Title: A Matter of Trust
Author: ceria
Characters: James Potter / Sirius Black
Rating: R
Warnings: n/a
Themes/kinks chosen: bondage and blindfolding
Word Count: about 1,800
Summary: The holidays are all about giving
Author's notes: Thank you, Lee and Elf. I'm always thankful for your help.



The ropes were incongruous with the holiday, and James held them loosely in his hands as he stared appreciatively. Sirius lay on the bed, his thin, lanky form not tense from anxiety yet, the small smile gave away his eagerness for the bonds. James had originally opted to use sashes from their robes, not even considering the possibility that Sirius might have ropes in his bedroom. Now, that assumption seemed foolish, and James mentally shrugged, just going along with the idea.

James took a deep breath to calm himself and move through this slowly in order to prolong it. He reached out with one finger and touched Sirius' hip, sliding down his body to the inside of his leg, feather light until he reached the tender instep. The skin was responsive there, and James kissed it, chuckling as Sirius tried to involuntarily pull his foot away. James held on to it, wrapping the rope around Sirius's ankle then to the bedpost, before moving to the next limb. The twinkling fairy lights from the next room were on, playing across Sirius' skin strangely as James watched.

He looked at the narrow foot and five long toes and sucked the largest into his mouth, his tongue swirling around it, the tip teasing the tender folds of skin between the pad and the top of the toe. This time Sirius didn't flinch and James pulled his foot higher, extending the leg as far as possible. He licked between the toes once again, nipping the skin. Sirius flinched again and James grinned, lashing the second foot tighter than the first.

He refused to speak; actually, he couldn't, since Sirius had bet that James couldn't remain quiet through all of this. James walked around the bed, touching Sirius at all times. Sirius watched him, his eyes narrowing with appreciation at the tight ropes, calm expression changing minutely, until James recognised the lustful looks.

It would be harder to make Sirius flinch this time: his hands were not very sensitive. Kisses to the inside of his wrist did nothing, and Sirius raised an eyebrow at James. The cocky bastard. Was he so sure that nothing would work? Grinning as he stood above him, James fiddled with Sirius' fingers, massaging them one at a time with fingers and tongue. He rubbed each finger, swirling his tongue around the tips until Sirius sighed. He was allowed to do that per their current game rules; he just wasn't allowed to pull away.

However, James had all afternoon to finish this. The massage was meant to calm Sirius, to make him relax and, just as Sirius closed his eyes, James swept in and slid his tongue quickly across the tender skin between thumb and index finger.

He reacted, barely enough for James to claim victory, but he tied Sirius' hand firmly. Sirius, his pupils dilated, lips pressed tight together, frowned as James secured his third limb to the bed. For all that he trusted James, he didn't like being out of control.

The last one would be harder to manage. Sirius wouldn't fall for another trick. Hell, James was sure that Sirius hadn't expected him to get this far with the game. He seldom gave up total control - probably hadn't for years.

James had a strong impression concerning what Sirius found attractive - namely himself. Instead of walking around the bed, James sat on the edge, untying his robe. He let the plush material fall off his body, making Sirius' polite smile widen into something real, unguarded.

He held the end of the sash in each hand and slid the taunt fabric across Sirius' chest, sawing it back and forth, teasing nipples with the thin edge of the soft material. James wrapped it around Sirius' legs and beneath his balls, using barely enough friction to let him feel more than a whisper of air against skin.

Even though his last hand was free, Sirius didn't move it or try to discourage James. Not even when James shifted onto his hands and knees, hovering above Sirius, the sash still slack in his hands. Until he raised it to Sirius' eyes and covered them. That made him flinch and Sirius moved his free hand, clutching at the cloth until James whispered a spell and bound his wrist, pulling it tight.

However, if he had been expecting James to uncover his eyes, Sirius was mistaken. The rest of the items James wanted to use had been tucked away until Sirius couldn't see them. It was unfamiliar ground now, and James hesitated, not sure where to begin. He was the inexperienced one with this kind of play. Even so, watching Sirius react was what James needed. Sirius' breathing had sped up and he was turning his head side to side, as if trying to figure out what James did by sound alone. His reactions convinced James he was doing this correctly.

He had two more items to add to this game, a feathered quill and a small pot. Without touching Sirius, James moved to the side of the bed, the mattress tipping slightly and Sirius turned toward him, frowning until James reached out and slid his fingers beneath his side. The frown didn't so much fade as relax, as if assured by touch alone. So where to begin with the feather? Sirius had very few sensitive spots on his body, yet James decided to find as many as possible: the toes, the loose skin between the fingers, under his arms, a spot or two on his sides. Months of exploration had presented James with that knowledge already.

Not removing his left hand, James touched the palm of Sirius' hand with the feather, barely enough to be felt. He moved it from hand to wrist, sliding up the tender inside of his forearm. He remained silent, but James had expected that. He gave no sign until he squeezed his hand, gripping the ropes that bound him. Even so, the feather wasn't what James wanted to tease him with. Not today.

He set the small container in the middle of Sirius' chest and James could see the confusion at first - Sirius was obviously unsure what that was, until James dipped the pointed end of the quill into it and moved again, droplets of ink splattering across Sirius' chest. James began with the right shoulder, drawing nonsensical patterns at first, just to watch the black ink glide onto skin, dripping across pointed collarbone, rolling across his perfect chest. James let it run, watching it trail across his body.

He could tell Sirius was concentrating when he tilted his head toward James. Continuing, ink dribbling from his thin fingers, James dipped the quill again, daring to create symbols across Sirius' chest, above the heart. Ancient words speaking of things they never mentioned, words felt by James, but not shared. Sprigs of rosemary across the chest, rings encircling his nipples, and sketches of jasmine covering the navel.

Symbols of fidelity, wordless reminders of emotions. His thumbs swept across the pictures before the ink could dry. Sirius wiggled beneath him, feeling James tease him with wet ink, dry fingers, soft touches and the occasional touch of a feather.

Sirius moved sharply, as if frustrated with the ties and irritated that his eyes were covered. James knew his friend well enough to know that he wanted to see what was being drawn. Worse than being out of control, Sirius hated not knowing what was happening. The ink was teasing, gliding across his skin, followed by swipes of fingers and James nibbling on him. He was so hard and James, lying across his torso, couldn't help moving, brushing against Sirius' cock. It was a struggle to remain quiet, not to break the silence of the game.

Except that Sirius wasn't helpless. He pushed his hips up, wiggling beneath James, who was burning with the need to sink onto that cock.

Strokes of quill and thumbs across his body made Sirius' skin pebble, followed by breaths of air, the occasional quick intake as James finished another picture. Which led to words, simple things such as mine, words with so much meaning. James bit his lip, hesitating – wanting – to write other words, but he refused to give into that temptation.

He could easily form the letters, but to what end? His hands trembling, he made the first letter. L was so simple, then he paused, lingering over the other letters, unable to write the word, unable to give in to it. Groaning, he threw the quill across the room, unable to complete it. Dipping one finger into the almost empty pot, he quickly concealed the letter in a smear of ink, shifting his body up above Sirius, angling himself to sink as fast as possible onto his cock.

The best way to forget such weakness was to distract both of them.

~ * ~

Such need and Sirius couldn't wait to push, to bury his cock all the way inside James. But he waited, will overruling a temporary desire to claim. Besides, James seemed to have given up; he was the one to end the foreplay, after all. He shook his head, trying to dislodge the blindfold. Seconds later, Sirius smelled the ink as James slid damp fingers across his face, shoving the blindfold away. He glanced down, his chest nothing but pale skin streaked with black ink.

His hands and feet might be tied, but Sirius pushed up, furious that he couldn't comprehend the ruined… whatever James had drawn. Symbols? Words? Pictures?

So much heat and James looked so guilty as he cried out with need as he slid down Sirius cock, enveloping it. Snarling, Sirius whispered the necessary words to untie himself and grabbed James's hips, flipping them over. Too quickly, too hard, and James grunted as he was slammed onto his back.

Sirius pulled almost the whole way out and glanced down. He wouldn't verbally ask what had been drawn, but he could ask in other ways. Angling his hips, he shoved hard and fast, the friction burning yet satisfying.

He wanted to know, he needed to know, but wouldn't ask. James would have to volunteer the information… or else.

Yet he remained silent, biting his lip. Sirius pushed James' hands above his head, whispering words to tie them to the corners of the bed. Then he moved, pulling out again. Tell me, he thought as he thrust inside one more time.

Tell me. Tell me. A litany silently repeated several times. He moved fast, enjoying James' grunts of pleasure and pain below him. Then, before he realized what happened, Sirius was gasping with orgasm, James still hard.

And still, James remained silent, his lip bleeding because he bit it so hard. Was he that desperate to not share?

Apparently.

So be it then. Happy Christmas, Sirius thought.

Sirius pulled out, his breath slowing, returning to normal. He shifted backwards onto his knees, staring at James's hard, purple cock, then shook his head, angry. Let James take care of it – once he was free. Sliding backwards, he left the bed; leaving James tied to it with his silence.