savage_storm (savage_storm) wrote in snark_n_bark, @ 2008-05-14 21:17:00 |
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Entry tags: | complete, remus, serenus, severus, tybalt |
Goddess on the mountain top
Characters: Severus, Serenus, Remus, Tybalt
Summary: Dinner, dancing, and cuddling. Just a typical family evening for a very atypical family
Tybalt hummed to himself as he put the finishing touches on the goulash, then nodded in satisfaction. He and Serenus were going to Snape Manor for dinner, and they'd agreed to bring the bread and main course, leaving salad and dessert to Remus and Severus. No children tonight, since Gaius and Ethelenda had taken the entire Snape brood over to Monkshood Cottage for a sleepover, and Tybalt had also tucked his portable CD player and a new CD of Latin dance music into the basket. Hopefully a good meal and a little dancing would help them all to relax and take their minds off the increasingly grim outlook for magic in Britain.
Of course, the national crisis wasn't the only one they hoped to help alleviate. Serenus had mentioned Severus' and Remus' current difficulties, and Tybalt hoped that they could help the other couple to unwind a bit. Tybalt had thought that Severus looked dead sexy as a woman, and he was saddened to think that Severus' self-confidence had been shaken.
"Ready?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder at Serenus with a smile. He wiped his hands on a towel, then moved to wrap his arms around Serenus from behind, pressing his lips to the back of Serenus' neck. "Mmmm... you smell better than the goulash."
Smiling, Serenus leaned back against Tybalt and tilted his head forward to accommodate the kiss. "I hope you find me more appetizing as well," he teased, resting his hands on Tybalt's arms and relaxing in the embrace.
"Of course... and even more delicious to savor on the palate." Tybalt chuckled as he nuzzled Serenus' neck. "Maybe when we get home, I'll have my real dessert."
Serenus shivered at the nuzzling, his smile widening. "You may even have it with whipped cream, if you like," he said, glancing up and back at Tybalt with banked heat in his eyes. "But for now, I suppose we had best go before the food gets cold or we get far too tempted to have dessert first."
"Yes, you're right," Tybalt replied, then sighed and tightened his grip on Serenus. "Besides, it wouldn't do to walk to on Remus and Severus looking sated, now would it? They'd probably think we were insensitive."
"Exactly." Serenus turned in Tybalt's arms and craned up for a light but lingering kiss. "No need to rub salt in the wounds," he murmured against Tybalt's lips. Then he stepped back with reluctance and reached for the bread, leaving the pot of goulash for Tybalt. "Ready when you are," he said, heading off to the parlor and hoping the Floo network was behaving itself.
"That would be mean," Tybalt agreed, scooping up the goulash with one hand and the basket with the other. He followed along in Serenus' wake, glad to see that the Floo did indeed appear to be working. "After you. If Severus is in a bad mood, he'll probably take seeing you first better."
Serenus chuckled as he reached for a pinch of Floo powder. "No doubt you're right." Without further ado, he tossed the powder onto the flames and hoped for the best as he was whisked away. Fortunately, the network deposited him at the right location, and he stepped out and looked around for any sign of Remus or Severia.
"We're here!" he called out as he moved further into the room, and after a moment, Severia walked in. He was pleased to see that she had indeed gone back to wearing women's clothes instead of her old robes, although the severe, concealing style of the dress and the tight bun she wore let him know she was still feeling the need for armor. "Hello, sister-dear," he said lightly as he went to greet her with a kiss. "You're looking well."
"Hmph!" Severia rolled her eyes, although she accepted the kiss.
Tybalt followed along in Serenus' wake, stumbling slightly as the Floo seemed to sputter a bit as it spat him out. "Oh, wow. Glad I made it in one piece," he said, checking to make certain the food had made it without spilling, before smiling at Severia. He gave a low pitched whistle of appreciation. "Just as gorgeous as I remember, Severia." He crossed to Severia's side, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Both of the Snapes look good enough to eat, but I suppose we'll have to make do with the goulash."
Severia scowled slightly to counterbalance the blush she felt stinging her cheeks, and she waved away the compliment. "Remus is in the kitchen," she said, changing the topic swiftly. "We may as well go ahead and take the food to the dining room since he's almost ready with the salad."
"Sounds like a plan," Serenus said, giving Tybalt an approving nod. He knew Severia would be difficult to convince, but he hoped hearing praise from other sources would help. "Shall we, then?"
"Let's." Tybalt grinned at the scowl, then turned and made his way toward the dining room. "I hope you're all hungry. This is my mother's recipe, and she'll be most disappointed if there are leftovers."
"I'm starved," Remus said, entering from the kitchen as the others came in from the other direction. He smiled in welcome. "Just in time, it seems. Sit everything on the table; we'll just do family style, if that's all right. No sense standing on ceremony with just the four of us."
Remus placed the big bowl of salad in the center of the table, then despite his words about informality, he turned to hold out Severia's chair. "After you, my darling," he said, his tone as gallant as it would have been had Severus been in pants instead of a dress.
Serenus put the loaf of bread on the table next to the salad and took his usual place at their table. "Family style is fine with me," he said. "I'd say none of us need to stand on ceremony with each other. This is definitely an... informal family," he added with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
Severia took her seat with a nod of thanks to Remus and turned her attention to slicing the bread. "That is one way of putting it," she said.
"That's the best kind of family, if you ask me," Tybalt said, taking his own usual seat after putting the goulash down near the salad. He kept the basket, though, reaching into it and pulling out an Italian red wine and an opener. "This is to go with the entree, but it's good with salad, too." Deftly opening the bottle, he filled his glass, then passed the bottle to Serenus.
"Definitely the best kind of family," Remus agreed. He began to serve up the salad. "I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."
"Neither would I," Serenus agreed as he accepted the bottle and filled his glass. "I love all of you, and I'm very glad we found each other." He glanced fondly at Tybalt. "And that we were stubborn enough to stay together."
Severia took the bottle from Serenus and filled her glass. "If you keep up this soppy nonsense, I will lose my appetite," she said as she passed the bottle to Remus.
"Now we wouldn't want that, would we?" Remus said, taking the bottle from Severia with an affectionate smile. "You're chic-ly thin already, and we wouldn't want you to take it to extremes!"
"Definitely not," Tybalt agreed. He raised a brow at Severia, his gaze appreciative. "You're perfect as you are, male or female. I never would have believed that my Potions Master would be so sexy as a woman. Of course, I always knew you were sexy as a man."
Severia ducked her head shyly and glanced at Tybalt from beneath lowered lashes, wondering if Serenus had put him up to pouring on the flattery after their talk. "I suppose," she said neutrally.
"Snapes are always dead sexy," Serenus said serenely, taking a sip of his wine. "It doesn't matter what form they're in."
"Exactly," Remus agreed, lifting his glass in a toast. "Tybalt and I are the luckiest men in the world to have our Snapes. I wouldn't trade Severus - or Severia - for anyone else in the universe."
"Here, here," Tybalt said, raising his glass and touching it to Remus'. "Serenus is my world... but I certainly am appreciative that we get to play together from time to time. Double the Snapes, double the fun!"
"And I, for one, am happy to play with a big, sexy Auror and a frisky werewolf," Serenus said, lifting his glass as well. "I love being in such a generous family that believes in sharing," he added with a wicked smile.
"Could we talk about something other than playing and sharing?" Severia grumbled, focusing on serving herself some salad. "Surely there are other topics. I would rather hear babbling about whatever new great wonder the twins have performed, if it comes right down to it."
"Oh, if we must," Tybalt said, but he gave Severia another slow smile and lingering glance. "You really do look fantastic, though, Severia. I just thought you should know because I wouldn't hesitate to tell Severus the exact same thing. But all right, our young prodigies seem to have taken to completing each other's pidgin sentences from time to time, which is certainly not unexpected in twins."
"Have they? That's cute," Remus said, buttering a slice of bread and taking a bite. "Cymbeline did all Lysander's talking for quite some time."
"I remember that," Serenus said, smiling at the memories of Cymbeline and Lysander's cute interactions. "They were adorable. He still isn't very talkative, I notice. What about Gaia? Does either Cymbeline or Lysander try to talk for her?"
"No, she speaks for herself," Severia replied. "She has even taken to calling me 'mama'."
"Rather insistently," Remus chimed in, suppressing a chuckle although his eyes sparkled with amusement. "She has an odd way of her Snape coming out, but then again all the children seem to manifest the Snape temper in their own unique way, don't they?"
"I'll say." Tybalt nodded. "It may be subtle, but it's there, even in Serafino." Finished with his salad, he put the bowl aside, and reached for the pot. "Who else is ready for goulash?"
Serenus held out his plate, a haughty tilt to his chin and amusement in his eyes. "You may serve me," he said loftily. He glanced at Severia and winked. "What are doting partners for if not to cater to our every need and whim?"
"Someone is obviously spoiled," Severia retorted tartly.
"Pot, cauldron," Remus laughed, scooping up Severia's plate and beating Tybalt to the pot. "Sorry, werewolf reflexes haven't been affected by the magical problems." He ladled up a generous portion and placed the plate back in front of his mate, bowing low. "Let it not be said that I don't spoil you as much as Tybalt spoils Serenus."
"Unfair," Tybalt protested, waggling a finger at Remus. "Don't think I'm going to hold back at dessert, then, my furry friend. Serenus will get the first... whatever it is we're having." He picked up the serving spoon and dished up Serenus' helping. "Sorry, love. I'll get him next time."
"Yeah, yeah," Remus said, waving a hand. "We'll see."
"Speed isn't everything," Serenus said, accepting the plate from Tybalt with a warm smile. "There's something to be said for size and endurance as well."
"Remus has excellent endurance," Severia replied, and then she pressed her lips together in an annoyed grimace at having let the words escape. She was trying to avoid all thought and discussion of sex, not encourage it, but old habits were hard to break.
"That's my love," Remus said lightly, leaning down to kiss Severia's prim lips. "That's the first spontaneous thing you've said in ages. Don't repress it, love, all right?"
Blushing again, Severia folded her arms and tried to ignore the warm tingle of her lips in the wake of the kiss. She appreciated the sentiment, but she didn't see the point in being "spontaneous" like this when it was a dead end road. She didn't want to be responsible for the evening taking a downward turn, however, and so she nodded tersely.
Remus served up his own portion, repressing a sigh at the way Severus - Severia - had withdrawn so quickly. If only Serenus could fix him the way that... "Oh, Merlin, I'm an idiot," Remus said, smacking his forehead as he sank down into his seat. He looked at Serenus with wide eyes. "You were telling me about being able to transmute the Dark Mark for Severus and Regulus, and I remember you did a healing ritual for Harry, and even for yourself, right? Why in the world didn't this occur to me before? You could fix my problem, couldn't you, Serenus? This idiotic phobia of mine, I mean!"
Serenus blinked, startled by the sudden change of topic, but he nodded. "It's possible, yes," he said. "The cleansing ritual might help you let go of your deep-rooted fears as it helped me let go of mine. There's only one problem."
Remus felt a swift surge of triumph, turning to look at Severia with eyes shining with hope. "Problem, what problem could there be?" he asked, turning his attention back to Serenus. He felt like his grin would split his face. "You can cleanse me, and I won't have this idiotic irrational fear, and Severus - Severia - won't have to worry about anything any more!"
Serenus gazed at him regretfully, hating to be the bearer of bad news. "The problem is that it's a serious undertaking, and just like with removing the Dark Mark, I don't have enough power right now to manage it, especially not with the risk that this ritual entails. Harry went on spiritual walk-about thanks to this ritual, if you remember. I need to be at my best, magically speaking, to do this for you. I would do it gladly if both you and Severia understand and are willing to take the risk, but I can't while my magic is so depleted."
"Oh. Right." Remus slumped back in his chair, the wind taken out of his metaphoric sails. "This stupid loss of magic is getting out of hand," he said, genuine anger in his tone. "I swear, I'm tempted to take the family and move lock, stock, and cauldron to Italy, or Albania, or anywhere else. Why England? Why us? Why now, for Merlin's sake? This is our home and I don't want to leave it, but the alternative..."
Tybalt sighed, aching for both Remus and Severia. "I don't know... the Ministry hasn't got a clue, and nothing seems to make any sense," he said, shaking his head glumly. "We're trying, I swear we are, the Ministry is as anxious to get this solved as we are, but nothing pans out." Reaching out, he touched Severia, who was closer to him, lightly on the shoulder. "I know you've been affected more than any of us, and quite directly. Just know that if I could fix this just for you, I'd do it in a heartbeat. You deserve to be happy."
Severia reached up and touched Tybalt's hand lightly in return. "The Order is trying its best to find an answer as well," she said. "I haven't given up hope that this is a problem that will be solved, although I cannot help but wish it would be sooner rather than later."
Serenus reached out and clasped Remus' hand, offering a reassuring squeeze. "Surely with so many keen minds focused on finding an answer, one will be forthcoming soon. In the meantime, we'll do what we can for each other."
"Thank you." Remus smiled, then ran a hand through his hair, drawing in a deep breath. "Well, that went South rather quickly, didn't it? Sorry, I didn't mean to turn the dinner conversation so dramatic. Although I would appreciate your help, Serenus, no matter whether this gets fixed quickly or not."
"Maybe we should all take a long vacation when it's over," Tybalt agreed, his smile becoming mischievous. "Another trip to the beach, perhaps? With or without children."
"That's an excellent idea," Serenus replied, nodding encouragingly. "I think we'll all be ready for a get-away at that point."
"I agree. A holiday would be welcome after all the recent unpleasantness," Severia said. "Assuming, of course, that the matter is resolved quickly, and we don't end up in the midst of another war."
"Well, we'll hope for the best," Serenus said mildly, tucking into his goulash.
"That's about all we can do, I guess." Remus decided to follow Serenus' example, picking up his fork and beginning to eat. "This is very good, Tybalt. Your mother must be an incredible cook."
"She's very good, yes," Tybalt replied, taking a bite of his own. "Perhaps a bit too much paprika, but that's me. I like it spicy." He glanced at Serenus, a wicked light in his blue eyes. "I like a lot of things spicy, come to think of it."
Severia gave an unlady-like snort and rolled her eyes, and Serenus grinned unrepentantly. "As I can easily attest," he said. "Those big blue eyes only make Tybalt look sweet and innocent, but he's quite spicy himself, the naughty boy."
Tybalt batted his eyelashes and blew a kiss to Serenus while Remus echoed Severia's snort. "Yes, well, I think we can say that I got the spiciest Snape, while Tybalt got milder one. Not that there's anything wrong with that," Remus hastened to add, with an affectionate smile at Serenus. "Variety is the spice of life, as they say, no pun intended." Remus grinned wolfishly at Severia.
"Too bad Gaius isn't here," Serenus remarked. "We could find out where he rates on the spiciness scale."
Severia gave another snort at that and turned her attention to her food. The conversation turned to more general topics as they ate, and the food gradually disappeared. Soon, they had cleaned their plates, and Serenus pushed back his chair with a satisfied sigh.
"I don't think I'm ready for dessert yet," he said, stretching languidly. "We should do something to help dinner settle before we dive into dessert, whatever it may be."
"I made dessert, so it's chocolate torte," Remus said, raising a brow at Severia. "So, love, do you want dessert, or do you want to go into the parlor for a while? We could sit and talk."
"Or we could dance," Tybalt said, rising to his feet and scooping up the basket he had left next to his chair. "I brought my CD player and a lovely new recording of Latin ballroom music. If you don't mind, that is... I figured I couldn't resist the chance to ask Severia to dance and actually get to lead."
Severia raised one eyebrow. "Just because I am female does not mean you can assume you will automatically get to lead."
"Give him a break for my sake," Serenus said, chuckling. "I don't let him lead as much as he would like, I think."
"I suppose I might as well," she said, pushing her chair back so she could rise to her feet as well. "I generally let Remus lead when we dance, so it isn't as if I am a stranger to the idea."
"Brilliant!" Tybalt said, then hurried toward the parlor. "I'll go get set up, then. If you don't mind, I'll move the furniture out of the way, too. There might not be magic, but like Remus' speed, my muscles are still there."
Remus chuckled as Tybalt hurried off, standing and holding the back of Severia's chair. "You go on," he told Severia and Serenus, waving a hand toward Tybalt's retreating back. "I'm just going to clear the table. Like the man said, not enough magic to go around, and scrubbing off dried food is definitely not fun." He craned up and kissed Severia's cheek. "I'll be in in a minute, and then I'm going to claim a dance from each of you - and I don't care who leads."
Serenus slid his arm across Severia's shoulders. "Shall we, then? If we hurry, we'll get to see Tybalt's muscles flexing and bulging while he moves the furniture."
"I'm sure you get to see that all the time," Severia replied, winding her arm around his waist in return.
"I do," Serenus agreed amiably. "But it never gets old."
With that, they headed off to the parlor to enjoy the sights.
Tybalt was in the process of setting up the CD player - battery operated - on a sideboard, and he smiled as the twins entered. "Stand back, I don't want to drop anything on a foot," he said, before proceeding to lift one end of the sofa, easily sliding it back toward the wall. He playfully flexed his biceps as he noticed them watching him. "Not bad for a near-squib, eh?"
It took him only a few minutes to move all the furniture back, leaving a nice space for dancing, enough for two couples at the same time. "There we are," he said, taking a deep breath and pushing his hair back out of his face. "Now, let's see... what would you prefer, Severia? A Tango? A Rumba? I think the Paso might need to wait until we're warmed up."
"If my vote counts for anything, I say a Rumba," Serenus said, giving Tybalt an appreciative once-over. "Slow and sexy."
Severia shot him an annoyed glare. "Slow, yes. Sexy is not on the menu."
Tybalt struck a pose, then hit the play button on the CD player. "Slow it is... sexy you just can't help, not looking the way you do," Tybalt said, holding out his arms to Severia with a wicked smile. "Let's dance now, shall we? You can show Serenus that you move just as well with those hips as your original equipment."
Severia moved into Tybalt's arms with a grimace and a sigh that made it clear how put-upon she was. "You put him up to this, didn't you?" she asked, glaring at Serenus again.
Holding up both hands in a gesture of surrender, Serenus shook his head and did his best to look innocent. "I had nothing to do with it. I can't help it if my husband has the hots for my twin, no matter whether male or female at any given time."
"You don't give me enough credit - or yourself, for that matter," Tybalt said quietly as he put his arms around Severus and lead him into a easy, swaying series of steps. "Like you and Serenus, I happen to not mind female parts at all, even if my preference is male. How can I not be fascinated and intrigued enough to look at my husband's twin - who has also been my lover upon occasion - in female form? Neither Serenus nor I have any real interest in cross dressing, much less in taking on actual female parts. And no, I don't mean I see you as some sort of experiment, either. You're a unique person, Severia, as a man or as a female. This is simply an aspect of you that is equally fascinating, albeit in a different way."
Severia felt another rush of heat in her face, and she repressed the urge to squirm at the complimentary words. "Thank you," she said gruffly, unsure of what else to say in response.
"You're charming when you blush - something that Severus doesn't seem to do much," Tybalt said, spinning Severia around and then dipping her back low over his arm. He held the pose, looking at Serenus with a grin. "I like your twin like this, and I'd like to see the two of you dance together, too."
"So would I," Remus chimed in from the doorway, watching as Tybalt danced with his mate. "Not that the two of you don't look wonderful together as well. It's so odd to see Severia with someone taller; she could even be in heels and she'd not top you... er. So to speak."
"But once she's back to normal, all bets are off when it comes to topping Tybalt," Serenus said with a grin.
Severia held on, although she didn't feel the need to cling; she could feel the strength in Tybalt's arms, and she didn't feel in danger of losing her balance or being dropped despite being held in a low dip. "Severus didn't blush much because he didn't feel the need to," she said tartly. "Things are a bit different now."
"It's very attractive," Tybalt replied, daring to pull Severia close enough to brush his nose against her warm, soft cheek. "You're stunning in either guise, the forceful man or the attractive, perhaps more uncertain woman." He straightened at last, and continued on with the slow, sensual Rumba. "And you can top me any way you like, now or then, or whenever." He winked. "Subject to Serenus' approval, of course."
"And mine - not that that's a problem," Remus added. He moved up to Serenus, holding out his arms. "Shall we join them? You can lead, if you'd like. It might be different, having a shorter partner for once."
"Indeed it will," Serenus replied, taking Remus into his arms gladly. He pulled Remus close and led him through the sultry steps of the dance. "But a very pleasant change," he added, patting Remus' arse playfully. It had been quite some time since he'd danced with anyone shorter, and he enjoyed experiencing it again.
Meanwhile, Severia began to relax a little, responding to the music and the moves of the dance despite herself; Tybalt wasn't Remus - wasn't the one man she wanted above all others - but they had been intimate more than once, and she wasn't immune to his words or proximity - and it did feel good to be held by someone she knew wouldn't be repelled or have limits on how close they got.
"Considering I already have once before, I rather doubt approval will be an issue," she murmured.
Remus moved with Serenus, enjoying the dance and the familiar feel of Serenus' body. Serenus wasn't Severus, of course, and Remus did feel a bit of a pang of longing for what he wanted so desperately and couldn't have, but he submerged it under a wry smile. "Very pleasant," he agreed, swaying his hips in playful exaggeration. "Let's not be outdone! We'll never live it down, you know."
Tybalt spun Severia around, then pulled her close and tight against his body, hands sliding down her curves and coming to rest on her hips as they moved together. "It definitely is nice to know that I can be naughty in my husband's presence and just get encouraged for it." His eyes darkened as he let his eyes travel downward. "And I can be even naughtier, if you like."
Severia drew in a startled breath, partly in surprise at the blatant caress and partly in pure sensual response to the touch. It had been so long, only a matter of weeks, she knew, but it felt like ages since she had been touched in a non-platonic manner. Her own eyes widened slightly as she gazed up at him. "What did you have in mind?" she asked, curiosity overruling her uncertainty.
Growling playfully, Serenus pulled Remus close and tight against him, cutting loose and moving sensually. "I can snark a bit, if you like," he teased.
Remus laughed and pressed against Serenus. "No snarking necessary, just be yourself," he replied. "After all, it's not like I can be taller or something. Except lying down." His eyes sparkled as he teased Serenus.
Meanwhile, Tybalt stopped dancing, looking down at Severia with a half-smile. "Well, let's start with this, shall we?" he asked, lifting a hand to Severia's hair and deftly removing the pins that held Severia's hair back in its severe bun. The heavy, dark mass of hair fell free around Severia's face, immediately making her look more feminine. "Hmm... better. But something's missing... your lips are too pale." With that, he pulled Severia closer, pressing his lips against hers firmly; he didn't seek to take too much of a liberty, in case Severia objected, but he left the invitation open in case she wanted to take it.
Startled to find herself being kissed, Severia froze at first, but only for a moment; instinct urged her to return the kiss, and she did, sliding her arms around Tybalt's neck and lifting up on her toes to close the height difference between them. Remus had kissed her, yes, but there was always a sense of apprehension attached, and this kiss was pleasantly unfettered by worry or fear.
"Is that better?" she asked when she pulled back at last.
Tybalt's eyes had closed, and he opened them at Severia's question, drawing in a deep breath and smiling as he took in the sight of Severia's rosy lips. "Oh, yes, definitely better," he replied, lifting a hand to caress Severia's cheek gently. "Almost perfect."
"Pfft!" Severia glanced away, but she didn't shy away from the touch. Perhaps she was touch-starved after going from feast to famine; perhaps the attention was acting as a soothing balm to her battered confidence. Whatever the case, she didn't feel inclined to pull away or push Tybalt away. Instead, she tilted her chin up. "Why almost?"
Tybalt chuckled, leaning down to whisper in Severia's ear. "That dress isn't low cut enough. You have feminine charms, and I'd love to see them."
Severia's dark eyes widened slightly, and she spent a moment gaping up at him, wondering if she dared acquiesce to his request. She glanced over at Remus, then back at Tybalt. "Should I change into something more suitable for a tango, then?" she asked, mustering her nerve to take a chance.
"Definitely!" Tybalt said enthusiastically. He run his hands down her body again, then patted her arse. "I can't wait to see what you come up with."
The caresses left her tingling pleasantly as Severia hurried upstairs to change clothes. It didn't take long to unbind her bosom and find a forest green dress with a lower bodice and a flared skirt that would allow freedom of movement while dancing, and she put on shoes with a higher heel. She paused long enough to fluff up her hair before returning to the parlor, and she paused in the doorway.
"How is this?" she asked, with only a trace of hesitation.
Remus had seen Severia leave, although he and Serenus had continued to dance. There had been no missing the flirtation between Severia and Tybalt, although Remus didn't mind it at all. He was glad, really, that Severia was unwinding enough under Tybalt's attention to allow more touches without flinching. He suppressed a sigh of self-loathing, wishing that he could be the one to help Severia enjoy the circumstances they were caught in, but glad that Serenus and Tybalt had stepped up and decided to help them both.
Then Severia entered the room again, looking drop dead gorgeous, and Remus' jaw dropped. "Gorgeous," he said, meaning it. He might not be able to touch female parts without an irrational response, but he could recognize that Severus - Severia - was as beautiful as a woman as Severus was handsome as a man.
"I second that opinion," Tybalt replied, his eyes wide with appreciation. He bowed, then held out his arms with a wicked smile. "And aren't I the lucky one, getting to dance with you?"
"Thank you," Severia said, addressing the words to both Remus and Tybalt, but she had a small smile for Remus alone. Relaxed by Tybalt's attentions, she could see past her own insecurities enough to recognize that Remus genuinely meant the compliment. He might not be able to touch her, but he could see her, and that was a soothing balm more potent than anything either Serenus or Tybalt could offer.
Emboldened, she returned to Tybalt's arms and gazed up at him with some of her old hauteur. "Shall we dance?"
"Yes, we shall. Are you two ready to be outdone?" Tybalt asked Remus and Serenus with a challenging tilt of his head. He had positioned the CD at the start of a tango during Severia's absence, and now he hit the play button, filling the room with music. Taking Severia in his arms, he lifted their twined hands and struck a pose. "Off we go!"
The dance wasn't fast, but Tybalt made the most of the dramatic cues of the music, lifting Severia by the waist during a spin and making her skirt flare out boldly. It was fun dancing like this, and he was glad to see Severia acting more like the diva she was rather than blushing and uncertain.
Remus was glad too, but he wasn't one to let a challenge go. "They're good... but let's show them what we've got," he said to Serenus, and held out his arms.
"By all means!" Serenus took Remus in his arms again and began leading Remus through the steps with lithe grace and dramatic flair, putting everything he'd learned in the ballroom dance lessons he and Tybalt had attended to good use. It was far easier to lead Remus, and Serenus enjoyed being able to spin and dip his partner without straining his arms, thus he threw in every trick he could while he had the opportunity.
"Show off," Severia muttered, but Serenus poked out his tongue saucily and continued to dance.
"You've nothing to fear, my lady," Tybalt said. He'd taken the same dance classes, after all, and he wasted no time in trying some of the trickier movements. Severus was lithe and willowy, so it was no difficulty to match Serenus movement for movement, until they were all breathing hard and sweating.
Remus grinned, up to the challenge, even if he wasn't quite as graceful or flexible as his mate. He batted his eyes at Serenus, following Serenus' sure lead. "If only I had a skirt. That really seems to add to the dance, doesn't it?"
"If you know how to work it," Serenus teased. "Although I'm sure you could borrow one of Severia's skirts if you wanted to try to compete with her hip action."
Severia snorted as she leaned against Tybalt for a moment to catch her breath. "Be my guest."
"Oh, I wouldn't try to steal her thunder," Remus replied, although the gracious words were really a cover for the fact that he, too, was panting. "I think we'll just declare a victory for all four of us, how about that?"
Tybalt put an arm around Severia's shoulders, urging her to relax and rest for a few minutes. "I think round one could be considered a draw on ability, with the style points going to us." He chuckled and brushed a kiss against Severia's temple. "Although I have an unfair advantage, since my partner really does look the part."
"All that was lacking was a rose between her teeth," Serenus agreed cheerfully, wrapping Remus in a loose embrace. "So do we swap partners for round two, or are you going to be greedy and keep Severia to yourself all night?"
"Lady's choice," Tybalt said, looking down at Severia. "Pick your partner for round two, my dear. I think the next song coming up is a Paso."
"I'll take Serenus," Severia said, patting Tybalt's chest lightly before moving away from him. "Let's see if two Snapes together can break the tie."
"If we can't, it won't be for lack of effort," Serenus replied, releasing Remus and holding out his hand to Severia. He waved cheekily to Tybalt. "Do try to keep up."
Tybalt stuck out his tongue at Serenus. "Let's see how you do, old man," he retorted playfully, before wrapping his arms around Remus. "All right, Mr. Lupin, shall we show them how it's done?"
"Let's." Remus agreed with a laugh, although personally he doubted his ability to keep up with Tybalt's exuberance. Sure enough, Tybalt struck a dramatic pose, practically bending Remus in half over his arm, before sweeping him off his feet into a dizzying whirl of turns, as though Remus really were nothing more than a cape and Tybalt the bullfighter wielding it.
Once they began to dance, Serenus and Severia fed on each other's intensity, the two of them perfectly matched in size and grace and having the additional benefit of being so attuned to each other that they seemed to move as one, sometimes seeming even to anticipate a turn or move. Serenus led her through a series of intricate footwork ending with a spinning lift, and he glanced over at Tybalt with no little smugness as they pulled off the move.
"Oh, yeah?" Not to be out done, Tybalt lifted Remus, although Remus wasn't as prepared for the move as Severia had been, and was also a bit heavier than Tybalt had been expecting. As a result, they stumbled, and fell to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs.
"Gah!" Remus yelped as he rolled out of the way when Tybalt's larger form came crashing down to the floor like a small tree. Tybalt lay there for a moment, stunned, breathing hard as he flushed in embarrassment.
Torn between laughter and concern, Serenus released Severia and went quickly to kneel by Tybalt's side. "Are you all right?" he asked, reaching out to caress Tybalt's flushed cheek. "You didn't hurt yourself, did you?"
Severia crouched beside Remus and peered at him with careful scrutiny. "What about you? Are you all right?"
"Only my pride," Tybalt huffed slightly, although he smiled as he wrapped his arms around Serenus and pulled him down on top of him. "There, that feels better!"
"I'm fine, just winded," Remus replied, lifting a hand to caress Severia's cheek. "Well, I guess we settled who are the best dancers, didn't we? Not that there was really any doubt in my mind anyway. You're magnificent, love, no matter what your physical form."
Chuckling, Serenus sprawled atop Tybalt and bent his head to brush a kiss to Tybalt's lips. "Poor darling," he said, although his sympathetic look quickly changed to wicked amusement. "That's what you get for calling me an old man, though. Justice is swift and merciless."
Severia took a risk and leaned into the caress, needing the contact with Remus more than safety at the moment. "Thank you," she murmured. "Although the two of you weren't bad. Well, until the clumsy bit at the end."
Tybalt groped Serenus' arse, not wanting to lose so tempting an opportunity. "Yes, well... I'll apologize if you promise to kiss it and make it better when we get home." He turned to look at Remus. "Sorry about that, Remus. Although I thought we had them going there for a bit."
"We did," Remus agreed. He stroked Severia's cheek, then urged her down so that he could kiss her lips gently. "Thanks for being concerned, my darling. Come on down and join the rest of us on the floor, unless you're worried about your dress. A cuddle pile isn't a bad thing, now, is it?"
"I don't care about the dress." Severia hesitated for a moment, but only a moment, and then she stretched out on her side and pillowed her head on Remus' shoulder, releasing a shuddery sigh.
Serenus wriggled against Tybalt's hand and grinned down at him. "I'll kiss whatever you like," he murmured, and then he rolled off so he could nestle against Tybalt's side, watching Remus and Severia with a pleased smile. Unless he was reading things wrong, it seemed as if some progress had been made, and he was glad he and Tybalt had been able to help.
Tybalt scooted so that Serenus was pressed against Remus. "Good... I have lots of things that need kissing," he replied, murmuring the words against Serenus' ear. "I'll give you a list when we're alone."
Remus stroked Severia's arm, pulling her close. "You smell good," he said, pressing another kiss to her lips. "Cuddling is very good, indeed."
"I promise I'll go through the entire list," Serenus replied, nuzzling Tybalt's cheek. He reached out and rested one hand on Remus' arm as well, happily nestled between the two of them.
Severia returned the kiss lightly and shifted closer to Remus, even daring to drape one arm across his chest; she rubbed her cheek against his shoulder, breathing in his warm, familiar scent, letting it comfort her. "I miss this," she whispered for his ears alone. I miss you.
"I'll make sure it's a long list." Tybalt chuckled, rubbing his hand along Serenus' hip. "This is comfortable," he said, more loudly. "We should do it more often."
"I miss this, too," Remus whispered back to Severia. He didn't know if it was the exercise, or the wine, or even Severia's own relaxed state, but he didn't feel any anxiety as he stroked Severia's back. "You feel great."
"I'm all in favor of more group cuddling," Serenus said as he relaxed. "Although perhaps not on the floor. We old men get achy backs," he added with a mock-reproachful look.
The feel of Remus' hand caressing her back was soothing, and Severia relaxed, feeling more at ease with Remus than she had since that ill-fated night they had attempted intimacy. But she wasn't going to push her luck and risk a repeat, and so she contented herself with nestling close against his side. "It feels good," she murmured, and then added in a louder voice, "I'm not fretting about my back."
"Fine, fine." Serenus pretended to pout and grumble. "I'll just have someone massage my poor back when the inevitable aches and pains set in. Maybe Remus will be kind enough to do it since it doesn't seem I'll get sympathy from any other quarter."
"Hey, you get sympathy from me!" Tybalt protested, then huffed and gave Serenus a firm kiss on the lips. "Unless you're getting so old you can't remember that!" His eyes sparkled and he prepared himself to duck a smack to the back of the head.
"I'm not fretting my back, either," Remus said, holding Severia close and tight. He really had missed this, more than he had let himself dwell upon, and he was loathe to give it up, even for the comfort of a mattress. Maybe that had been their problem, being in the bed; here on the floor, it didn't feel so much like a prelude to sex, even if they had shagged on the floor plenty of times. It seemed they were both relaxing nicely, and Remus wasn't about to disturb that for anything. "In fact, I think I could get used to this. It's rather soothing, once you get used to it."
Serenus lifted his head and gave Tybalt a blank, innocent look. "I'm sorry, who are you again? You're attractive, but I can't recall how I know you. My memory, you know. It gets worse and worse in my dotage."
Severia snorted and rolled her eyes at his foolishness, but she refrained from commenting; she was too comfortable, and she didn't want to shatter the fragile peace between her and Remus. "It is rather soothing," she said, patting Remus' chest gently. "I'm not inclined to move."
"I'm the one who's going to ravish you when we get home... and you're the one who promised to change all the diapers," Tybalt said, although he wasn't able to even keep a straight face as he did so. "Later, though. We have all the time in the world."
"We do... and nothing is more important than cuddling," Remus said. He pressed his lips to Severia's cheek, and closed his eyes; like this, it was almost as though things were back to normal, at least for a little while. It was only an illusion, perhaps, but one that he and Severia both needed.