arrows match.
Gideon had wondered if he picked out his broom yet. They kept the conversation centered around Quidditch as the tables slowly emptied. "If we're going to Quality Quidditch, can we stop across the way at Eeylops? I need to buy something for Sienna." Gideon motioned for the waitress to collect the bill.
"Before I forget, we're playing the Chudley Cannons this week at Ellis Moor, which doesn't have a Floo anywhere close. So it's either Apparition or Portkey if you want to go.
"Next week we're up against Puddlemere United. Should I assume you're going with your grandfather?
Kingsley made a funny face at Gideon. "Have you forgotten, Mr. Prewett, that I'm a minor and can't Apparate yet? I guess I'll have to ask Dad to get me a license for a Portkey, if I'm able to go. For the Puddlemere United I can either Floo or Grandpa can Apparate me. And who's Sienna?" he asked interestedly.
Grinning to show he was teasing, Gideon rolled his eyes, "How can I forget, Shacklebolt, you and Fabian remind me often enough. You can Apparate with me, but I usually get there early, or you can ask your dad for a Portkey. "He hesitated for a moment, "That is, if you want to go."
The waitress returned with his change and he left several Sickles on the table for her. "Sienna is Fabian's owl. I take care of her as much as he does, since we tend to both travel a lot. She usually lives with him, but we both use her. I owe her some treats."
"Of course I want to go," Kingsley replied quickly, juggling schedules in his mind. He had a birthday party to go to, but it would only be at night. The probability of his going to Gideon's flat after the game was close to zero – Fabian would most certainly go to the match and would play police. Kingsley would be lucky if he could say "hello" to Gideon in private that day.
He stood up. "Let's go, then."
Picking up the abandoned Quidditch thread, he asked what kind of broom Kingsley wanted while he followed him out of The Wand and the Cauldron. As Kingsley veered suddenly to the left to avoid a group of witches blocking the exit, Gideon stopped suddenly to avoid bumping into the nearest one.
Gideon walked around them in the opposite direction of Kingsley as the tallest brunette stepped backwards to bump into him. "Excuse me," she said, eyeing him as he nodded to her, but continued on his way.
Kingsley smirked, "She likes you, Mr. Prewett," he laughed. "And I remember her from school; she finished a couple of years ago, so you'd be safe with her. No pesky brothers interrupting you and threatening you with Azkaban," he said, elbowing Gideon on the ribs.
Laughing, he pushed Kingsley's head, "Don't even suggest it, Shacklebolt. I'm content with things the way they are. Girls cling too damn much, they're all nutters." He shuddered a moment, exaggerating the motions, "All they want to do is kiss and cuddle. It's annoying."
He eyed Kingsley up and down, "I'll leave things as they are for now, thanks."
As they approached the crates, Gideon smiled, bumping into Kingsley with his shoulder, "Unless you'd rather ditch me for a bird, that is."
Kingsley looked around and realized they were alone; he squeezed Gideon's buttocks, saying, "Ditch this for a pair of knockers? Don't think so. I like knockers, but this," he squeezed it again, "is one damn fine arse, Quidditch-toned and all."
He heard footsteps and moved away from Gideon, the two of them walking toward Diagon Alley. "I agree with you: girls are really clingy. Some of them won't even put out unless you tell them you love them." A young witch came behind them, heard that and made an angry face at him, which he didn't register. "I don't have anything to do with people like that. I'm too young to be serious about one person only, don't you think?"
The witch walked away, shaking her head. Kingsley checked her out perfunctorily, then turned back to Gideon. "Do you prefer birds or blokes?"
Smirking at the angry look from the witch, Gideon said, "I've never lied about being in love, never had to. Matter of fact, it made Sabrina break it off the end of our sixth year for that reason. She didn't like the truth."
Thinking about the second question, Gideon shrugged, "When I was still in Hogwarts I would have said just girls. It wasn't until the last couple years I've changed my mind. Now? Probably blokes, but I still only date birds."
Glancing at Kingsley, he amended that. "Well, usually." Actually, Gideon was unsure how to classify him and Kingsley. "I'd ask you the same, but I'm sure the answer would be anything shaggable, yeah?"
Kingsley elbowed Gideon again, laughing. "Hey! What do you think I am? Actually, the answer is that I may shag anything shaggable, but I prefer girls, I think." He smiled deviously. "I like knockers. But girls want relationships and I don't, not now." He kicked a little pebble on the ground. "As for dating, I also only date birds. Actually, you're the only bloke I've been out with. You know, doing things like we do – going to the movies, having lunch and, you know, kissing and all that. But," he laughed a little forcedly, "It’s different, of course. We're friends, not dates." The truth was that he didn't really know what he and Gideon were. The innocent things he did with Gideon were the same he did with his friends and cousins – but he certainly didn't want to have sex with them.
He shrugged the thought off. “Quality Quidditch or Eeylops first?"
"Eeylops, definitely. I was mobbed the last time I went into the Quidditch store. This way I know we get Sienna's treats, the poor girl. Fabian always forgets to buy them."
Returning the clerk's greeting, Gideon stopped to pet several owls along the way to the counter. He'd always loved them, but had never owned one. With Sienna, there was no reason to have his own.
"I love these masked owls, they're beautiful," he said, stopping on their way out to pet one again.
This late in the afternoon most of the people had cleared the streets, "Come on, let's find you a new broom before we meet the family."
Kingsley bought a bag of treats for Medea and watched Gideon pet the owls. He wasn't much of a bird person; he loved his eagle owl, whom he'd trained to be quite sweet despite its size and breed, but he preferred dogs and cats.
They arrived at Quality Quidditch Supplies and Kingsley hoped there wouldn't be too many excitable children inside. His grandfather had told him he could choose any broom for his seventeenth birthday, and he needed Gideon's undivided attention.
"What are you looking for?" Gideon asked. He immediately assumed money wasn't an issue for Kingsley's grandfather.
Waiving the clerk away, thankful it wasn't the one that screeched like an owl, they perused the shop, picking up different brooms.
"The Nimbus is fast, but the control on the newest model isn't great. The Shooting Star is the most expensive, but it's a hard ride."
He picked up a Swiftstick, pointing out its benefits, "It's not quite as fast, but you're a Beater, not a Chaser or Seeker. Sanders loves his."
"He does? Then I guess it has great balance, yeah? I'll get one, then." He and Gideon spent a while trying the Swiftsticks in the store until they settled for one. Kingsley asked the clerk to set it aside for his grandfather.
A quick look at his watch indicated that it was time to meet the three other men at the Leaky Cauldron. It was the first time that Kingsley would be seeing Fabian after the Friday fiasco.
He wondered if Fabian had noticed that Kingsley had shot him the finger as goodbye.
By Friday night at the local bar where they had met Renee and Lydia, Fabian had been almost teasing Gideon. He attributed it to the fact they were out with witches and then went home with them.
For a bird, Renee wasn't bad. They didn't have much in common and she wasn't a Quidditch fan, thankfully. Of course, Lydia was a Puddlemere United fan and Gideon fully expected Fabian to take them to the match in two weeks. It was part of the reason he asked Kingsley if he planned to attend with his grandfather.
For some reason, he didn't want Renee and Kingsley crossing paths. Especially with Fabian present.
They reached the Leaky Cauldron, where the three Aurors were hunched over a table, having an intense conversation. Gideon stopped for a moment to watch his brother, briefly wondering what they were talking about.
Catching Kingsley's eye, he flashed a hopefully confident smile and walked closer. He really wasn't sure what Fabian would do, but he wouldn't worry Kingsley; besides, he was worried enough as it was. If Fabian chose to tell Mac, it wouldn't be in a public place, and he fully expected that the first thing Mac would do, after yelling at his son, would be to Floo Gideon for the same lecture.
Kingsley followed Gideon confidently. He knew that Fabian hadn't told Mac about last Friday – he would have heard about it, and how! He gave both his father and grandfather a one-armed hug and nodded briefly to Fabian before sitting next to Southwood, leaving the chair next to Fabian for Gideon.
When Fabian didn't make an initial cry of outrage as they walked in, Gideon relaxed. He might have to answer to his brother later, but all he had to ask was what could anyone do that would be considered offensive in the very public Diagon Alley.
Saying hello to the Shacklebolts as they sat, Gideon bumped his brother's shoulder, asking, "Are you ready for Muggle London and the movies?"
When Fabian didn't answer, he turned toward Mac, "Did you scare him? I've never seen him speechless before."
McIntosh laughed out loud. "No, not at all. We're actually telling old Auror anecdotes."
Southwood turned to Fabian, obviously continuing the conversation that their arrival had interrupted. "And then one of the ghosts put his wand back inside his robes and asked the other, 'What good would it be to kill you if we're both already dead?'"
The three Aurors roared in laughter, Fabian forgetting that he was supposed to be upset by their joint arrival.
Gideon and Kingsley looked at each other and shrugged, their knees touching under the table.
"If you're finished, we should go." Gideon said, reaching toward Kingsley to twist his arm and read the watch. "It's almost time."
They stood, Fabian quickly finishing the last of his drink as Mac left a Galleon on the table for the bill. He wasn't ignoring them, but he'd not made eye contact with Kingsley once, Gideon noticed.
They seemed all right with each other, but the easy camaraderie between them was missing. Gideon stuck by Fabian's side, asking quietly if Robards suspected anything from their trip the prior week.
Fabian immediately told him how the man managed to lose two sets of paperwork, leaving it to him to search for them that morning.
"Well," Mac asked, drawing the brothers back into the conversation, "Did Gideon help you pick out a broom?"
"Yeah, he did, Dad. Grandpa, I left it set aside at QQS. It's a Swiftstick, really neat."
"Good, son. I'll send in an owl with the payment and have it delivered to you on your birthday, all right?" Then he turned to Fabian, "I can't believe my youngest grandson will be an adult soon. It's frightening," he said teasingly, "that he'll be able to do whatever he wants – legally!"
The three Shacklebolts roared with laughter. The two Prewetts didn't.
"Not a Nimbus like yours?" Fabian said, staring at Gideon.
Rolling his eyes, Gideon asked, "Why would he? He's a Beater, the Swiftstick is a smarter choice for that."
"I would have expected he'd go for the Nimbus name and higher price over practicality," Fabian grudgingly admitted.
"He surprises me sometimes. A couple of weeks ago I would have said the same thing."
At Fabian's strange look, Gideon changed the subject, excited to see they would take a different form of Muggle transportation than last time.
Although the brothers' exchange was spoken in a low voice, Kingsley was attuned to their reactions and was smugly pleased to hear Gideon's defense of him. Take that, Fabian!
Still laughing, he stepped next to his grandfather and they walked out of the Leaky Cauldron and onto Muggle London. Southwood immediately hailed a cab; he was very used to the city, but abhorred the idea of the Tube.
Five wizards piled inside the taxi, Kingsley and Gideon sitting on the pull-down seats, facing the Aurors, and soon they were in front of the movie theatre.
Kingsley purchased the tickets, looking at the seats carefully and distributing them in a way that he would be sitting right next to Gideon and as far away from Fabian as possible.
While Fabian scowled briefly at Gideon, he didn't say anything. Commenting would look strange since technically Mac invited him. Gideon sat at the other end, leaving Kingsley next to his grandfather. Leaning forward to grin at his brother, Gideon had to stretch around Kingsley in order to see him.
Mac asked if he wanted to move, but Gideon waved the offer down, "Kingsley and I have already seen it, I don't want to distract Fabian."
Settling back into his seat as the lights darkened, he rubbed his knee against Kingsley. When the advertisements began, he leaned over to ask Kingsley a question, close enough that he breathed in his ear as he spoke.
Kingsley didn't hear what Gideon said, but the tickling of his breath in his ear gave him goose bumps. He leaned over and told his father, "Dad, I'm getting some sweets for us, all right?" McIntosh nodded and Kingsley rose, after elbowing Gideon and saying, "Can you come with me and help me carry the stuff back?" He avoided Fabian's stare on purpose, but saw, out of the corner of his eye, that he was standing up. He whispered, "You don't need to bother, Fabian. Gideon can come with me. We've already watched the movie and these are only the previews. Be right back."
Gideon didn't dare look; he knew that if Fabian saw his grin, he'd follow them. As they walked down the dark hall, Gideon reached for Kingsley, touching him briefly on his back. "Nice job back there, Shacklebolt."
In the lobby, Gideon laughed, "Look, there's the loo. I should run in there first."
Kingsley bit his lip to stifle a victory cry: a visit to the loo was exactly what he had in mind when he thought about buying sweets. He followed Gideon and, when they were inside, he pulled Gideon into his arms and kissed him passionately, breaking it off just to whisper, "Can I show you something?"
Head reeling from the kiss, Gideon mumbled "yes" and kissed him again. Kingsley had this way of making him forget he was in public, a dangerous habit.
Holding Gideon's hand, Kingsley led him toward one of the cubicle. He opened the door and gestured for Gideon to walk inside, squeezed into the tight space and closed the door behind him. Contrary to the toilets at Shaft, this one was clean and Kingsley pushed Gideon gently against the wall and kissed him again, his hands quickly unbuttoning Gideon's trousers and bringing his cock out. He rubbed it, coaxing it into hardness; then he unzipped his jeans and took his own cock out, joining it against Gideon's.
He let Kingsley set the pace as he wrapped his arms around him. Pushing one hand inside the loose trousers, he stroked Kingsley's buttocks, rubbing up and down slowly.
The languid pace was extremely erotic and once again Gideon wished they were in his flat and able to do anything he desired. Moving his hand slowly toward the cleft of Kingsley's arse, he spread his other hand out against the small of his back, pulling him closer.
Kingsley wanted nothing more than to prolong the act in the cubicle, but he knew they had to rush or they would run the risk of Fabian barging in once again on them. He fisted their cocks together and pumped them until he had to stop kissing Gideon to moan and gasp aloud, moving his hand faster and faster until he came, about the same time Gideon did.
His hand didn't still, but softly caressed Gideon's still hard cock, while he leant forward and kissed Gideon gently on the lips. With a devious smile, he said, "This, Mr. Prewett, is getting off together." He kissed Gideon again, whispering against his mouth, "Isn't it much better?"
They were running out of time, which was fine with Kingsley, because he was starting to feel a little uncomfortable with his own reactions. He'd never acted like that before; he'd never been with anyone whom he wanted to kiss all the time. He moved away from Gideon, asking, "Can you Scourgify us? Or else your brother might be suspicious," he added with a slightly forced laugh.
He watched Kingsley's reactions quickly change, thoroughly understanding the desire to get out of the intimate space. It was as confusing to him as it was to Kingsley and Gideon wanted to say something. His loss of words was worse in some ways; it implied that something was going on that he couldn't explain. Instead of speaking, he pulled his wand out and cast the spell before closing his open trousers and hiding his wand again.
They bought popcorn, treats and drinks for the group and then rushed back to the movie. Even though he had actually watched it the last time, Gideon enjoyed it enough to want to see it again.
Kingsley and Gideon walked back into the dark room, and Southwood asked them what took them so long.
"There was a very long queue, Grandpa," Kingsley answered with a deadpan face.
"Strange," Fabian retorted, looking seriously at both of them, "there was no queue when we came in."
Kingsley sat down, shrugging. "I guess everyone had the same idea." Then he offered a bag to Fabian, asking with almost fake politeness, "Sweets, Fabian?"
It was a shame that he wasn't sitting by Fabian; he was very curious to his brother's reactions to his first movie. Of course the trade there was sitting away from Kingsley and not having the opportunity to flirt.
Finally over his dreaded fear of Mac, Gideon stretched his long legs out, conveniently brushing them against Kingsley. The narrow seats could be blamed for the touch and the dark theatre helped to conceal any uncomfortable thoughts he had from the unsettling need he was developing. If it could be called need. Whatever it was called, Gideon gave in to it, letting his legs brush against Kingsley's the duration of the movie.
It wasn't much, far from what he wanted, but at least, in that fine Monday afternoon, Kingsley had Gideon's legs against his and their hands touching all the time, eating popcorn from the same large bag.
And Fabian couldn't do anything about it.
***
Kingsley was very pleased with himself for having spent a few quality minutes with Gideon in the loo – the little bit of touching throughout the movie would have driven him crazy otherwise.
As the credits were rolling off on the screen, the five wizards rose and immediately started discussing the film. It was obvious that the three Aurors had enjoyed it, and they drew parallels between the science-fiction universe and their own. All in all, the motif was clear – the fight between good and evil transcended any societal barriers.
Southwood had invited the others to join him for dinner at one of his favorite restaurants in Muggle London after the movie and, since it was a balmy summer night, they decided to walk the short distance. Kingsley immediately positioned himself next to Gideon but, to his surprise, Fabian elbowed his way between the two of them. "May I join you, gentlemen? You've already spent a whole afternoon together, broom shopping," he added pointedly. "You must've run out of things to talk about."
"Right!" said McIntosh. "These two seem to be joined at the hip," he laughed. "What else do you talk about besides Quidditch?"
"Girls, probably," Southwood said, also laughing.
Fabian opened his mouth to say something, but Southwood indicated that they had just arrived at the restaurant.
This time Fabian made sure that Kingsley and Gideon didn't sit next to each other, placing "a Prewett between each Shacklebolt," which was accepted happily by Southwood and McIntosh. As the men sat down, Fabian smirked at Kingsley, sitting between him and his father. "I'll finally have a chance to talk to you, Kingsley. Haven't done so since the last match, right?"
Kingsley would've loved to wipe that smirk off Fabian's mouth, but said simply, "That's right, Fabian," and turned his attention to the menu. "The Lobster Thermidor looks delicious. I think I'll have that," he said.
"Great choice, son. I think I'll do the same," said McIntosh, perusing the wine list and choosing the perfect one to accompany the food.
The wine was delicious and the food was slow in coming to the table. Another bottle was opened for the four adult wizards and tongues became a little looser. Kingsley was inordinately quiet during dinner; he wanted to get back at Fabian, but didn't know how, so he kept thinking about what had happened between him and Gideon that afternoon and in the loo as revenge. To his distress, the result was that he was left wanting more of the same, which looked impossible at that stage. It was obvious that the three Shacklebolts and the two Prewetts would go their separate ways after dinner.
The food arrived and the five wizards could attest that the Lobster Thermidor was indeed the house specialty. Kingsley had just put the second forkful into his mouth when Fabian asked, "So, Kingsley, are you still dating that same girl?"
"Which girl?"
"The one we saw with you at Fortescue a few weeks ago."
Kingsley lifted his eyes at Fabian and noticed that the Auror was looking at Gideon with an enigmatic look on his face. "Marlene McKinnon," Kingsley said, without volunteering any more information.
But Fabian didn't let it go. "Yes. You're still seeing her?"
"Of course he is," Southwood exclaimed. "She was over at my house on Saturday. Nice girl. I like her. She'd be a good granddaughter-in-law, son," he told Kingsley.
"Grandpa, please," Kingsley groaned, wanting to push the whole lobster, tail and all, down Fabian's throat. "I'm way too young for that."
"Yes, you are, Kingsley. But you have to be careful not to get any girl in trouble," McIntosh said, with a serious expression.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kingsley could see Fabian's little victorious smile. He didn't want to look at Gideon. Not that it mattered, but he felt uncomfortable talking about Marlene with Gideon around.
"Your father's right, Kingsley," Fabian said. "You're not even of age yet. I hope you're careful."
"I am," Kingsley gritted his teeth. "Are you?"
"Kingsley! What a thing to say. Fabian's an adult," McIntosh laughed.
"But he's right, Mac. I have to be careful, too. I am, Kingsley. And so's Gideon. Right, brother?"
"Fabian, I don't think this is an appropriate dinner conversation," Gideon said, staring at his food.
"Why not? We're all blokes here." Turning to Southwood and McIntosh, he said, "Gideon has a new girlfriend, Renee. She's the best friend of my girlfriend Lydia. Nice witches, and it's starting to look serious – we were out with them on Friday and Sunday night."
At the mention of Gideon's girlfriend and a date on Friday night, Kingsley snapped up his head, but Gideon wouldn't meet his eyes. He turned back to Fabian, whose smile was sweet as honey, as he said, "Maybe one day we can all go on a big date, Kingsley - you, me and Gideon with our girlfriends.
Kingsley finished his dinner in silence, the Lobster Thermidor tasting as appetizing as sawdust.