ceria (ceria) wrote in king_prewett, @ 2007-08-15 15:22:00 |
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Entry tags: | kg_vignette |
Title: The Box in the Attic
Authors: lee_west and ceria
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Gideon/Kingsley
Summary: A turning point in the lives of Gideon and Kingsley
Disclaimer: We don’t own the boys at all; if we did, their story would have a happy ending. Nor do we have any boxes in the attic.
A/N: Written for the AWDT prompt: Take the last full sentence on page 30 of a book (The sentence is "Drawing the box across the table, he untied the string and lifted off the lid." From "Avalon" by Stephen Lawhead, it's book six of his King Arthur series. The male mentioned is James, who is King Arthur reborn in modern England.)
The index of stories
Moving was harder than Kingsley thought. First he had spent a long time sorting through stuff in his bedroom, separating everything into three piles: one was destined to the Auror Charity Army – these were things that Kingsley had definitely outgrown, such as toys, youth books and Hogwarts uniforms.
A smaller pile held the items he'd need eventually, but didn't have the space for right now. They'd stay in his room for a while, things he wasn't ready to dispose of yet: clothes he liked, but didn't wear often. He wouldn't have much space in the shared closet and was judicious in deciding which ones he liked best. Some old records also stayed behind, until such a day when they moved to a bigger place.
The third pile, the largest, included the things he would take to Gideon's flat. Listening to a Muggle tune, Kingsley waved his wand at each item, making them fit inside the big boxes he was filling slowly.
It was a boring job, and he hated doing it alone. He was hoping that Gideon could help him, but it seemed that today's practice was running late.
His back to the door, singing, "She's leaving home, bye, bye," he didn't notice Gideon standing in the threshold.
Surprised that Kingsley was singing and not complaining yet, Gideon leaned on the doorframe and watched him. He assumed the large pile was going with them, but didn't know what the other two were for.
He still couldn't believe he'd asked Kingsley to move in with him. Even drunk, and he'd been very drunk on his birthday, he wasn't sure how he asked. Kingsley had teased him unmercifully the following day until Gideon worked out the details
Not that he minded. He wanted Kingsley there. He just hoped that they were done before Mac came home. Sneaking in, knowing that Kingsley couldn’t hear him over his singing, Gideon dropped a kiss on the side of his head and sat on the floor.
"Hello, Imp."
Kingsley started, but quickly turned his face and kissed Gideon on the mouth. "Well, hello, Lazybones. I thought you'd never come and help me. I have to finish here soon and check the attic. There may be some stuff there we can send to the Auror Charity, too. Might as well do a full clean up. I still have time," he said, glancing at the clock on the wall. He didn't have to tell Gideon that he wanted to have his belongings moved before his father came home. The older Shacklebolt hadn't been happy at all with the news that Kingsley was moving in with Gideon.
"We're still having trouble with the new Chaser – I miss Betthews. Victor asked Meg, Arrice and me to stay longer and help him," he said by way of explanation.
He stood up with Kingsley. They sooner they finished, the quicker they could leave. He Banished the large pile of boxes to his flat, and followed Kingsley to the attic.
The attic was full of old toys and books. Kingsley separated a few things that had a high sentimental value: a rocking horse, his first training broom and a Muggle tricycle. Those were things he couldn't give away. He planned to pass them on to Santini's children, since he probably wouldn't have any of his own.
It took the two of them a long time, but they finally had most of the attic contents packed into boxes that were Banished to the Auror Charity. Whatever was left was arranged neatly in a corner. Kingsley looked at the reminders of his very happy childhood with a little nostalgia and, before he got emotional, motioned Gideon to follow him downstairs.
"What about this, Kingsley?" Gideon asked, pointing at a box on top of an old dresser. "It has your name on the top."
Kingsley looked at the box quizzically. "I have no idea what this is. Let's take a look." Instinctively, he glanced at his watch. "Or maybe not. Erm…we should go. It's getting late."
"He's due home soon?" Gideon asked.
As Kingsley nodded, Gideon said, "Sounds good to me." It was ridiculous to be worried about Kingsley's father after the past year. Mac had known for some time what was going on between the two of them.
"Do you have anything else you need in your room?"
"Nope, all done. Let's take the box and check it out at the flat." With a playful grin that made him look almost too young to be leaving home, Kingsley pulled Gideon closer. He'd been licensed to Apparate for a year now, but he still liked to do it jointly with Gideon.
With a loud Crack!, Kingsley left home.
Gideon looked around his – their – flat, and grinned at Kingsley.
"Welcome home, love." Kissing him gently on the lips, he took the box out of his hands and carried it into the kitchen. Leaving the box on the table, he leaned against the counter and motioned Kingsley closer.
"It's nice to be home," Kingsley said, putting his arms around Gideon and nuzzling his neck. "It's nice to be with you." He sincerely thought so. He'd been surprised with Gideon's proposal to move in together; he knew that Gideon loved him, but living together was a serious step. Kingsley had hesitated only for a minute or so, before saying yes.
Telling his parents hadn't been easy: they knew about his relationship with Gideon, but he knew that his father expected him to eventually get married and have little Shacklebolts. His mother seemed to be more understanding of the situation, but that day he could see a little glint of sadness in her eyes.
He had stifled the emotion of today by putting all his effort into the packing. And now he was home.
Kingsley seemed nervous and Gideon wondered why. Wrapping his arms around him, Gideon was glad he had found the courage to ask. This felt right, like most things that involved Kingsley.
He moved them toward the table and set Kingsley in a chair. Sitting across from him, he grinned. Drawing the box across the table, he untied the string and lifted off the lid.
"May I look?"
Kingsley nodded. He was curious about the box; he'd never seen it before, at least as far as he could remember. "If it's something the Auror Charity can use, we can Banish the box straight from here." He leaned over to peek inside the box and let out a little surprised gasp when he saw the contents.
The first thing Gideon took out was a silver baby rattle engraved with Kingsley's name and August 15, 1960. Grinning, he said, "I believe I had one of these too. Did St. Mungo's give them to all parents?" The brief thought flashed through his mind that he'd never know from personal experience, but Gideon buried it. It wasn't as important to him as the man sitting there.
He set the rattle on the table, pulled out a tiny white dressing gown, and held it up. "This used to fit you?"
Kingsley laughed. "This was my christening gown. My grandmother made one for each of her grandchildren, apparently. Boys and girls, we all got one, all of them exactly alike. Merlin, it's so small. I've grown a lot, haven't I?" He motioned for Gideon to continue the exploration of the box.
He pulled out another outfit, only slightly larger with brown kangaroos hopping across it. Laughing, he handed it to Kingsley. "Transfigure these to boxers; you're wearing them tonight." At Kingsley's offended expression, Gideon shook his head.
He folded it into a square and set it on the christening gown. He pulled out a picture of Maura and Mac, and Gideon smiled to see such a happy, loving couple. Mac was standing behind her, hands on her shoulders, grinning goofily. Maura was turned to one side, hands rubbing her protruding stomach.
He showed it to Kingsley, "I think I’m taking this as armor next time we visit your parents."
"As armor?" Kingsley asked, puzzled.
"Yes," Gideon nodded, "So when your dad has to decide between AK'ing me and letting me live, I can show him this picture and ask him to tell me all about that day. It just might spare my life."
Kingsley grinned. "He won't AK you. He likes you, I told you. He just doesn't like you with me, but he'll get over it eventually." He sighed. "What else is there in this box for you to embarrass me with?"
"Embarrassing? Kingsley, your mum loves you; why else would she keep these things for so many years?" He didn't have to mention that his mum would never have done such a thing. He dug further into the box, and pulling out another picture, began laughing hysterically until Kingsley tried to grab it from him.
Pulling back quickly, Gideon said, "What will you give me in order to get this one?"
"Gimme, Gideon."
"Not without compensation."
"You're such a fucking Slytherin. What kind of compensation?"
"There's only one thing I want from you."
"Which is…"
"You."
"But my love, you have me."
"Do I have you? Any way I want you? "
"Any way. What do you have in mind?"
"It's more like what you're willing to do to keep this away from Moody."
"GIDEON! Don't do this to me. I'll do anything you want. I... I'll bottom tonight."
"You'll bottom tonight? Do you promise?"
"I said I would, didn't I? Now gimme the picture. I bet you're bluffing, you snake!"
"Not bluffing," Gideon said, handing him the picture.
"Oh, no!" Kingsley covered his face with his hands. It was one of the earliest pictures of him, having his first bath. Kingsley was naked, face twisted in what seemed sheer agony, mouth turned down, then opening in a silent wail, while a hand bathed him lovingly. "You're mean, Prewett. And a pervert – you would really go to Azkaban for ogling my wee bits." He laughed. "It seems that I really hated the experience, doesn't it?"
Laughing, Gideon pushed away from the table and stood up, walking behind Kingsley. He wrapped his arms around him and kissed the edge of his ear. "I really won't hold you to the bottoming."
Letting go, he turned around to pour two glasses of water. "Not tonight at least."