unbroken_halo (unbroken_halo) wrote in stirs_of_echo, @ 2010-06-25 17:23:00 |
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Entry tags: | damon, damon/grant, fics, grant, severus |
Fic: Free Bird
Title: Free Bird
Authors: sevs_lil_secret and unbroken_halo
Summary: Damon and Grant meet Severus Snape for the first time and all kinds of sparks fly.
Warnings: BDSM, Violence, Language, Sexual Situations.
AN: This is set in 1993, which would be Harry Potter’s second year in the summer time. This is an extremely long fic and will have to be posted in a couple of entries. I will connect them all together, but here is the first bit.
Severus stopped just outside the farm gate and stood in the shade of the old elm tree cursing Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, and most of humanity in general. Here he was, stuck in the middle of rural nowhere West Virginia where he knew no one and was unable to return home for nearly three months. It was in the upper 90's and so humid his normal, black woollen robes were nearly a death trap despite the cooling charm he'd cast on them. He looked down once more at the sale bill in his hand. 'Estate Sale, Muggle and Wizarding items to be offered. June 15th, 1993, auction begins at 10:00 am sharp.
He was still wondering why he'd bothered walking across the small town to attend. No, he knew why, he was bored, bored to tears. In one week's time he'd exhausted the reading material he'd brought with him on his enforced holiday. How dare the Headmaster pack his belongings on the last day of classes and escort him to the gates before wishing him a good journey, telling him he was not to return until only three days remained of the summer hols. The barmy old codger seemed to think he was a bit...cantankerous. Fah.
After he caught his breath, he walked on down the lane until he came to where all of the worldly goods of the late Klaus Detwieller were laid out for inspection by the local rubes and rummies. With his patented sneer on his face, he made his way along the various tables of knick-knacks and gee-gaws, stopping here and there to look at something more closely. There were a few things here he would not mind adding to his collection.
He stepped into the shade after registering for his number and waited for the proceedings to begin.
Damon looked up from the paper. "Grant. Did you see this notice for the auction on the Detwieller place? He took a sip of his coffee. "Want to go? Says here that the old man was a collector of antiquities and such." He grabbed a second cinnamon roll off the plate and took a generous bite. "Want to spend some money today, Pet?"
Grant looked up from the stove where he was finishing up Damon's grits and smiled. "I'd like to go Sir if we don't have anything else to do today." He poured the hot cereal in a bowl, added sugar and cream before he set it down in front of his husband and refilling his cup of coffee. "Do I have a budget?" he asked as he leaned down to kiss the sugar icing from Damon's lips.
Damon hummed and pulled Grant down for another kiss. "Depends on what we find. I can call the bank and find out how much we can play with." Damon smiled at his sub then frowned down at the grits. "Do I have to eat these?" He played with the spoon in the cereal. "Why couldn't I have them with a fried egg and salt and pepper and butter?" He sipped his coffee and smirked at Grant as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Grant only looked down at his Dom and smiled gently. "You should have remembered that when you decided that you had to have hamburgers and fries last night for dinner. I can poach an egg for you if you'd rather have that." He sat down in his chair and picked at the cinnamon roll on the plate in front of him while he sipped his coffee. "I promise not to spend too much, besides, didn't he have a few nice bikes?"
Damon wrinkled his nose. "No, thank you." He played with the cereal but didn't eat any. "Yes I think so and I really don't care how much you spend. It's not like we can take it with us." He took one bite of the cereal then pushed away from the table. "Let's go then, shall we?" He held out his hand to the other man.
Grant set his breakfast down and obediently got to his feet to follow his husband, he'd worry about the dishes later. Not fifteen minutes later they were on Damon's bike and headed out to the Detwieller farm.
Severus sighed and shifted his weight, Merlin, these people took forever to decide on the simplest things. He was irritated that he simply could not bring the items he wished to bid on to the man doing the shouting and be done with it all. An older woman with a kindly face brushed against him and he whirled on her with a scowl etched on his features. "Do you mind Madam, I am not a scratching post." Without another word he went back to watching some inbred hillbilly bid on a piece of low quality glassware, something that he wouldn't think twice about letting Longbottom play with.
Damon pulled up and parked the Road King. He assisted Grant off the machine and placed their helmets on the seat. He dug out his wallet and gave Grant five hundred dollars. He kissed the man on his nose. "Have fun, Pet. Come find me if you need more. I am going to wander around."
Grant tucked the money in his pocket and headed off to see just what treasures he could find before his patients found him.
With a long suffering sigh, Severus finally won a bid on a piece of glass against a well dressed older wizard, Native American descent he thought as he looked at the man. He stepped forward and collected the bauble while giving his adversary a patented smirk. He decided to seek a cooler clime and had noticed a large outbuilding with the doors open and several people milling in and out, he figured he might as well find out if anything of interest was inside.
Damon walked along the cycles lined up. Old man Detwieller did have taste. He eyed a dismantled Indian and shook his head. A waste there, if he wanted to tinker he had his first cycle to mess with. He moved along the line and looked over a chopper and wondered why someone would want to be stretched out like that on a cycle. He stopped and stared at a 1990 Harley Davidson Fatboy Grey Ghost in prime condition. Grant would kill him if he bought it but he couldn't help appreciate the craftsmanship. He bent over the machine and was shocked to find it only had a little over five thousand miles on it. He glanced at the reserve bid. Twelve thousand dollars. Yup, Grant would kill him. He sighed and took one last look at the bike before moving on.
Severus looked at the row of contraptions that resembled the flying monstrosity Black had owned. Pursing his lips into a thoughtful scowl, he walked along the line up slowly, looking at each one and trying to decide how he felt about the fantasy he'd had at one time of owning such a thing. There were a few there that were dismantled and he wondered if one of them might prove a worthy project for his summer. He paused in front of one such heap and wiped the perspiration from his brow and read the small tag that was attached to the handlebars. It was something called an Electra glide Shovelhead and it was old, made in 1970. He wondered what something like this would bring on the auction block.
Damon stared at the man in black. Quiet power radiated off the younger man. He snorted at the boy’s attire. Only someone not from this region would wear all black in summer. Must be a foreigner, Damon thought as he approached the young man. “Is easily repaired and a good starter bike.” He looked at the man in the face. “You ride much?”
Severus rose back up to his feet and looked down at the man addressing him. "I fear my talents do not lie in mechanical areas, although it does seem as though it would be a challenge. Something akin a child's puzzle." he mused as he looked down again at the lumpy heap covered by the canvas tarp. "What would something of this nature fetch if one were interested?"
Damon let the accent roll over him trying to place it. He bent and looked over the tag on the cycle then stood. "It's a fair price what they are asking, if you are of a mind to bid on it. I wouldn't go any higher and since there is no reserve on it I would bid lower to see if they will take it." He shrugged. "Lots of places around here that would take on the job but it will cost you if you want a mechanic to do the job."
Damon looked at the dark eyes again. "It's easy enough to understand, the mechanics of the bike, especially if you get a Chilton's manual." He held out his hand. "Damon Wolffe, Cycle enthusiast."
Severus looked at the outstretched hand and for some reason stuck his own out to reciprocate. "Severus Snape, Chemistry Professor on summer holidays." he shook the man's hand and turned back to the bike that they were discussing. "A Chilton's manual you say? I shall be honest, I do not even change a flat on my bicycle I'm afraid." Severus knew the man was a wizard, it was easy enough to ascertain with the roll of power that came off of the man. "What would a mechanic charge for an undertaking of this nature? And how long would restoration take? I am here until the very end of August."
Damon chuckled and rubbed his face. "Chilton or Hayes; the second is a little simpler to understand. If you've any education at all then you can read the book and figure out the mechanics." He pulled the tarp all the way off the cycle and looked at it. "You would have to do a complete teardown and rebuild it all. A mechanic is going to drag it out and charge you storage fees, parts, labour; get the most he can from your money." Damon looked at the other wizard. This man, Snape, needed an outlet. He was as tense as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs. "You might get it done in your time frame, if you're disciplined enough to do it yourself, even from a beginner stand point."
Severus drew himself to his most imposing pose, using his six foot five frame to his advantage as he peered down at the older man. "I assure you, I am a man of strict discipline. Now where would one find space to work on.... this.... project? And I assume these manuals you speak of are readily available to the public?" He had on his face a look that was guaranteed to reduce a seventh year Hufflepuff to tears and yet this man merely smiled at him. It was worse than that meddling fool Dumbledore.
Damon chuckled again and grinned. "No need to get your drawers in a knot. I am a disciplined man, myself. Former Marine." Damon drew himself up to his full height and nodded at the machine. He spoke in his Dom's voice; one not to be trifled with. "The books can be purchased at just about any auto parts house and if they don't have it most will be willing to order it; usually takes about a week." He was taken with the urge to offer this dark stranger the use of his barn for the project. Something about the boy spoke to Damon and he was curious about the taciturn man. "I might be persuaded to offer the space just for the sheer pleasure of watching you take your frustrations out on the bike, among other things, Mr. Snape."
Severus looked at the man and cocked a brow. "I am sure we could come to an agreement for an appropriate amount for the use of the space and perhaps a bit of instruction if it would not be a problem." he said softly. Something about the man made him feel safe, well safer than he had in a long while. "I am staying at the Farnsworth Bed and Breakfast, are you far from there?" He caught the sounds of the auctioneer moving closer and wanted to know that this was going to work before he bid on the heap at their feet. "I haven't tools for this, perhaps you could instruct me in what I need to purchase?"
Damon nodded. He looked Snape in the eye. "Bid on the machine, if you like. They'll deliver it to my farm. The B&B is not far from my bar." He looked down to the bike again. "You may use my tools and such, that way you can decide which fit your style." He raised an eyebrow back at the other man. "Instruction I can provide; just about any type you are willing to listen and learn."
Severus thanked him and watched as the man moved off to join a small group of locals. Standing there beside the bike, he was startled out of his thoughts when he felt the presence of another standing close. He looked up to find the man he'd outbid already on several items.... Looking at what he now thought of as his motorcycle. Damn.
Grant coolly surveyed the black robed interloper and then turned his attention back to the dismantled Harley. He thought it would make a nice project for Damon over the winter and he intended to win this bid. He gave the stranger a reserved smile and then walked away a bit as the auctioneer began to ask for bids on the Electra glide. Grant had his hand in the air and Severus was bidding furiously against him.
Damon watched the auction and the interaction between Grant and Snape. His sub was shrewd when it came to something he wanted. He knew how to play the odds. Why did Grant want the old bike, though? He cocked his head and watched as the bidding continued upwards. What the fuck was Grant doing? He walked over to his husband. "What are you doing?" He whispered in the Indian's ear. He eyed Snape then his mate.
"That man has outbid me several times on items I wanted, and I think he did it out of sheer spite. Now I want this." was all Grant would say as he raised his hand once more and glared at the man in black.
Damon made a face. "Pet, I will buy you anything else here in the barn but let the boy have the bike." He rolled his eyes as Grant raised the bid again against Snape. It was getting close to the asking price and Damon looked at the dark man.
"I don't want anything else." he hissed through clenched teeth and then upped the bid by a hundred dollars. Grant was normally a good natured man, but he was irritated now, and it hadn't been made better after watching the stranger take one of the items he'd bid against him and lost, to the trash can where he calmly broke it apart and sorted through the pieces before dumping it all in the bin and dusting his hands off.
Severus looked at the man he was bidding against and smirked, oh he'd win if for no other reason then he wanted this heap. He'd outbid him and then set it on fire in front of him. But why was this Damon Wolffe standing next to him? Were they plotting against him?
Damon groaned and then sighed. "Grant, stop please. I told him I would help him fix it up." He waited for his sub's explosion and braced for the full impact. Grant could get on a rant right up there with the best of women. Must have been the Indian temperament. He knew Grant wouldn't cause a scene but make him pay for it later. He tried another tactic. "I was thinking about the Grey Goose over there." He pointed at the cycle, trying to distract the other man.
Grant turned and looked at his husband as if he'd sprouted wings before he dropped his hand from the bidding. "Yes Sir." he said quietly and then walked out of the barn.
Severus nearly crowed as he watched his adversary leave during mid-bid. The motorcycle was now his. He stepped forward and gave the man his information and Damon's name, instructing them to have it delivered there as they had discussed. With a nod of his head to the older wizard, he swept out of the barn to settle his bill and leave the premises in order to go find one of those bloody manuals. He found the other man under a tree on the other side of the barn looking somewhat upset, but he really didn't care.
Damon sighed as Snape won the bid. He nodded to the auctioneer and went out to fix the mess he had created with his sub. Damon walked up and looked down at Grant. "Want to tell me about it?"
"No Sir, did you find anything of interest?" Grant replied as he stared out over the knee-high cornfield. He was pissed. Mad as a wet hen as Damon would say, but he'd say nothing to him about it here. He didn't want people talking.
Damon nodded. "Mr. Snape will be coming out to the house to work on that cycle so best get it out now while you can." He grabbed Grant's arm and moved him behind the tree. Damon looked around and drew his wand then cast a silencing spell around the old oak. "Let me hear it, Pet."
Grant gaped at him. That that man was coming to their home? "NO! NO NO NO NO!" he yelled as he glared at Damon. "Do you remember the little figurine Detwieller had of his mother's? The one I loved so much? I bid on it and he outbid me and then broke it apart while I watched!" By this time Grant was nearly past speech, he wasn't just mad about the figurine, but the fact the stranger had been so nasty about everything. "I will NOT be nice to him."
Damon nodded. "Anything else?"
"Don't you stand there looking all sanctimonious and smug Damon Wolffe, don't you laugh at me!" Grant yelled again as his hand flew back as if to slap his husband's face.
Damon caught Grant's wrist and forced him to the ground. "Now, I asked you nicely about your problem with Mr. Snape. There is no call to strike out at me." Damon's voice became steel. "I was not laughing at you, boy. I am however disappointed in the way you are acting. I though we would be able to discuss this like adults but if you are going to pull a newbie stunt then we can take this home and settle it there." He looked down at Grant, blue eyes flashing.
Grant whimpered as he felt his wrist twisted and the rocks on the ground digging into his knees. His breath hitched in his chest as he looked down and showed his obedience. His arm was still tight in Damon's grip as he found the words he sought. "Why does he have to come to the farm Sir?" He kept his gaze lowered. "I'm sorry Master, but he was so...mean about everything."
Damon eased his grip on Grant's wrist. He rubbed the reddened skin as he talked. "Mr. Snape and I talked about his restoring the cycle. I offered to help him. At the time I didn't know about the auctions you had lost." Damon pulled Grant up off the ground. He bent to check and make sure the rocks had done no damage to the other man. He stood and caught Grant's chin then brought the other man's face to his. "I didn't know he was rude to you, Pet and I will not tolerate it in our home." Damon sighed. "He needs something, Grant and if I can help with whatever he needs I would like to. There's something about that man. He's a powerful wizard."
"Yes Sir, as you wish." Grant said quietly, properly chastised and repentant for his outburst. Now he was fervently hoping no one had seen him on his knees in front of his husband. "May we go home now please, if you are finished?"
Damon nodded and pulled Grant into his arms. "I am finished."
Grant took the unspent money from his pocket and gave it back to his Dom before falling in step behind him. He knew how badly he'd just lost control and he needed to regain that. "Sir, what would you like for your lunch?" he asked as they reached the spot where the big bike was parked in the shade.
Damon turned and put Grant's helmet on him. He smiled as he fastened the buckle. "Whatever you would like to fix, Pet or would you rather go someplace to eat?" He straddled the bike and held his hand out to Grant.
"I'll cook Sir." he said and got on the bike. On the way back through town they happened upon the lone figure of Severus Snape striding along the road looking as if he were wont to drop of heat stroke at any moment. Grant closed his eyes and bit his lip; here was his chance to make it right. He got Damon's attention and motioned toward the man clad in black. "He doesn't look well, Sir. Why don't you leave me here and take him to the house and then come back for me?"
Damon stared at Grant. "Are you crazy? I am not leaving you on the side of the road." He pulled the bike over and waited for Snape to catch up to them. "I know you are trying to make amends for your outburst and I commend you for it however I won't do it at the expensive of your health." Snape drew closer to the bike and Damon removed his helmet and stared at the younger man. "You are going to keel over from heatstroke walking around dressed like that?"
Severus was red in the face and looked close to dropping, the damnable cooling charms could not keep up with the humidity. He was certain he was going to die. He looked from Damon to the other man. "You.... And you..." he mumbled as he swayed slightly on his feet.
Grant shook his head at his husband and climbed off the bike. "Take him home Damon, I'll wait there under the tree. I have my bottle of water as well." He pulled off his helmet and put it on the head of Mr. Snape and then carefully helped the man onto the back of the bike. "Now hold on tight to his waist. He'll have you in the cool air in a few minutes." He gave his husband a little smile and then went to sit under the leafy maple tree to wait.
Damon sighed. He should have known better. He glared at Grant. "Stay right there in the shade. I will be right back." He yelled out to the other man. He turned to Snape and knocked on the helmet. "Are you well enough to hang on? It would be a bitch but I can put in front of me, if I have to."
In response, Severus wrapped his long arms about the man's waist and nodded. He just wanted some cool air; he didn't care how he got there. He'd tried apparating to the bed and breakfast but there was something about the area that seemed to prevent it and he'd been reduced to walking. Thank Merlin this Damon had happened along, but he still couldn't work out why the other man was with him yet.
Grant settled himself in the shade and lay back against the trunk to watch a hawk circle in the early afternoon heat rises. He wondered to himself how he was going to handle the rude man in his home. He hoped Damon had no trouble getting him to the house.
Damon patted the man's hands and eased the bike forward, slowly. Once he figured out that Snape wasn't going to fall off he added some speed. They rode the curves out until Damon came to the farmhouse. He pulled the bike up to the porch and helped the other man off the cycle. He led Snape into the house and pointed to the couch. "Sit. Take off those outer cloaks. It's too hot to be wearing that kind of thing here."
Damon made his way into the kitchen and brought back a glass of water to Snape. "Here, drink this slowly. You going to be alright while I go back and get my husband?"
Severus looked at the man with his mouth open and then snapped it shut. His bloody husband. "I shall be fine. I am sorry to impose on your hospitality Mr. Wolffe,” he said as he accepted the water and then shrugged out of his outmost layers. "I was not aware that man is your.... husband." he drawled as he tipped the glass back and then looked about the room he was currently sitting in. Pictures were everywhere. It was...homey.
Damon smirked. "Well, now you do. If there is a problem then you can just take your limey ass back to where you came from and find another man to help you with your new acquisition." Damon made for the door. "Stay right there and cool off. The bathroom is the second door to the left of the stairs."
Damon looked back at Snape. "Through the swinging doors is the kitchen. You are welcome to the fridge but Grant will be making lunch when we return." He nodded at the other man and left to get Grant.
Once outside Damon cast a monitoring spell on the house and sped off to get Grant out of the heat.
Grant sat waiting, starting to feel the effects of heat as the minutes passed. He really hoped Damon had had no trouble with the stranger. He tipped his water bottle up and drained the last drops as he heard the sound of the Road King's engine getting louder. He stood up and leaned against the tree as he waited for his husband to pull up.
Severus sat there on the comfortable sofa after drinking the water and thought to himself. No, he didn't have any trouble at all with a gay relationship; it would be hypocritical if he did after all. He only wondered how his actions of that morning were going to haunt him now that he knew the man from the auction was his new teacher's husband.
Damon ran to Grant as he laid the bike on the ground, not bothering with the stand. "You okay?" He grabbed the water bottle and spelled it full of clean, clear, cool, water. He pulled Grant to him.
Grant looked in horror as the big bike lay on the ground; that was Damon's baby. "I'm fine hon.,” he said as he was pulled to the man's chest. "But your bike." he moaned as he pulled away and went to where it lay in the dirt. He pulled his wand from his pocket and quickly set it to rights. He held his hand out to his husband and waited to climb on the back. "I was only sweating some, I'd just finished my water up. Did he give you any trouble?"
Damon shook his head. "No and I could care less about the bike. I was more worried about you being in this heat." He helped Grant mount the bike and then straddled it himself. "Let's get home now, without any more incidents.” He looked skyward and said a little prayer as he took off on the bike.
Grant nestled his head against his husband's back and smiled to himself. Once they were home, he hopped off the bike and went in the kitchen door. "Are you hungry now Damon, you didn't eat much for breakfast?" he asked as he poured them both a glass of sweet tea and walked into the living room, forgetting there was another man in the house.
Severus looked up at the startled man and gave him what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Mr. Wolffe, I am Severus Snape, I believe we got off on the wrong note this morning,” he said as he rose to his feet and offered his hand to the stunned Lakhota in the doorway.
"I'm Grant." he managed before going back into the kitchen.
Damon stared at his husband as he came back into the kitchen. "What happened now? Did he say something to you?" Damon frowned and headed for the living room with a determined look on his face.
Severus had sat back down as soon as the other man had left the room and now looked back up again as Damon strode in. "Yes Mr. Wolffe?"
"What did you say to him?" Damon stopped in front of the other man and looked down at him.
"I merely introduced myself and he became overwrought."
Damon sighed. "Grant, get in here."
Grant walked back into the living room, his arms wrapped about his waist as he stood in the doorway. "Yes Sir?" he asked and then kicked himself for the slip, he normally didn't refer to Damon as Sir in front of strangers.
Damon stared at his husband. "Okay." He shook his head. "Let's start over. Mr. Snape this is my husband, Grant. Grant, Mr. Snape."
"Hello Mr. Snape." Grant said as he looked back at his husband and then at the man at the sofa. "Is there anything I can get for you?"
"Hello Grant, and actually more water would be nice." Severus said as he watched the older man. Something was going on here, something he could almost put his finger on before it danced out of his grasp.
Grant looked at Damon and nodded to the kitchen as if asking permission to go.
Damon nodded and sat in the chair across from Snape. "Please bring me a glass of iced tea as well. Then come back here to sit with us." He gave the order as was the norm then chuckled and shook his head.
"Might I ask what it so amusing?" Severus asked as he carefully folded his robes and set them at his feet.
Damon chuckled again. "Old habits that are hard to break." He leaned back in his chair and studied the man across from him. "So tell me, Mr. Snape what brings you to our little town?"
Severus cocked his head at that answer and filed it away for further consideration as he began to tell his cover story. "I teach at an exclusive boarding school in Scotland and this year our Headmaster had decided to send me on holiday here to the States. Apparently at one point in time he'd known someone from the area and felt that I would find the change restful."
As he was talking, Grant entered and served his husband before he served Severus and then pulled up one of the straight backed chairs from along the wall beside Damon's chair and sat with his hands folded in his lap while he listened.
"So as a result, I am here until the end of August and then I shall take my leave for Scotland." Snape finished.
Damon nodded and sipped his tea. He looked to Grant as he passed the other man his glass. “Well, I hope you enjoy your stay. Joseph from the auction should have your new bike here by this afternoon; it’s usually around four or so when they get around to the deliveries.”
He smiled and looked to his husband. “You are welcome to stay until then if you wish.”
Grant looked at his husband and smiled. "Are you ready for lunch?" and then he looked to Severus. "You will join us, won't you, Mr. Snape?"
"If it is not an imposition, I would like that. I've found that the food at the bed and breakfast is less than tolerable." Severus replied as Grant waited for Damon's reply. Severus could tell him he was starving to death and it really wouldn't matter until Damon said he was ready to eat.
Damon grinned. "Feed me, Pet." He turned to Snape. "Not an imposition, Mr. Snape, otherwise we wouldn't have asked."
Grant stood and went back to the kitchen where he put together a pasta salad and a fruit dish for dessert, as an afterthought he added grilled chicken to both Damon and the stranger's pasta. There was something about this Mr. Snape; he was like Damon, he was a Dom and a strong one. Grant had no desire to kneel to him, but he could feel the quiet power there just beneath the surface, it made his skin crawl and he wanted to be in contact with Damon.
He went to the doorway of the living room and waited for a break in the conversation before letting his husband know his meal was ready. As he went back into the kitchen, he wondered if he could get away with taking his plate to his little office with the excuse of files to be looked over.
Damon watched Grant leave the room and he stared after his husband. He looked across the room at Snape and then back to the door. Something was bothering Grant and he wasn't sure if it was just the company or something else. When the other man had returned to announce lunch he stood and gestured for Snape to follow. He entered the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Grant, ignoring Snape for a moment. "Do you need to have a private moment with me?" He whispered in his sub's ear.
Damon held Grant close and then turned to Snape. "Excuse me for a moment. Have a seat. Enjoy the repast."
"Yes Sir, please." he whispered softly as he glanced at the young man sitting at their table and then looked away again with a shiver. He wanted the meal to be pleasing to both men.
"Thank you. It looks quite appetizing." Severus said as he pulled out a chair and sat at the place Damon had indicated to him. He watched the smaller man become more subservient in his actions and he smiled to himself. Damon's husband was made to please others.
Damon nodded at Snape and then turned back to Grant. He pressed a hand to the sub's back and guided him out of the kitchen. He steered the other man down the hall to their bedroom. After closing the door, he cast a silencing spell and turned to Grant. "Talk to me, Grant. Have I screwed up somewhere and not realized it, yet?"
Grant opened his mouth to begin and then shut it again without speaking; he frowned and tried to find the words that would make sense. "He's like you." He began and sighed; this was not going to come out right. "He's a Dom as well, I can feel it. I never make mistakes like the one I did earlier in front of him, never Damon. You know that. I almost called him sir." He closed his eyes and then sat down on the bed; he knew he sounded like a ninny. "May I please stay in here or in my office?"
Damon rubbed his mouth as he thought about what Grant said. "That is a possibility that occurred to me. I figured him as much, a strong personality, but I don't think he is a threat to you. Are you scared of him?" Damon bent to the floor and took ahold of Grant's chin. "I'll send him away if you wish it, My Own."
"I'm not afraid of him, you needn't send him away,” he said softly as he looked into Damon's eyes. "I'll be alright Master, just swat me if I do something I shouldn't." he said with a nervous laugh.
Damon chuckled and shook his head. "Be yourself, Grant. I am not ashamed of us nor am I sorry." He bent forward and kissed Grant lightly. "I do want you to face him however. You may be submissive to me but you aren't to him and I don't expect you to be. I told you long ago, I wouldn't share you and I meant it."
Damon stood and held his hand out to the other man. "You made a beautiful lunch and there is no reason why you should have to hide in your own home."
Grant took his hand and followed him back into the kitchen where he waited until Damon was seated before he picked up the pitcher of iced tea and refreshed his husband's glass and offered to do the same for Snape.
Once that was done, he finally sat and waited once more until Damon had begun to eat before he sampled his own meal. He turned to the stranger and spoke. "Is your meal to your liking, Mr. Snape? If not, I can prepare something else." He wondered if he would be cooking again as he watched the younger man push the food around the plate without eating it.
Snape stared at the meal on the plate. "It is adequate. There is no need to prepare another and waste this perfectly good one." He looked up and eyed the other man for a moment, then looked away. "Thank you for your hospitality after what occurred at the auction." He told the other man softly. Snape speared an olive and some spiral pasta then gingerly took a bite of the new food.
Damon watched the exchange from lowered eyes as he ate his lunch. He sneaked a glance at Grant to see how the other man was fairing.
"I apologize for my behaviour as well." Grant murmured as he laid his fork down and sipped at his tea. He looked up at Damon and with his eyes, showed him he really wanted to be away from there.
"Lesson learned. You may leave if you wish, however I do enjoy your presence." Damon said gently. He stabbed a chicken breast piece and held out the bit to Grant. "Eat. Why didn't you fix this for yourself as well?"
He turned to Snape. "So, how are you enjoying the States?"
Grant gingerly took the bite, but refrained from answering the question, there had only been two breasts in the package from the market and to split them between 3 people would have looked chintzy. He remained in his seat and picked at his meal as his husband and Snape talked.
"It is quite different from the school I teach." Severus began. "I do like the environment, but I've yet to meet many people or see many things. It is quite a bit warmer here, I fear I didn't bring appropriate attire for my visit as someone was kind enough to point out that it will become much hotter in the weeks to come." At this he sighed and the corner of Grant's mouth quirked up in a grin. Oh yes, the pasty stranger was going to melt in the heat. "Have you been to Scotland?" Snape asked
Damon nodded. "Only in passing, when I was in the service. Beautiful place." Damon scooped up a banana and a strawberry and held them out to Grant. He chuckled. "Yes the heat will get oppressive as summer continues. You might want to look into investing in some jeans and t-shirts since you are going to be here for a while." Damon smiled. "Especially once you get out in the barn and under the cycle."
Severus watched as the older man fed his husband and wondered exactly why he felt the need to do so, was the other man incapable of feeding himself. He smirked slightly as Grant took the bite and smiled to his husband. "Is there a place one can hire an auto here in Echo? I will need a way to get back and forth each day."
Grant looked at Damon, "Where is he staying?"
Damon frowned and tried to remember the name of the rental place in Wheeling. He forked some more pasta and held it out to Grant not really paying attention as he thought. "The B&B in town, if I remember correctly." He looked over at Snape. "There's a car place in Wheeling, but I can't recall the name. It'll be in the book though."
"That place closed three months ago Damon." Grant said as he gently pushed his Master's hand away, he was finished eating; his stomach wasn’t feeling too well with the heat. He looked at his husband and shrugged. "There's always my car."
Damon frowned and looked to Grant. "Are you ill, Pet?" He reached out and petted Grant's cheek.
Snape stared at the other men. "What is wrong with you, Americans? You take a perfectly rude stranger into your home and provide impeccable hospitality." Snape stood and looked at the two men. "I could have been anyone, you don't know do you?"
Grant sat for a moment and then decided that manners be damned, no one was going to insult his husband in front of him. "Mr. Snape, apparently you are used to quite different behaviour from people. Here we treat others, as we would expect to be treated. If your actions were indication of this earlier, then I truly pity you because you must be a miserable excuse for a human being. How dare you sit at my husband's table and criticize the man for attempting to find solutions to your problems?" He took a deep breath and then looked at his husband. "I apologize Damon, I just couldn't sit for that."
Snape bent into the smaller man's face. "I want no one's pity." He turned and stormed out of the kitchen.
Damon shifted in his seat. "You did nothing wrong, Grant. I appreciate it and couldn't have said it better." He watched the kitchen door swing back and forth in Snape's wake. "Are you ill from the food or the heat, Pet?" He rubbed Grant's face again and focused on the man in front of him.
"The heat is bothering me a bit Sir, that's all." He said with a frustrated sigh as he looked at the swinging doors. "I should go apologize to him."
In the living room, Severus Snape was angrily doing up the many buttons on one of his outer cloaks and trying to figure out just where in the name of Merlin's beard he was and how to get back to his room in town.
Damon got up from the table and ran the water in the sink. He pulled a clean dishcloth from the drawer and wet it with cool water. He wrung it out and then went back to Grant. He laid the cool cloth on the back of Grant's neck and swiped under the man's shirt. "No, I don't think you need to. He'll cool down once he realizes he has no idea where he is at or how to get back to town."
After fuming for nearly ten minutes, Severus pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, cursing as he realized he had to go back in and face the older couple at the table. When would he ever learn to hold his tongue? He could hear the two men talking quietly, but couldn't make out what they were saying, but he could detect a note of concern in Damon's voice. With a cautious step, he pushed one of the swinging doors open and found Damon standing over a pallid and shaky looking Grant, with a wet towel in his hand. "Might I be of assistance?"
Damon raised an eyebrow and grinned at Grant. "Just a little heatstroke. I am not sure how you could help that?" He turned and faced the younger man. "Just give me a few moments and I will return you to the B&B."
Damon turned back to Grant and knelt. "Would you like me to call Max?" He held up his hand to forestall the protest he knew was coming. "Just so he could sit with you while I am gone." He stroked the pale cheek and watched Grant for any more signs of malady.
Severus pursed his lips together for a moment and reached into a pocket of one of his robes, withdrawing a small phial. "I've been working on a suitable agent to combat heatstroke for a pharmaceutical company in Britain. It works quite well if you would like to give it a try. He has no allergies to gooseberries, does he?" He asked as he sat the small phial down on the table in front of the couple.
Grant looked at his husband. "Don't call Max, I don't want him to have to come all the way out here, I'll be fine." He reached out one hand and laid it over Damon's and closed his eyes.
Severus watched the couple and felt like an utter bastard. "I am truly sorry for my outburst, I hope it didn't worsen how he was feeling."
Damon sighed. "Are you certain about Max? You know he would come if only to check you over." He backed away from Grant. "Not that I am suggesting that. Get some rest, Pet."
He moved to stand next to Snape. He eyed him for a moment and then nodded. "Apology accepted." He nodded to the phial. "I don't think he has that particular allergy. I don't even think I have ever eaten one myself." He turned back to Grant.
"What say you, My Own? Would you like to try the man's snake oil?" Damon grinned at Snape and then at his husband.
Grant looked at Damon and gave him an exasperated look. He would try the concoction simply to show there were no hard feelings. "Thank you Mr. Snape, and no I do not have an allergy to gooseberries, just a strong dislike of them. Please pardon my husband's colourful phrases, he seems to find amusement in letting everyone know I am a Native American for some unknown reason." With that he uncorked the small bottle and swallowed the contents with a grimace. Merlin he hated gooseberries, but he would admit he did feel better. "Now if you gentlemen would please excuse me, I will go lie down for a bit while your purchase is being delivered Mr. Snape. Dinner will be at 6 this evening."
Snape stared at the other man. "Are you certain just because you have an aversion to the taste it is not masking the allergy?" He eyed the man and shrugged. "Being a native does not bother me any and I had already presumed as much when I saw you at the auction." Snape turned and looked Damon over. "He does bear a passing resemble to the Headmaster that sent me here. Colourful phrases and all. Terribly annoying sometimes, is he? I feel for you. " He smirked at Damon.
He turned back to Grant then knelt by the man's feet. "And now do you feel any better?"
Grant gave a snort of amusement to the younger man. "No, I am sure I am not allergic to the things. I've eaten many of them in my day and all it did was make me want to kiss a girl to get the taste out of my mouth. I do feel better. Be sure to let your company know the product works well. Thank you." He looked up at his husband and gave him a smile; he hadn't meant to be snappish with him.
Snape laughed and Damon shook his head. Damon laid his hand on Snape's shoulder. "Thank you. To get a complement from Grant like that must mean he is feeling better."
Damon smiled at his husband. A horn honking drew all three of the men's attention to the front door. Damon turned back to Snape. "That'll be Joseph. Let me get Grant settled and we can start on the bike. He eyed Snape. “You are too tall for a pair of my jeans to fit so you will have to just stay in the trousers but I can offer you a t-shirt to help with the heat." He held out his hand to Grant. "Joseph knows the way back to the barn. Follow him and I will be back in a moment."
Grant stood and followed his husband to the bedroom and soon as the couple were out of sight, Severus muttered a quick spell and all of his robes buttons were undone and he had the heavy clothing laid over a kitchen chair. He walked out the back door and followed the small flat bed truck as it went around the old farmhouse and backed up to a well-kept barn. Once more he wondered to himself just why he'd bought the blasted motorbike, he'd most likely never ride it.
In the bedroom, Grant was rummaging through one of Damon's drawers and came up with two old tee shirts, one for his husband and one for Snape before he sat down on the edge of the bed. "I'll bring out a pitcher of lemonade in a little while Sir, okay?"
Damon pulled Grant into his arms. "I want you to rest. I think we can fend for ourselves for a while. Besides, once I get started on the bike you never know when I'll be finished." He kissed the man on top of his head and squeezed him tightly for a moment.
"Mmmmm..." Grant kissed him tenderly on his mouth before he lay back on the bed. "I'll start the grill about 5:30, okay? Ask him to stay, there's no point in him eating Elsie Farnsworth's excuse for food, he's too thin as it is. I'll do something simple, maybe more to his liking,” he murmured as he closed his eyes and didn't hear Damon shut the door.
In the barn Severus waited and poked about at his new purchase, trying to ascertain just what was what as it was unloaded. He'd already looked at the other motorcycles in the barn. The man had a nice collection it seemed and he wondered if he did most of the work himself.
Damon shook his head as he made his way out to the barn. He waved at Joseph as the boy left. He stood at the entrance tot he barn and watched Snape stare at the broken down cycle. "Guess we had better get to town and find a manual for that one." He tossed the T-shirt at Snape and then pulled his own button-down off and exchanged it for the old worn one. "Only one I have never rebuilt so I don't have a book."
Snape looked for a place to change his shirt and with distaste noticed he had no choice but to disrobe in front of the older man. He quickly unbuttoned his shirt and stripped it off, turning his body and hoping that the worst of his scars would not be visible to the sharp eyed old man. He pulled the offered shirt over his head and then stood with his shoulder length, lank, black hair hanging loose around his face as he waited for the other man to let him know how they were going to get to where they were going.
Damon watched covertly as Snape changed and tried not to show his shock at the man's condition. He cleared his throat. "We can take Grant's car out or if you would like to get used to the feeling we can take the bike." He bent to check the cycle's tags and registration to confirm the year, make and model. "Ready when you are, Snape."
"Perhaps the auto would be a good choice and you can explain to me the hours in which it will be permissible for me to work on my project." Severus said as he nodded his head and gritted his teeth. He could tell the other man had seen too much, could see it in his eyes. Not even Albus had seen what little this man had seen, Severus felt horridly over exposed there in the old barn. "I do not after all, wish to become a nuisance to either you or your...pet,” he said without thinking. Just his common defences taking over, deflect attention to another area and get it off of what he didn't want noticed and he was always up for an argument.
Damon frowned. "Look, you bastard. I don't know what your problem is or why you act the way you do. But no one and I mean no one treats my husband or me like you have and gotten away with it. Grant went easy on your arrogant ass but I won't." Damon stalked forward and got in Snape's personal space. "I have been around this world to a lot of places and seen alot of things, boy. Your scars and your emotional baggage mean nothing to me. Your nasty attitude and cold demeanour are nothing compared to what I have seen and dealt with."
Damon stared hard into the man's dark eyes. "In fact it would give me great pleasure to rip into your ass and show you exactly what I know and how to put you in your place. You are already a nuisance and I am really re-considering my invitation to you."
Severus stared down at the older man and smirked condescendingly at him. "My sincerest apologies to you and your.... husband." He said in an oily, sickly sweet voice, almost as if to dare the man to attempt something. After all, he was Severus Snape, survivor of Orion Snape, Lord Voldemort, Albus Dumbledore, the Marauders, and let us not forget, the misbegotten spawn of James Potter. He was spoiling for a fight.
Damon eyed him. "I am warning you now, boy. You don't want to tangle it up with me." He backed up a step and braced himself. "If you can keep your oily comments to yourself you are welcome to stay." His eyes flashed in anticipation. It had been a while since he had mixed it up and the scrawny man before him was just begging to be taken down a notch or two. He automatically shifted into a prepared state and waited.
Grant stood in the open doorway of the barn and watched the scene; he looked at Damon's back and wondered just what in the hell had happened to cause him to lose his temper like this.
Snape looked up and noticed him and gave a very nasty little smile, one that never came close to reaching his eyes before he turned his attention back to Damon. "Looks like someone escaped his leash." He said in very measured, mocking, clipped words as he nodded in Grant's direction. The Lakhota stood there with the pitcher of lemonade and glasses he'd brought out and just stared in disbelief at the hateful words.
Damon never turned but swung and hit Snape hard in the mouth. When Snape leaned back, he didn't bother to stop and swung out again landing a measured punch to the man's exposed gut. "I warned you, asshole. You just don't know when to shut up."
Damon reached back again and almost called the bullwhip hanging on the wall to him. Instead he took a step back and a deep calming breath. "Leash, boy? I think you are the one who is on a leash. Letting your Headmaster send you out from your own home like an errant child. Just had to obey that Master didn't you?
The pitcher and glasses shattered at Grant's feet as they slipped from his hands and he hurried forward to put his arms around his husband's shoulders. "Please Sir don't.... don’t...” he whispered hurriedly. “You don't need to go to jail for assault Master, please don't.... please." he begged with his lips pressed against his man's neck. "It doesn't matter what he says about me." he murmured as he stroked his husband's back and tried to calm his raging temper. He didn't need this newcomer deciding to call the law and pressing charges today.
"It was that or lose my bloody job!" Snape roared as he swung back at Damon, barely missing Grant.
Damon felt the punch connect and saw red. He lurched out of Grant's arms, ignoring the man's protests and charged Snape, wrapping his arms around the taller man and slamming him into the side of the barn wall. Damon reached up and grabbed the bullwhip and backed up a step. He slung the thing out relishing in the crack. He snapped it again right over Snape's head. "Stay back, Grant." He ordered. He aimed again this time between the small space of Snape's spread legs.
In that split second Grant saw the look of absolute terror come across Snape's face, the look of a small child, he was terrified, but not of Damon. Immediately he threw himself over Snape and took the strike, he couldn't let Damon whip the boy, it didn't matter what he'd done. His face and body was pressed against Snape as the force of the whip broke over him and he knew his husband had not held back a thing, he'd been going for blood and damage. Gritting his teeth against the pain he looked up into the terrified face. "It's okay, no one is going to hurt you, I promise, no one is going to hurt you." He could feel his own tears trying to spill, but he fought them back not wanting to scare the Englishman more.
Damon dropped the whip. He hadn't really been aiming to hurt the other man just scare him. In his rage he hadn't thought Grant would intervene. "Fuck!" Damon stepped forward and pulled Grant away from the other man. He pulled the shredded shirt away from Grant's body and hissed.
A long lash was torn into Grant's skin. "Dammit Grant. What the fuck possessed you to step in front of that Motherfucker." He reached to pull his wand out of his pocket. Then thought better of it. He ignored Snape and tended to his husband. He stared trying to figure out the best way to get Grant back in the house without causing any further pain. "Goddammit!"
“Damon stop....he's scared okay, he's scared..." Grant said quietly as he continued to reassuringly pat Snape's arms and shoulders. "No one is going to hurt you, I promise little one, no one, I won't let them."
He turned and looked at his husband and shook his head. "I'll be fine, but there's something wrong with him." He looked back into the gaunt face that was drained of all colour, the dark eyes wide and unseeing and his thin lips twitching at each word he heard.
Damon pushed Grant behind him. He looked up at the other man and stared. What the fuck was going on? He reached out and slapped the younger man. "Snap out of it, you bastard. I am not buying this act."
"Damon no!" Grant said as he grabbed at his husband's hand. "Please don't. Just let me talk to him, okay? Remember it is what I do." The Lakhota pushed his husband out of his way and took the younger man by the arm and gently led him over to one of their work benches. "Damon, would you please get us something to drink?" He was close enough to tell the younger man had lost control of his bladder and he really didn't need Damon getting his teeth into that to ridicule him. There was something really wrong here.
Severus allowed himself to be led as he waited for the next blow, he knew it was coming, it was always coming.
Grant sat him down and looked at him "Severus?"
Severus hung his head. "Yes, Father." His voice was flat as if he weren't in the barn any longer. "I deserve the punishment you have dealt out and am grateful for your discipline. Please Sir. I need another if I am to conform to your wishes." He cringed as if the blow was about to land and then straightened and braced for the impact again.
Damon stared at the other man. He rubbed his face. "Holy shit." He muttered.
Grant looked up at his husband and nodded to the door. "Please Sir, I need some time with him." He turned back to the man on the bench and gently touched his cheek. "Severus, what is going on? Would you like to talk? I will listen if you would like to talk about anything."
Damon turned and walked out of the barn. He sat astride his motorcycle for a moment then kick started the bike and sped off.
Severus stared off in the distance then flinched from the touch of Grant's hand.
Grant sighed as he heard the bike start up, he knew he'd pay for getting in his Dom's way, but he'd had to do it. He pulled his hand away from the man's face and took his hand in his own and waited to see if the younger man would speak.
When no more blows were forthcoming and the silence stretched out in front of him Severus snapped back to attention. His whole body jerked as he stood and stared down at Grant. "Where is that son-of-a-bitch you call Master?" He snarled.
Grant looked at him sadly. "Damon left so that you and I could talk if you needed to. It seems as though you don't." With that he stood up and turned, his tattered shirt falling open and the wound left gaping in the afternoon sun that filtered in through the windows. "I'll be in the house if you need anything. The hose is over there." he said with a flick of his hand toward the side of the barn as he started to leave.
Severus stared at the man's back and smelled the acrid scent of spent urine. "What the fuck just happened?" he reached out and grabbed Grant's arm.
Grant turned and looked at the man holding his arm. "Tell me what you remember and I'll fill in the blanks." he said as he pulled his arm out of the man's grasp and stood there uncomfortably under his glare.
Severus shifted his feet. "Do you mind giving me some privacy first to regain my dignity?" He snarled.
Grant's eyes flashed fire. "Why, you pissed on me as well."
Severus looked away. "Sorry," he muttered. He sank to the work bench. "All I remember was hearing a crack then nothing." He hung his head.
Part two