Title: Acceptance Pairing: Bill/Remus Rated: NC-17 Word Count: 2,642 Kink: Sex in water Warnings: AU (not DH compliant) Notes: Many thanks to </a></font></strong></a>red_day_dawning & </a></font></strong></a>blpaintchart for the beta and brit pick. All remaining errors are mine. Written for hpvalensmut for nuuk.
Remus,
I do need to talk. Can you meet me at The Narwhal and Fig in Soho tonight at half eight?
Bill
Narwhal and Fig: Narwhal the moon whale - Bill hadn’t lost his sense of humour or perhaps it was his simply his penchant for irony. He’d sent an owl with the confirmation that they would meet this evening. Remus stopped for a beer at the bar before sliding into the booth near the back of the pub, sliding far enough across the bench so he could lean against the wall. He knew Bill had told Fleur he wanted a divorce, had told Arthur he was divorcing and then high-tailed it to Grimmauld Place where Harry was letting him stay.
Harry had been Remus’ informant; he’d been quite worried about Bill. Remus had met with Harry the day following Bill’s arrival. Harry had only been able to relay a small part of the story even though he’d told everything he knew. At eighteen, Harry didn’t know what to do, he’d told Remus Voldemort was one thing, but mucky interpersonal relationships including his own with Ginny were another. Remus had assured him that he would see if Bill needed anything, and had owled him the same day.
Remus ordered a drink and sat back. The pub was Muggle and the patrons appeared to be mainly tourists. An excellent choice really, as long as the alcohol was good. Remus spotted Bill’s ginger hair near the door, as Bill casually perused the room. Remus took a long look; the scars didn’t detract from Bill’s appearance. They were almost a matched set with claw marks on their faces, but Remus knew his mousy colouring could never compete with Bill’s more vibrant red hair and blue eyes.
Bill had spied Remus and waved stopping at the bar to pick up a drink then headed toward the booth. Remus slipped from the booth and enveloped Bill in a friendly hug. Bill leaned in for a moment and then they both stepped back and sat.
"Just a beer, Remus."
"You’re the one who probably needs something stronger."
"True, Mum sent me five howlers before I stopped accepting them."
"Molly is formidable."
"You got the last laugh on her though with Tonks."
Remus shook his head. "It wasn’t really for laughs, you know. She and her partner wanted a child; I provided the missing element and the beard. They wanted a family; I didn’t think it was wrong."
It was Bill’s turn to shake his head "But Tonks and Sinistra, who’d have thought it?"
Remus took a deep breath and steered the conversation back toward Bill. "Harry was worried."
"I know. I appreciate the place to stay, if it weren’t for work I’d have gone to stay with Charlie."
Remus could picture it: Bill flying a broom to Romania, no portkey or Apparating, battling or enjoying the elements all natural and a bit wild. Waxing poetic was not helping Bill. "Here’s the big question." Remus paused. "What happened?"
Bill leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Sighing before he spoke. "Charlie asked me when I told him I was engaged to Fleur." Sighing again, he opened his eyes and looked at Remus before starting again. "He asked me. He said he’d always assumed I was gay not bi. I had never been with a woman until Fleur. The question niggled at my brain, but I ignored it." Bill downed his drink and popped up. "I need another. Can I get you one?"
Remus nodded. Bill returned few minutes later with two drinks for himself and one for Remus.
Once Bill settled again Remus asked. "Charlie didn’t say anything else?"
"We really didn’t have a chance to talk again. He went back to Romania; the war was threatening to explode all around. I pushed it out of my mind and the momentum propelled us forward. She is Veela attractive, powerful and smart; I was taken in."
"Were you involved physically before you married?"
"Of course. It was like a whole new playground that I didn’t really understand, but she was very enthusiastic."
Remus couldn’t help but snort.
"Anyway, we get to the night before the wedding and there’s Charlie again asking if I’m sure. Just what I needed: my little brother questioning my judgment. I was nervous enough already. We had a bit of a row, and then he said nothing more about it." Bill swirled what was left in his glass and bolted it down. "I need more. You?"
"My turn." Remus got up.
Bill called after him. "I need at least two."
Remus set the drinks back onto the table and Bill started talking again.
"Why did I do it?" Bill lamented. "Why did I have to understand? Why couldn’t I just be happy?"
"Understand what? That you were gay?" Remus asked.
"That, I obviously knew even though it seems I had forgotten for a while. I couldn’t let go the fact that I did know that. I started to try to work out why I was with her." Bill pushed a hand through his hair. "I just had to work it out." Bill sighed.
"Of course you had to work it out. You like puzzles. You break curses. It’s what you do."
Bill grinned wryly. "Hadn’t thought about it that way, but that’s exactly it. Thank Merlin for that, at least there’s a reasonable explanation."
Remus had to ask, Dark Arts fiend that he was. "So what is it exactly? A curse? Something different?"
Bill acquired more drinks before he continued. "What I discovered about Veela’s is twofold. First, they exude a scent, it has qualities like a potion would, and they manipulate it toward their ‘prey’ for lack of a better word. If someone they are interested in isn’t responding they can actually change the chemistry to make themselves more attractive. The next part is actually closely related to an anathema, I don’t know of any other word and I couldn’t find any other research on it. But they cultivate their striking exteriors in a way that is are almost akin to a religion or maybe better stated a cult without all the outward trappings. I really don’t know the right words, but I don’t think they try to be malicious, manipulation is just their way." Bill shrugged.
"I have questions. Lots of questions, but first if you’ll excuse me I need to use the loo." Remus slipped from the booth.
"I could as well." Bill followed behind.
Remus strode to the last urinal. There were three other men already in the loo, the configuration didn’t’ allow for the usual one empty space between. Bill took the place next to him. Remus slipped himself out of his trousers and began to go. After a moment he could feel the weight of a pair of eyes on him, not unusually really: he was quite a bit more than a handful flaccid. He was a surprised when he looked up to see that it was Bill staring. Bill quickly looked away, but resumed his surreptitious perusal as soon as Remus turned away. The door slammed against the wall as one of the men left. Remus shrugged it off, tapped himself dry and tucked himself back in. The door banged again as the other two blokes exited. This place needed a doorstop for that door. Remus washed his hands while he waited for Bill to finish. Bill stepped to the sink next to him and washed his hands. Remus looked at Bill to see a flash of something in the other man’s eyes. Suddenly he was pinned to the wall, a pair of warm lips on his.
Remus considered pushing him away, but Bill’s firm warm body felt splendid against him. He surrendered himself momentarily to the kiss. Bill stroked Remus’ arm and hip, rocking against him slightly. Bill matched his tonguing of Remus’ mouth to the motion of his hips. With a deep sigh, Bill removed his mouth from Remus’ and tipped his head down to rest it on Remus’ shoulder.
"Sorry, mate. You just looked too bloody good."
Remus chuckled ruefully. "Bad lighting does that for me."
"I…"
"It’s fine, Bill. Let’s go back out and finish our conversation and drinks."
Remus asked questions about Bill’s Veela findings and the conversation continued. Bill drank more and more, and waxed poetic about Remus and his understanding, and then lamented his parents and soon to be ex-wife for not understanding. It was two in the morning before Bill decided he’d had enough, and Remus half carried, half dragged him to a place where they could Apparate from.
They arrived at Grimmauld Place; Remus levitated Bill to his room. He cast a cleansing charm, and then another to completely remove Bill’s clothing - Remus hated to sleep in clothes, even when he was drunk. He tucked the duvet over Bill, and went to take one of the other rooms for himself. He didn’t want Harry to have to deal with Bill alone if he woke up still drunk or completely maudlin.
Stripping and settling into bed, Remus stared at the ceiling. Bill had given him one hell of a kiss, his cock hardened at the thought. He could certainly use a good wank. He yawned instead and promised himself a nice long one in the shower in the morning.
Remus had just awoken when he heard a low groan from the next room. He should have thought to get a hangover potion out the night before. Throwing on his trousers, he was out of his room in a second. His shirt trailed as he stuffed his arms into the sleeves on the way down the stairs. Severus used to keep as stash of hangover potions in the kitchen; with luck there would still be a few left. He murmured the password and was presented with a few dozen different potions, including the one he sought. Grabbing it he bolted back up the stairs, Bill’s bedroom door was opened so Remus tried the loo.
Bill was standing, magnificently nude, gripping the sink and taking deep gasping breaths through his nose. Remus stepped over to him.
"Take this, it should help."
Bill grabbed the bottle and sucked down the potion. He gripped the sink again, and then relaxed. "Thanks, mate. Did you…..?" Bill drew his hand expressively from his shoulder to his hip.
"No touching, just a charm."
"Wish you’d done it." Bill muttered under his breath.
Remus drew a deep breath. Before he could speak Bill did again.
"I mean it." He reached a hand to Remus’ chest, the shirt still hung open and un-tucked. "Nice body, lovely hair and eyes, warm caring human being, it’s all here."
Remus had no time to blush or demurre before Bill kissed him, his lips hot and demanding and then backing off and nibbling Remus’ lower lip. Remus moved a hand up to Bill’s cheek and used the other to pull their hips together. Bill’s skin was taut and smooth under Remus’ hand. Bill varied his kisses until eventually pulling back and gasping for breath. Remus took advantage of that and grasped Bill’s hair, exposing his neck to Remus’ gaze. Looking at the white expanse for only a moment Remus’ dipped his head to lick, nuzzle and suck the juncture at Bill’s shoulder. Bill moaned, then stepped back so his arse met the sink. Remus kept his mouth pressed to Bill as he felt Bill’s long legs wrap around his hips.
"I don’t want to be fucked on Harry’s sink."
Remus took a deep breath, oh how he wanted this. "Bedroom?"
"Too far. The shower."
Remus straightened, pulling his shirt off. "You sure?"
Bill pressed against him, the head of his cock hitting Remus belly. "I’ve done this before."
Remus slid his hands under Bill’s arse and lifted him off the counter. Bill’s arms wrapped around Remus’ shoulders as his legs tightened on his hips. Remus walked them to the shower intertwined. It was only a few steps, but Remus wanted to fuck Bill standing against a wall, now. He touched Bill’s thigh to get him to release his grip.
Remus let Bill down gently and started to run the shower. He unzipped and dropped his trousers. Bill gasped as he stared at Remus’ hard cock.
"Merlin, that’s big Remus." He knelt down to see it face to face. "This is why I worship at the altar of cock." Bill’s tongue snaked out to lick Remus.
Remus pulled him up by the shoulders. "None of that now, you wanted to be fucked. We’ll start there." He growled.
They stepped into the shower. Remus tipped his head back and sighed. "I need to get lube."
"There’s soap or shampoo, either will do."
Remus looked, no but hair conditioner might. He pulled Bill against him for a kiss. Soon they were writhing against each other in the warm spray. Remus had had enough and gave Bill a last lengthy kiss before turning him to face the wall. Pouring the hair conditioner into his hand, he first ran his hand up and down Bill’s cleft. Bill whimpered and pushed back. Remus nipped Bill’s back from his shoulder down to his arse, biting hard once he reached a cheek.
Bill yelped. "Remus."
Remus made soothing noises while his fingers circled Bill’s pucker, finally pushing one finger slowly in. Bill pushed back hard.
"I’m not a virgin, you know."
Remus removed his finger and added more rinse, then slid two fingers in, silencing Bill for a moment. Easing his fingers in and out he waited the few moments Bill needed before pulling out and adding a third finger. With three fingers slipping into Bill, Remus began probing for his prostate. It was Bill’s turn to growl. "Now, Remus."
Remus didn’t need to be asked again. He slicked himself before pressing against Bill. Bill braced his forearms against the wall and pushed back. Remus pressed the head of his cock through the ring of muscle and gripped Bill’s hips to still him. Bill moaned. Remus didn’t want to wait another second. He slid himself all the way in. Bill groaned. "Oh, Merlin, Remus move."
Remus started pulling almost all the way out and sliding back in. Reaching around after a few strokes he grasped Bill’s cock and started stroking in time. The slower, deep pace didn’t last long. Remus was soon pounding into Bill fast and hard. They panted, writhed and moaned. Bill let go first, howling as he covered the tile with his creamy emission. Remus couldn’t hold himself through the rhythmic clenching of Bill’s arse and he bit Bill’s shoulder as he came hard.
Remus held Bill up by the waist, until he finally slipped out.
Bill whispered a hoarse "Thank you."
"No need to."
Remus rinsed them off and turned the taps off. He grabbed a towel off the rack and dried Bill, wrapping him in the dressing gown from the back of the door. Then he dried himself. Bill had his arms wrapped around himself when Remus straightened up.
Bill closed his eyes and sighed. "Uh, Remus. I.. we just… I don’t"
Remus held up a hand. "Don’t. We’re adults, we both enjoyed ourselves. Your life’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Straighten it out. We are still friends: if we choose to explore other possibilities later we can."
Bill nodded. "I have to tell you though, that was like an affirmation. I didn’t realize I needed to accept myself as myself again."
"That I can understand. I wouldn’t use that as a pick up line, however."
Bill looked at Remus, wounded.
Remus smiled a half smile. "I do understand. I hope this, and the talking helped."
Remus found himself in a tight embrace. There was no further need for Bill to speak.