Ils s'enivrent [March 2006]
Title: Ils s'enivrent Author: bronze_ribbons Words: 817 Summary: Prequel to Placet. A bit more about that "hands-off-you-wenches-he's-mine liplock in the Great Hall"... Originally posted 12 September 2005.
One does not survive two wars as a spy without learning how to remain aware of one's surroundings even when flooded with sensory overload. Thus, even when Severus suddenly hauled him close and commenced to kiss the living daylights -– no, make that the living firmament -- out of him, Remus was conscious of the flurry of clattering flatware, the sudden hush in the Great Hall, and the building-up of snickers, giggles, and astounded, admiring whispers as the kiss went on and on. When Severus finally released him and swept out of the hall, Remus was still capable of noting the look of tearful apology on Hermione's face, the furious spate of Italian erupting from Paola's lips as she glared at Severus's back, and the glee shaking Filius's entire body as he translated Paola's vent for the rest of the faculty's benefit ("For the love of God, Merlin, Cecilia, and Dominic, you great big bloody secretive land-mine of a bat, how in the holy exploding cosmos did you expect the rest of us to respect your boundaries when you were doing your very, very accomplished best not to let on that they even existed...").
Remus took in all of this, but one survives neither war nor the teaching of young wizards without the ability to zoom in on essentials. Thus, he ignored all of this in favor of loping out of the hall and making his way directly to Severus's quarters.
As expected, he found Severus pacing and fuming. Remus strode to the liquor cabinet, measured out two healthy swigs of Scotch, and handed one of the tumblers to Severus. He was not wholly surprised to see Severus shake as he accepted the drink, and it was no surprise at all when Severus downed the whisky in one swallow, slammed the glass onto a nearby bookshelf, and resumed the pacing and fuming.
Remus said, "I can think of a far better use for all that energy."
Severus didn't even halt before launching himself at Remus, who barely had time to invoke a cushioning charm before he found himself flat on his back, being ravished to a degree that –- well. He had known Sirius had been but a clumsy puppy in comparison to Severus's careful, practiced attentions to his body, and every now and then, he and Severus had indulged in what he'd considered to be fairly wild sex -– but this, this --
He didn't think he'd ever want to move again, but perhaps it was worth determining whether one's vocal cords still worked. He said, lightly, "Do you think you could do that to me again, sometime, even when you haven't lost your mind?"
He felt a movement that suggested a shrug. The shrug of an equally sated Potions master... "For an intelligent man," Severus muttered, "you are occasionally appallingly thick."
"Was that a 'anytime and anywhere, you imbecile' thick, or 'you don't want me that angry again' thick?" Remus pursued.
"That was, I cannot bloody believe you never realized those two would-be sirens were trying to lure you into their boudoir. Except that I do believe it, because it's happened over and over again these past nine years, and you've somehow sauntered through all of it sans clue –"
"No reason for me to notice, was there -- seeing that I fancy only you."
Severus sighed. "Merlin. Thick and demented."
Remus considered shaking him. One of these years, he was going to let himself let go –- just enough to stomp and squeeze that poisonous strain of self-contempt out of Severus's system. They had both committed more than their share of crimes for the greater good, and Remus wanted few things more than to let live what could live and let the rest rest.
But he had wanted Severus –- restless, reserved, passionate Severus – back when neither of them had believed any guise of peace would ever bless their lives, and he wanted this Severus – one who, at long last, had suddenly decided to unveil the entire zoo that Remus had long sensed and occasionally glimpsed. What would it take, he wondered, to encourage that abandon...
Aloud, he said, "For an intelligent man, Severus, you are remarkably inept at evaluating evidence. What will it take to prove that I will never abandon you?"
Severus drew back and stared at him. "If it were a matter of proof, this would have been settled long ago. Because we don't add up, you're more than—"
Damnation, back to that again. No more, tonight. Remus lifted his head and claimed Severus's mouth, swallowing the remainder of whatever foolishness Severus had intended to say. He let his fingers caress the insides of Severus's wrists, and he sensed rather than saw when Severus closed his eyes and gave himself fully to the moment.
More moments, Remus thought. We have more moments now. And, as if he had been listening, Severus quietly said, "It's time you moved in anyway."
"Indeed," Remus said, and dove up for another kiss.