Regulus Black (mummys_boy) wrote in snark_n_bark, @ 2009-05-14 09:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | complete, gaius, regulus |
A Strange Encounter
Characters: Gaius, Regulus
Summary: A strange customer visits Egyptian Dreams.
Humming softly to himself, Gaius levitated a statue of Isis from its position on a shelf behind the counter and moved it toward a display of ornately painted papyri, admiring the way the gleaming gold of the goddess's wings complemented the rich colors of the scrolls. He fussily adjusted it to catch the light in the optimal way, then stepped back to admire his handiwork.
Egyptian Dreams was quiet at the moment, all the customers from the lunch time crowd having departed. Gaius had brought Regulus a meal from Azoth House, some of Serenus' lasagna, which they'd shared in bites between Regulus answering questions and working the till. They'd no sooner finished eating than a delivery had arrived in the back, and Gaius had offered to mind the shop while Regulus took inventory. He had hopes that if things were still quiet when Regulus finished, he might could persuade Regulus to turn the sign on the door to "Closed" so that they could indulge each other in a little dessert.
Satisfied with the statue's new home, Gaius set about dusting the shelves, which really didn't need it, but at least it gave him something to do. He was almost grateful when the bell over the door sounded, and he glanced toward it with a welcoming smile as a dark robed wizard entered. The man looked oddly familiar, something about his dark eyes and hooked nose seeming to remind him of someone. He was heavy set, and had blazes of white at his temples, threading back into his black hair, and he frowned, almost as if he were puzzled by something about Gaius as Gaius was about him. A slight shiver ran down Gaius' spine, and he couldn't help the instinct he felt to step back and away, even as he drew in a breath to speak.
"May I help you?" he asked politely.
The wizard's frown increased, as though Gaius' accent bothered him, but then he shrugged and gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"No, thanks - I was just browsing the shops and wanted to look around," he answered. Turning his head, he glanced about, then shrugged. "Nothing in here seems of any real interest to me. Good day." With that he turned and headed back toward the door, leaving Gaius staring after him with a puzzled frown.
Regulus emerged from the back of the shop just in time to hear the wizard's parting comment, and he spotted Gaius' puzzled look as well, which piqued his own curiosity.
"Are you certain there isn't something we could help you with?" he asked, partly in hopes of retrieving a potential customer and partly in hopes of finding out what had Gaius looking at the man that way.
The wizard turned once again, fixing Regulus with an appraising look for a long moment, his gaze intense. Then he shrugged and shook his head. "No," he replied, then once again headed for the door, the bell ringing softly as he opened it and stepped out into the street.
Regulus stared after the man as well, feeling a strange sense of familiarity that he couldn't quite place; at last, he turned and went to join Gaius, and once he was close, he could see that Gaius seemed tense, as if his fur would be sticking straight up if he was in cat form.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, smoothing his hand down the length of Gaius' back. "He didn't bother you, did he?"
Gaius leaned into the soothing touch, another shiver running down his spine, and he turned to look at Regulus, giving a self-conscious chuckle. "No... he barely said anything, really. Just... an odd feeling, you know? Like I know him, but I don't. And what I know... I don't think I much like. If I knew what it was."
"He seemed familiar to me too, although I can't pinpoint why," Regulus said, still rubbing Gaius' back gently, although he too was frowning in puzzlement. "I understand what you mean, though. He felt off to me as well. I haven't got that sort of vibe from anyone since I was keeping company with Lucius."
"Oh..." Gaius exhaled on a startled breath, his eyes wide as he stared at Regulus in horror. "You don't think he was a Death Eater, do you?" he asked, stepping closer to Regulus, seeking comfort from the warmth of Regulus' presence. "Should we call Tybalt?"
"I don't know." Regulus shook his head, still trying to think where he might have seen the man before. "If he was a Death Eater, he was after my time. It might not hurt to tell Tybalt about him, just in case. I've learned not to discount my instincts, and if you have a bad feeling about him too, then we'd best not ignore it."
"Right. I can head over to the Ministry and talk to him directly," Gaius replied. Then he wrapped his arms around Regulus' waist and pressed close to him. "I don't know why he unnerved me so much, but... I just need a moment."
Regulus wound his arms around Gaius' shoulders and held him tightly. "There isn't any need to rush off," he replied, pressing a kiss to Gaius' temple. "We'll talk to Tybalt together, if you like, but we don't need to go right now."
With a soft sigh of pleasure Gaius relaxed in Regulus' embrace. Regulus' protectiveness never failed to make him feel soft and melty inside, and he felt no desire to rush off, not with Regulus holding him. "All right, I'm convinced," he murmured, turning his head so he could nuzzle Regulus' neck. "I can't find the strength to move away when you hold me like this anyway."
Regulus snorted softly, amused by Gaius' blatant hints, and he began caressing Gaius' back again. "Well, far be it from me to push you away when you're feeling weak," he teased. He drew his wand and flicked it at the door to lock it, and he flipped the sign to read "closed" with another quick flick. "There. Now you can take all the time you need to recover without interruption."
Gaius smiled up at Regulus, sliding his hands up Regulus' back. "You're so good to me," he said. Regulus' embrace was quickly wiping out the memory of the creepy wizard. Rising up on his toes, he pressed his lips to Regulus' in a light, teasing kiss. "I may need some help in recovering."
Regulus snorted again, louder this time. "Somehow, I'm not surprised," he said, amusement lacing his voice, and he slid his hands down Gaius' back, letting them come to rest on Gaius' arse. "So... what can I do to help you recover?" he asked, arching one eyebrow as he groped Gaius playfully.
"Well... you could take my mind off the nasty old wizard," Gaius drawled, wriggling against Regulus' hands and widening his eyes in appeal. "You know how I like to be touched, and caressed, and petted..."
"I also know how you like to be spanked and pinned," Regulus replied, giving Gaius' arse a swat. "But I'm more than happy to try to take your mind off our strange visitor."
He lifted one hand and smoothed Gaius' hair, stroking him gently, and then he bent his head to nose aside Gaius' collar and nuzzle his throat, letting his hands roam in gentle petting and caresses just as he knew Gaius liked.
"Mmmm..." Gaius held on to Regulus' shoulders, letting his head fall back as Regulus immediately found the sensitive spot on his neck where he loved to be touched. "Oh, yes... I love everything you do to me," he said breathlessly, his eyes sliding closed as he let himself be lost in the sensation. "You make me feel so good."
"Good." Regulus bit down lightly and soothed the bite with his tongue, humming quietly as he nibbled and tasted Gaius' warm skin. "I want to make you feel good. I don't like seeing my pretty kitty upset by anything. Or anyone."
Gasping in reaction, Gaius felt his body tightening as his arousal flared in response to the nip. Regulus knew just what to do to have him instantly hard and aching, and how to draw it out to the point to where Gaius was almost mindless with need. He trailed his hands up from Regulus' shoulders, sifting his fingers through Regulus' hair, feeling the long, soft curling strands twine about them. "I want to make you feel good, too," he said huskily. "I want to show you just how much I adore you, beautiful one."
Smiling wickedly, Regulus began herding Gaius toward the counter at the back of the shop where they were less likely to be spotted through the windows. "As it happens, I can think of a way to make us both feel very good indeed." He gave Gaius a playfully arch look. "Assuming you don't mind being bent over the counter and shagged senseless," he added.
"Mind it? I'm eager for it!" Gaius laughed, taking Regulus' hand and almost running toward the counter. When he reached it he turned his back to it and placed his hands on Regulus' hips, pulling Regulus hard against him so that Regulus could feel his arousal. "See? Is that proof enough of how much I want you?"
"It's a start," Regulus said, pretending to consider the question seriously even as he rocked sinuously against Gaius to tease him, and then he gave Gaius a wide-eyed, ingenuous look. "But you aren't bare-arsed and begging yet, so I'm still not sure."
A soft moan escaped Gaius at the teasing, but he couldn't resist Regulus' challenge. Fortunately he rarely wore underpants while in robes, and so it was easy for him to lift the folds of dark blue Egyptian cotton as he gave Regulus a wicked smile and turned, leaning against the counter and wriggling his bare arse for Regulus' benefit. "Please?" he asked huskily, looking at Regulus over his shoulder. He licked his lips. "Pretty please?"
Gaius' shamelessness made Regulus chuckle even as he drew his wand and tapped Gaius' hip, murmuring the preparatory spells. Tossing his wand onto the counter, he lifted his robes and pressed against Gaius, bare skin to bare skin; he was disinclined to wear underpants as well, finding them an impediment, especially considering how often they indulged in spontaneous shagging. Grasping Gaius' hips firmly, he rocked provocatively and leaned over to whisper in Gaius' ear. "Like that?"
"Oh, yes. Just like that." Gaius was breathless with need, and he pressed back against Regulus wantonly. Reaching back with one hand, he stroked Regulus' hip. "Please, love... I want you so much!"
With a soft growl, Regulus positioned himself and eased into Gaius at a deliberately maddening pace, filling Gaius so slowly and burying himself deep until they were fully joined. Kneading Gaius' hips, he held still, his own breathing accelerating as he savored the feel of Gaius' body welcoming him.
"Is this what you want?" he asked huskily.
"Yes." Gaius' voice was strangled from the strain of standing still, wanting to savor Regulus' slow claiming but having to fight the urge to rock back and hasten their joining. He glanced back over his shoulder, his face flushed, eyes glittering with desire. "You feel perfect inside me. You may take me as hard as you please, slow or fast... I just want you, any way I can have you."
"You do have me." Regulus bent to murmur in Gaius' ear and nuzzled him tenderly. "You'll always have me." He began to move, rocking slowly, and he slid one hand around to stroke Gaius' stomach before delving lower and curling his fingers around Gaius' hard length.
With a soft cry Gaius let his head fall back against Regulus' shoulder. He rocked to meet Regulus, not hastening the pace, savoring the way Regulus filled him and the warmth of Regulus' hand around hm. "I'm all yours," he moaned, moving his hands to brace himself on the counter, the better to meet Regulus' thrusts.
"Yes, you are." Regulus punctuated his possessive words with a nip of Gaius' ear, and then he quickened the pace, claiming Gaius with swifter, harder thrusts and matching the tempo with each stroke of his hand as he tried to drive Gaius mad with need.
If the sounds Gaius made were any indication, he was succeeding marvelously. In fact, Gaius began to thrust back more forcefully, wanting to feel Regulus so deeply within him that they felt like only one body. His arousal spiraled higher and higher until he was soaring over the precipice, crying out Regulus' name as he shattered.
Regulus obliged, meeting and matching Gaius' force, and he watched with possessive pleasure as Gaius came undone in his arms; the sight and feel of Gaius' release made his own need flare out of control, and with only a few more deep, demanding thrusts, he followed Gaius over the edge, crying out sharply.
Panting, he eased away from Gaius slowly and reached for his wand, cleaning them both up with a charm and letting their robes fall back into place; he put his wand aside again and wound his arms around Gaius' waist, pulling him close and nuzzling his hair affectionately.
"Feeling better now?" he asked softly.
"Mmmm... much," Gaius purred, laying his arms over Regulus' and leaning back against him, utterly sated. "You can do that to me any time you like." He pulled away just enough to turn in Regulus' arms, craning up to kiss him slowly and deeply.
Tightening his arms around Gaius, Regulus returned the kiss in equal measure, claiming Gaius' mouth with thorough care and caressing Gaius' back with slow, gentle strokes of his hands.
Gaius savored the kiss, pouring his heart and soul into it; Regulus meant so much to him, more than he could ever express with mere words, and so he did everything he could to show Regulus the depth of his feelings. When he pulled back, he smiled, stroking Regulus' cheek tenderly. "Feel like closing up shop early and heading home for a soak in the tub?" he asked. "If you feel guilty, we could always combine it with discussing plans for the wedding."
"I don't feel guilty at all about spending the rest of the day with you," Regulus replied, leaning into Gaius' touch. "But we can discuss the wedding anyway. It's getting rather close!"
"It is, isn't it?" Gaius chuckled and shook his head. "I don't know where the time has gone, but we should definitely be finalizing things soon. I assume that the only reason Serenus hasn't been pestering us to distraction is his preoccupation with having a daughter!"
"I think that has definitely helped stave off any inclinations he might have had about taking a larger role in the planning process," Regulus said tactfully. "That and perhaps whatever is going on between him and Severus. It seems he has other things on his mind than meddling with our wedding."
Gaius sighed softly. "I'm sorry for the tension between the twins - I hope it gets better before the wedding," he murmured. "I'd rather fancied my brothers walking me down the aisle, but I don't want them at odds with each other on our day, you know?"
"No, I don't either," Regulus agreed. He lifted his hand and cupped Gaius' cheek in his palm gently. "I don't want anything to cause your happiness to be marred in the slightest." He stroked Gaius' cheek with his thumb as he considered the situation. "Have you spoken to either of them? Perhaps you could turn the baby brother eyes on them and help sort this out, whatever it is."
"I've actually tried to stay out of it, lest I make things worse." Gaius shook his head. "I suppose I could try, but I really don't know that it would help. You know how Severus is - he'll get over it when he gets over it, right?"
"True." Regulus smiled wryly and inclined his head to acknowledge the point. "I suppose we shouldn't interfere, but I don't want any family feuds to spoil the day for you. I want this to be perfect."
"So do I," Gaius said. He stroked Regulus' cheek again. "And it will be, simply because I'm marrying you. We'll figure it out with the twins. I know they're happy for us, so perhaps that will be enough."
"As long as they don't upset you, I will be satisfied," Regulus said, winding his arms around Gaius and giving him a little squeeze. "If worse comes to worse, I suppose I can always make the sacrifice of shagging you before the ceremony, after the ceremony, and during the reception to make certain you are too sated to be bothered by anything."
Gaius burst out laughing at that, and wrapped his arms around Regulus in return, hugging him hard. "I'll take you up on that!" he declared firmly. "Even if they aren't upsetting me!"
Regulus returned the embrace and lifted Gaius off the floor briefly, chuckling. "Greedy kitty," he said fondly. "But I'm sure that can be arranged. Now then - about that hot bath you mentioned?" he added, raising one eyebrow.
"Yes! One hot bath - I'll even scrub your back," Gaius promised. He took Regulus' hand and drew him toward the hearth at the back of the shop. "We canFloo home, and that will give us more reason to wash!"
Regulus let himself be led, following Gaius willingly. "As if we need a reason," he said, chuckling. "All right, you scrub my back, and I'll scrub yours, and then we'll see if anything else needs scrubbing when we're finished."
"I'm sure there will be," Gaius replied cheekily, picking up a hand of Floo powder. He grinned, and stepped into the hearth. "Catch me if you can - Azoth House!" With that he tossed down the powder and disappeared in a flash of green, intent on being naked and wet by the time Regulus reached the bathroom.