A Little Fraternal Attention
Characters: Severus, Serenus, Gaius Summary: The Snape twins give their little brother some special attention
Looking around the newly decorated flat, Gaius thought that, perhaps, he just might make a go of his new career.
Around him, dark wood gleamed in the indirect light of hanging crystal lamps, the heavy furniture set off by thick velvet drapes of sapphire blue. The upholstery was a lush brocade that combined blues and greens in a rich, subtle texture, and there were lots of pillows, many of them with fancy embroidery, which begged to be lounged against. The walls were paneled in wood that complimented the furniture, while a variety of throw rugs in different jewel tones were spread around the floor to provide contrast.
All in all, he felt he'd done a good job, spending several hours changing colors, raising and lowering lamps and discarding knick-knacks. He'd spread about his personal belongings, although they were all things either from his years in Germany or given to him by his brothers. At the moment, he couldn't face looking at reminders of his time with Sirius, much less even consider taking anything from the room Sirius had provided for him back at Haven's Loft. He knew he'd have to make a decision about that sooner or later, but until Harry made a mention of it, Gaius was content to leave things where they were and focus on things with happier memories.
The flat above the shop wasn't huge, but he found it suited him quite well. Enough space to be comfortable but not enough for him to feel like he was rattling about in a place too big and empty. It also meant that he could walk out his door and be in the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley, offering him a distraction and the illusion of companionship without demanding much from him in return. He'd not yet started on the section of the shop the twins had turned over to him for his use, but he intended to start in on that the following day; tonight, his brothers were coming to visit and to see what he'd done, and he hoped they'd find it appealing and not wish they'd never asked him to join in the business.
Since he'd been busy with decorating, he'd arranged for Chinese take-away, but instead of being served out of silly paper boxes, he'd transformed plain white china into a set of dishes personalized to each of his family. Severus' were deep emerald green with a pattern of intertwined snakes, while those for Serenus were deep crimson with alchemical symbols done in their proper colors around the rim. His own were blue, plain but elegant, and all three sets had flatware and of course chopsticks to match. He planned to continue the theme for everyone else in the family, but for tonight, these three would do to represent his idea.
Leaving the parlor, Gaius made his way to the kitchen to check the warming and cooling charms on the food, waiting anxiously for his brothers to arrive.
Severus had gone to Azoth House to meet Serenus and go to the shop together, and once there, Serenus had hit him up with the idea of creating a sort of day care area at the shop.
"It isn't that I don't enjoy staying at home, but with Gaius coming in to the business, I think it would help if we were here more often until he gets settled and feels comfortable, and I don't want to leave the twins with Ethelenda every day. I want to be with them myself," Serenus explained. "Also, Calliope has been making noises about wanting to start a family, so if she decides to get pregnant, she won't have to choose between her baby and her job. She can bring the baby to work with her if she still wants to work."
"It's a sensible notion," Severus agreed, pleased that Serenus had come up with such a logical idea, but then Serenus had to go and ruin it by adding that he also missed seeing Severus on a regular basis like they had when they worked together, to which Severus had to roll his eyes and give a "hmph!"
They took the Floo to the shop, then went upstairs to the flat through the inner rather than exterior stairs, and Severus knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Gaius called out, wiping his hands on a dish towel and then heading back into the parlor. He'd put up wards on the door to admit certain people and stop everyone else, so he felt safe enough making the invitation.
Serenus opened the door and stepped inside, glancing around, wondering how much he would recognize from his days of living in this flat, but with Gaius' decor, it looked like a completely different place. "I'm amazed!" he said, smiling encouragingly at Gaius. "I don't even recognize the place, and I used to live here! I really like what you've done."
"It does look passable," Severus said as he too looked around. "Perhaps our faith in your talent hasn't been misplaced," he added, and Serenus smacked his arm.
"Ignore him," Serenus said as he went to enfold Gaius in a warm embrace and kiss his cheek. "It looks great, and neither of us have any doubts about your abilities."
"Thank you!" Gaius gave a sigh of relief as he returned Serenus' hug, feeling a little surge of pride. Severus loved him, he knew, but he was quite well aware that if Severus thought the place looked horrible, he would have said so. "I have to admit I went for what I like, since I'm living here, and it might be a bit bigger of a challenge to decorate for someone who wants colors or styles I can't stand. But as I worked on this, I found myself getting many more ideas, so that's a good thing." He laid his forehead against Serenus'. "I appreciate this chance. I was worried about finding something to do that I would enjoy, and this is definitely providing me with a positive outlet for my energies."
"Good." Serenus leaned against Gaius in returned and tightened his arms around him, smiling. "I'm glad. That's what you need right now."
"What sort of ideas have you had?" Severus asked, moving to join them. He held out his arms and cleared his throat loudly.
"We're being hinted at." Serenus chuckled and reached out with one arm to draw Severus closer.
With a laugh, Gaius wrapped one arm around Severus, pulling him in as well so that the three of them stood in a comfortable huddle. He turned his head to kiss Severus' cheek, then nuzzled his nose against Severus' skin playfully. "One of my ideas you'll see when we eat, which can be any time; it's all ready," he replied. "As for others... well, I'm working on an idea for a chandelier that will change colors to suit various moods, and incorporates some of the Alchemy and Ecstasy scents to enhance the effects. What do you think? Would there be any interest?"
"For mood lighting? I think there would be, especially if you made the fixtures available in various styles," Serenus said, nodding his approval of the idea. "I think that would work very well with Severus' Loup Noir line, don't you, Severus?"
"I believe we could collaborate on that," Severus replied. "I don't think it would be too difficult to do at all."
"Good! I'd been toying with the idea for it as I worked on the lamps for this room," Gaius said, incredibly pleased that they both liked his idea. "Come into the dining room, and I'll serve dinner, and you can see a couple of the other ideas I'm tossing about."
He led the way into the small alcove that served as the dining area, though it was a rather pretentious title for something that was mostly an extension of the parlor. The color scheme echoed the larger room, and Gaius had already set the table with the special dishes. He smiled as he waved them toward it. "I don't think you'll have any trouble finding your seats. I've ordered Chinese food from Severus' favorite restaurant - and yes, egg drop soup, I wouldn't forget that! We can have tea with the meal, but I have something stronger to drink after, if you'd like it." He took his own place, then waved his wand to summon the prepared dishes from the kitchen. "I assume family style is acceptable?"
"Of course! No need for formality among ourselves," Serenus replied, and then he caught sight of the dishes, and he hurried to get a closer look at what was obvious his set, exclaiming in delight over the customized dinnerware. "This is brilliant! Look, Severus! You've got a set, too."
Severus examined the green and silver dinnerware, his eyebrows climbing, and when he glanced up at Gaius, there was a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I approve," he said.
Gaius flushed, pleased at their reactions. "It was a fairly easy transfiguration, really, but I thought that it might be more special than matched place settings. I want to do ones for Remus and Tybalt, and of course the children. I know that a lot of people want the whole identical set thing, but I wonder if there aren't others who'd rather have things that suited the people using them instead." He didn't mention that he'd already had inspiration for a set for Regulus, should his friend ever come to visit. "I thought I could set a day in the shop each week where I could make them up custom to people's specifications. You know... you both are going to have to help me on pricing things. I've not a clue about what I should charge for anything!"
"We'll come up with something," Serenus assured him. "Right now, we'll focus on developing products and stocking up. Then we'll worry about pricing." He took a seat at the table, gazing at his plate admiringly. "I really think you're on the right track with your ideas," he said. "You're developing things that are useful but unique, and that's what people like, especially the people who shop here."
"Your skills complement ours quite well," Severus added as he too sat down. "Potions, Transfiguration, and Alchemy are similar branches of study, so I believe it will be quite easy to integrate your products with ours."
"It's surprising, but it seems so," Gaius replied, lowering the levitating serving dishes to the table. "I'm glad it looks so promising; it wouldn't make for happy family relations if you'd suddenly realized I was hopeless, right?" He smiled at the two of them, gesturing to the food. "Help yourselves. I think I remembered everyone's favorites, and if not, I can call for more. I want both of you to have exactly what you want, in gratitude for all you've done for me."
Severus glanced at Gaius archly, one haughty eyebrow raised but a wicked gleam in his dark eyes. "That is a dangerous thing to say," he said, a hint of a purr in his voice.
After their last visit with Gaius, he had discussed with Remus the possibility of playing with Gaius the way he played with Serenus, and Remus had given him permission to expand their play group. As it turned out, Serenus had discussed it with Tybalt too, so they were both free to play - if Gaius was interested, of course.
"Indeed," Serenus agreed, the same wicked gleam in his own eyes as he began to serve himself. "We might have a taste for something different."
Gaius stopped in the middle of dishing up Kung Pao Chicken, tilting his head as he looked between the two of them. He heard the tone of Severus' voice and saw the look in Serenus' eyes, but then he smiled. They were teasing him, since he now knew about their little escapades. A little tingle of awareness ran down his spine, but he dismissed it, not wanting to presume too much. "Well, I've some leftover pizza in the cold box, if that suits you better," he replied with a disingenuous smile. "There's also the almond biscuits I got for afters, but I suppose if you want those, you could have them now."
Severus gave a little snort, but he turned his attention to serving himself rather than pressing the issue. There would be time to test the waters after dinner, when they had satisfied one hunger before seeing about satisfying another. Serenus exchanged a secretive smile with Severus, not needing their bond to divine the direction of Severus' thoughts, especially since he shared them.
"This will do," Severus said loftily. "For now. You chose well."
"Yes, you did," Serenus agreed. "Thank you, Gaius. You thought of everything!"
"I hope so!" Gaius was pleased that he'd done well; after feeling as though he was royally screwing up everything he touched, it was a relief to know he'd managed to get at least a few things right. He dug into the chicken, surprised to find himself genuinely hungry for the first time since returning to human form. "I'll be ready to start in the shop tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it very much. Oh, I meant to say that I do have some savings to use to invest in my initial stock. And if either of you is about to protest that I don't have to, you can forget it. If I'm going to be part of this with you, I insist on investing my own money in the venture. Fair is fair, even among family!"
"All right," Serenus agreed amiably as he tucked in to his food. "If you want to invest, I don't have any objections. Severus and I both contributed equally to the start-up costs when we opened the shop, so it's only fair that you chip in."
As the one who handled the financial end of things, he knew they didn't really need the contribution in order to help Gaius start up his part of the business, but he wasn't going to turn down extra funds which would allow them to be as elaborate with the expansions as they liked, and besides, he knew it would be psychologically beneficial to Gaius to feel like he was coming in on equal footing. Gaius didn't need to feel like he was being carried, and Serenus wanted to help, not hinder his healing.
"You are an equal partner, so it is only fair that you have equal financial responsibility," Severus agreed with a shrug. "We will all sink or swim together in this."
"Excellent!" Gaius beamed, pleased that they were allowing him to invest in the business as well as participate. "I suppose I'm going to have to come up with a supplier for the things I can't transfigure myself. When you started up, did you have any trouble finding suppliers for what you needed? This is all so new to me, I'm trying to figure out where to begin."
"Not really," Serenus replied, shaking his head.
"I already had suppliers from working at Hogwarts," Severus said. "I was the one in charge of stocking the classroom for all seven years of Potions students, not to mention my own private supplies. Mostly what we needed were potions ingredients, although we did have to find bottles and such. Of course, I did not always get to choose my suppliers," he added with a dark glare at Serenus, who smiled sheepishly.
"Severus still hasn't forgiven me for threatening to go over his head when it came to accepting Neville Longbottom as one of our suppliers," he explained. "Anyway, our part of the business has different needs. You'll need things to work with, right? Furniture and such?"
Gaius chuckled at the interplay between his brothers, wishing he had seen the epic battle of wills that must have been. "Yes, furniture, and fabric, and probably linens, too. I can transfigure a lot, but I'd rather save that for customizing details rather than wholesale transformations of sows ears into silk purses. Plus there are probably things that will do for people on a limited budget, so that they can save up for a few special things to set off a room, rather than having each bit done by me. But I should probably start out smaller, at least at first. I'm rather excited about the idea of the vanity, and maybe bath towels and such, just to get started. I could also have some of the custom dishes, I suppose. I don't want to have too much, but I don't want not enough, either."
"Right, we need to give people a good idea of what you can do and what our new product line will offer," Serenus agreed. He leaned back in his chair, toying with his chopsticks as he thought, his business sense kicking in. "We could go on a shopping spree at some Muggle furniture stores or better yet, some antique shops. Also..." He glanced sidelong at Gaius, uncertain whether he ought to mention the thought that had just occured to him. "Are you interested in having any... er... exotic pieces? Imports, perhaps magical pieces?"
"Oh, that might be nice!" Gaius said, nodding eagerly. "It would make my job easier, I suspect, if I could find an existing piece the customer liked to base things on. Magical or Muggle, either way, so long as the customer likes it."
"All right, so the three of us could take a couple of days and see what we can find in London to start you off," Serenus said, and then he hesitated. "I do have an idea of a supplier for imports," he said slowly. "But if you aren't comfortable with the idea, we can defer it or find someone else. But if Regulus would be willing to expand his business into furniture rather than just magical artifacts, we could offer some really unique items."
"Regulus?" Gaius drew in a breath, feeling an odd twisting in his gut at the thought of his friend. Over the last few days, he'd come to realize that his feelings about his friend were incredibly complex now, and he was having trouble unraveling them completely. But Serenus was right, Regulus would be a good source if he were willing, and it would give Gaius a reason to see him. He desperately wanted things to be right between them again, and if they saw each other more often, that might help overcome the awkwardness between them. "That's a very good idea, if he can stand to be around me." His gaze fell to his plate. "He says he's not angry at me, that he doesn't blame me, but somehow I think he's just saying that to be nice. Or maybe I just want him to be angry at me. I don't believe that with his temperament that he could be that forgiving, and it makes me worry that if he doesn't yell, it's because he just doesn't care about our friendship at all."
Serenus didn't know Regulus well enough to comment, and so he looked to Severus to field that instead, hoping Severus, who knew Regulus better than either of them, could offer some reassurance.
"Or..." Severus said slowly, trying to decide how to articulate what he was thinking, "perhaps he doesn't want to yell because he doesn't want to yell. Yet. Regulus has always been more inclined to being melancholy than to being volatile like me. When he shuts down, it is usually because he is being self-protective and likely because he is low in spirits as well. He may not yet have rallied enough to be angry."
Gaius winced, feeling another surge of guilt. Here he was, happy, supported, going on with his life and his plans for a new business and a new life while Regulus had no one and was suffering. Well, he did have Sekhmet, Gaius had seen to that, but there was no guarantee he'd not already taken her back to Egypt. He looked at Severus, his dark eyes full of appeal.
"Would it help him to yell, do you think? I have got to help him, to make it up to him for.... everything. I've tried, I really have, but perhaps I'm doing it wrong. If you can think of anything Severus, please, please let me know. I know you said I had to fix my own mess, and I am certainly willing to do whatever it takes, but I am so afraid what I'm doing isn't right, or maybe even making it worse."
"It might be cathartic for him to get angry," Severus said, leaning back and steepling his fingers as he thought over how to answer. "I can't say with any certainty. He has changed, not only since we knew each other as boys, but also in the last couple of years since his encounter with Bellatrix. We haven't spent enough time together for me to say I truly understand him as I once did. However, I am willing to speak with him on your behalf or accompany you to speak with him."
Biting his lip, Gaius sighed. "Perhaps if I can't get him to talk to me, maybe you can speak to him. Even more than not wanting to lose him as a friend, I'm desperate to know that he's all right, you know? I could handle it if he never spoke to me again if I just knew he was well, that he was happy and not suffering because of my actions."
"We'll help if we can," Serenus said, giving Gaius a sympathetic look. "I know you want to fix things, but keep in mind there are some things that can't be fixed. I hate to be pessimistic, but this might be something Regulus has to sort through for himself. Anubis isn't the only loss he's mourning, after all."
"I know." Gaius swallowed hard against a sudden lump in his throat. He was just trying to cope, and now he felt guilty for moving on. Lifting his hand, he rubbed his forehead, feeling his optimistic mood of earlier draining away. He didn't want to put a damper on the evening, though, and so he forced himself to smile. "Well, if we've finished with me, tell me what else is going on. Have I missed anything important?"
"Not really. We're mostly looking forward to dragging our little brother into business with us," Serenus said, reaching out to squeeze Gaius' arm reassuringly. It was obvious Gaius was still upset, and Sereus wished there was something they could do or say to offer reassurance.
"And dealing with growing children," Severus added. "And growing kittens that shed copiously over every conceivable surface."
That coaxed a somewhat husky chuckle from Gaius, and he lifted a hand to cover Serenus', squeezing lightly and appreciating their attempts to comfort and amuse him. "Well, you both wanted big families, right? The more the merrier? I was thinking of giving Lysander a hutch of rabbits, and Serafino is the type to dote on a big puppy."
Severus' dire glare was the only response he gave - or that he needed to give. Even Serenus frowned sternly.
"Don't even joke about it," he said, wagging his finger at Gaius. "I would hate to lose a brother over something like rabbits, but if a big puppy mysteriously turns up at our house, I'll have to help Severus exact whatever punishment he comes up with."
Gaius winced again, holding up his hands defensively. "It was a joke, I swear." He sighed and shook his head. "I think I'm done with pets in any way, shape, or form, either giving or being. It seems to turn into far too much of a problem, no matter what I try."
"Oh, Gaius..." Serenus gave him a sympathetic smile and leaned over to kiss his cheek lightly. "You mustn't keep beating yourself up or feeling like a failure over this. Believe me - it doesn't solve anything. You've done your best to make amends, but it isn't entirely your responsibility to make things better for Regulus. He has to help himself too. He bears some responsibility for his own feelings too, you know, and trying to bear that burden entirely on your own shoulders is unfair and unnecessary."
Gaius shrugged. "I can understand what you're saying, but... it's not how I feel. I feel like I have to fix it, no matter what the cost. But I don't want to ruin this evening; it's about new beginnings, not old issues." Of course, he couldn't completely push it aside, but he didn't need to have his brothers thinking he couldn't get through a conversation without falling into despair. "Does anyone want any more to eat? If not, we can head back into the parlor, and I'll break out the alcohol." Maybe that would help to dull the edges a bit, so that every time he thought of Regulus, it didn't cut him to the quick.
"Alcohol," Severus said, pushing back his chair and rising to his feet. "We definitely need alcohol at this point."
Serenus stood as well, nodding agreement with Severus. "What have you got? Something strong, I hope."
Rising to his feet, Gaius surveyed the table, then decided that the dishes could wait. "Yes, I have everything from wine to Old Odgen's, and everything in-between," he replied, leading the way back into the parlor and crossing to the credenza he had decided to use to store bottles and glasses. He opened the doors, then turned to face them. "What's your pleasure? I even have absinthe, Severus, if that's what you'd like."
"Yes, that," Severus replied quickly, claiming a spot on the sofa. He slipped off his shoes and tucked his feet beneath him, curling up like a spoiled cat, waiting to be served.
"I'll have the Old Ogden's," Serenus said, removing his shoes and taking up a place at the opposite end of the couch, leaving room for Gaius between them.
"Your wish is my command," Gaius said lightly, removing the bottles requested and pouring the alcohol into them carefully. It was good to have something to concentrate on, and he chose Firewhiskey for himself as well. Pulling his wand, he levitated the glasses over to the sofa table. "Well, since we're getting comfortable, I'll join in."
Removing his own shoes, Gaius slid into the vacant spot between the twins, then picked up his glass and sipped it, feeling the slow burn down his throat. "Ah, that's better," he murmured, closing his eyes and letting his head fall back, resting on the high back of the sofa.
Severus sipped his absinthe until he felt himself growing warm and relaxed, and he shifted closer to Gaius, glancing over at Serenus to see if they could coordinate their efforts to offer distractions. Serenus took the cue and shifted closer as well, turning so that he faced Gaius, and he rested his free hand on Gaius' leg.
"Yes, definitely," he said.
"Much better," Severus agreed, his voice soft and deep.
Gaius felt his brothers move closer, but he didn't mind at all, knowing they wanted to comfort him. Serenus was good at it all on his own, and Severus added in was like frosting on the cake. Perhaps he shouldn't allow himself to be so needy, but he really did need it, if for no other reason that to allow himself to feel as though he weren't such a bad person for a little while.
"Yes, much better," he sighed, lifting his head to finish his glass of Firewhiskey, then placing the empty tumbler down on the table. He wasn't normally a big drinker, wine and maybe a glass of cognac from time to time, and not even that lately. The Firewhiskey was more potent than the Muggle beverage he normally drank, and he felt it spreading along his nerves slowly and warmly, infusing him with a pleasant lethargy and blunting the pain just as he'd wished.
He could feel Serenus' hand on his leg and Severus' low, purring voice, and he smiled, very glad they were there. "I'm lucky you both put up with me," he said, resting one hand on each of their legs. "It helps."
"Well, it's a trial, but we manage somehow," Severus replied, leaning over to murmur in Gaius' ear. He mirrored Serenus' gesture and rested his hand on Gaius' other thigh, rubbing gently.
"You're our brother," Serenus said, leaning over to nuzzle Gaius' cheek. "Of course we put up with you, just as you put up with us. Especially Severus," he added mischievously.
Gaius chuckled at Serenus' comment. "Now, don't knock Severus!" No one should, not when Severus had such a sexy voice. Remus was a lucky man - Severus could purr as well as Gaius could himself. They were both petting him, and that was good, too, and he felt himself going boneless. He loved to be caressed as either man or cat, and he sighed softly, enjoying Serenus' nuzzling. "You're both wonderful. Remus and Tybalt are lucky. Very lucky." Not just because his brothers were intelligent, sexy men, either; they were lucky that they and their partners all liked and accepted each other. He'd been missing out and hadn't even known he was missing anything. Not that it really mattered, not anymore.
"Yes, they are," Severus agreed, moving his hand up to stroke Gaius' chest. "But they are also generous. They don't mind sharing."
"So they aren't the only ones who could get lucky," Serenus added, pressing against Gaius' side and sliding his hand higher on Gaius' leg.
Severus' hand had moved upward, as had Serenus', and Gaius blinked, confused for a moment as he tried to figure out if they were actually implying what he thought they were, or if in his relaxed state, he was reading too much into words that were merely teasing. He looked between the two of them, his mouth going dry as his human body, too long starved for attention, responded to them in a way that wasn't in the least fraternal. "They don't... with... me?" he asked hesitantly, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest.
"With you," Serenus confirmed, smiling as he brushed a kiss to the corner of Gaius' mouth. "We've already asked and been given permission to play with our little brother."
"If you want to, of course," Severus said archly. "The decision is entirely yours."
Gaius drew in a breath, wondering wildly that they had thought enough about this to ask their partners. It was a bit of a shock that they even wanted this with him, and an even greater one that Tybalt and Remus were amenable to it.
There had been a time when the thought of sleeping with his brother - or rather, the man whom he had thought was his brother - had shocked him to the core. That had been so long ago, when he and Sirius had first been lovers and Regulus had done everything he could to make them believe they were related. Gaius had built up this picture of a proper fraternal relationship, and it certainly didn't include sex, and it had been a great relief when the truth had come out and he could be with Sirius without the guilt he'd felt for desiring a man he'd believed his own kin.
But that was long ago, and things had changed. He'd changed, and he'd come to know his real brothers as men, come to love and respect them in many different ways. When he'd tried to help Serenus find his passion again, Gaius couldn't help but begin to see him - and by extension, Severus - as sexual beings. They'd not been raised together, after all, and their relationship was hardly a traditional one in any possible meaning of the word. His brothers were desirable men, and they obviously desired him.
And he desired them, as well; not merely in a sexual way, although there was no denying that part of it, but for the love and comfort and healing they were so generously offering him. No one had told them to do this; they wanted to do it, for him, and social conventions of right and wrong had nothing to do with it. They loved him, he loved them, and their partners had willingly given their blessing. Where once Gaius would have refused, now he was eager to accept.
But part of him was also curious, as a sudden thought rose into his mind. He gazed at them with wide eyes, wondering why it had never occurred to him before. "You said... you shared. I thought you just meant trading off Remus and Tybalt. But you've... been together, just the two of you?"
"Of course," Severus said in a tone that implied it ought to be obvious.
"Not all the time, though," Serenus explained, lest Gaius think they were constantly abandoning their partners to indulge in wild, depraved shagging. "Only once, just the two of us, actually. The other times - and there haven't been all that many! - have involved Remus and Tybalt. But Remus gave me to Severus for our birthday, and they did get to watch, so it wasn't as if they were left out entirely even then."
"That sounds like a wonderful birthday present," Gaius replied rather breathlessly. The thought of the two of them together had never occurred to him before, but now that it had he found it very arousing. And they wanted to be with him.
He lowered his eyes, looking up at them from beneath his lashes, his skin flushing with desire. Sirius was the only person he'd been with for several years, but now Sirius was gone, and hadn't his lover even said that he wanted Gaius to be happy? He knew that this was special, not something for the long term, but he knew it would make him happy. He was so very, very tired of feeling bad; no matter how much he might deserve it, a respite was in order.
"I want to. Very much. Although as hedonistic as I am, I'm not quite certain I'm going to be able to keep up with both of you!"
"Good!" Serenus replied happily, enfolding Gaius in both arms and hugging him tightly. "I know this won't solve all your problems, but if we can help you relax and feel better, if only for a little while, then it's all to the good."
"I do hope you have assembled your bedroom," Severus said. "This couch is too small, and I have no desire to roll around on the floor unless one of you intends to rub the kinks out of my back afterward."
"Oh, but I don't want to rub out your kinks," Serenus said, his eyes dancing with mischief. "I happen to like your kinks."
"As it happens, yes, I have assembled the bedroom," Gaius said, eyes dancing in amusement at the exchange, even as he held Serenus tightly in return, feeling like a naughty little boy at the thought of what they were about to do. "And lucky for all of us, I like a big, firm bed with soft sheets." He pulled back, disentangling himself, then rose gracefully to his feet, holding out a hand to each of them. "Shall we adjourn to more hedonistic surroundings?"
He was glad he'd taken the time to get the bedroom in order. The large four poster bed was new, since he'd not wanted anything that had any memories associated with it when he tried to rest. The color scheme was deep maroon and black, the sheets a high thread count cotton that felt like silk. A dozen plump pillows were piled at the head, and a thick, goosedown duvet was folded neatly at the bottom.
The room was restful and inviting rather than decadent or salacious, but he supposed the surroundings weren't terribly important. "Will this do?" he asked, grinning at them.
Serenus grinned back and squeezed Gaius' hand. "That looks about the right size for all three of us," he said.
"It will do," Severus agreed. He released Gaius' hand and began smoothing his hand up and down the length of Gaius' back, a gesture meant to reassure Gaius even as it provided a segueway into less fraternal activities. It was, after all, Gaius' first time with them, and Severus didn't want to overwhelm him right at the start.
"Perhaps I'm psychic, anticipating your wicked plans for me." Gaius shivered a bit at the caress of Severus' hand, but from anticipation rather than trepidation. "Mmmm... feels nice, Severus," he said softly. Almost shyly, he raised his hands to Serenus, who was standing in front of him, placing them on Serenus' chest and stroking lightly through his shirt. "I want to make both of you feel good, too."
"You will, little brother." Serenus rested his hands on Gaius' hips and squeezed lightly, offering a reassuring smile. "Just being able to love you this way will feel good."
"If I recall from previous conversations, you prefer to bottom." Severus moved to stand behind Gaius fully and began massaging Gaius' back with a firm, sure touch. "Is that your preference now or would you prefer not to indulge to that extent? And which one of us would you prefer to top?"
Craning up, Gaius nuzzled his nose against Serenus' throat, humming in appreciation of Severus' hands working on him. "I do prefer to bottom," he said somewhat breathlessly. "And I'll happily bottom for both of you." He chuckled. "Funny that with my varied experiences, this is actually the first time I've been with two other people at once. I'm glad it's going to be with the two of you."
"Really?" Serenus raised both eyebrows, surprised by that revelation, and his smile widened. "Then it's an honor to be part of your first threesome. We'll do our best to make it enjoyable."
"And memorable," Severus added with a wicked purr in Gaius' ear as he let his hands wander lower to grope Gaius' arse.
"I doubt I will ever forget this," Gaius said, shivering again, this time from the incredible sexiness of Severus' voice. He pressed back against Severus' roaming hands, his body tingling from the contact. "And no doubt I'll enjoy it, too." He tipped his head back, looking up at Serenus with eyes that glittered with arousal. "So are you going to kiss me, Serenus, or just stand there looking sexy?"
Serenus laughed and tightened his fingers on Gaius' hips, urging him closer. "Well, since Severus has already had a taste, I suppose it's my turn, isn't it?" Bending his head, he captured Gaius' lips in a slow, lingering kiss, savoring the experience rather than deepening it just yet.
Behind them, Severus pressed against Gaius' back, letting Gaius feel his growing arousal, and he nuzzled Gaius' hair aside so he could trail kisses along Gaius' neck up to his ear.
Gaius met Serenus' lips eagerly, his eyes sliding closed as he gave himself over to the experience of being kissed - really kissed - by Serenus. He wrapped his arms around Serenus, pressing against his body, enjoying the slow pace of the kiss. He could feel Severus against him, the long, hard lines of his body spooned up behind him, and Gaius moaned against Serenus' mouth, inflamed by the feeling of being sandwiched between them, two lean, elegant, identical bodies pressing against him. Eager for more now, he parted his lips, inviting Serenus to deepen the kiss and take them to the next level.
Serenus didn't hesitate to accept the invitation, parting his lips and exploring Gaius' mouth slowly and thoroughly, learning Gaius' taste, familiar and yet unique as well. Humming with pleasure, he continued the kiss, slow and deep, and he shifted to press Gaius more close and tight between them, enjoying the feel of Gaius' smaller, slender frame.
While Serenus was occupied, Severus decided to explore in his own way, and he slipped his hands beneath Gaius' shirt, stroking the expanse of warm, bare skin he found there. He bit down lightly beneath Gaius' ear as he stroked and caressed Gaius' sides, softly echoing Serenus' hum.
Gaius felt dizzy from the overwhelming sensations. Serenus' taste was intoxicating, sweet and alluring, and Gaius felt as though he'd never tire of it. He tasted different from Severus, but no less wonderful. Severus, meanwhile, was apparently trying to make him melt, the combination of Severus' teeth on his ear and his talented hands on Gaius' skin nothing short of sublime. The attentions of one of them would have been phenomenal, but being the focus of both their energies was almost more than one mortal man could take.
Pushing one hand under Serenus' shirt, he scraped his nails lightly over Serenus' skin, wanting to give as good as he was getting. The other hand he moved behind him, sliding it along the angle of Severus' hip and squeezing. He moved his own hips, back against Severus, then forward against Serenus, restless and eager.
"Someone is getting antsy," Severus said, his voice deep and laced with amusement. He pushed one hand between Gaius and Serenus, sliding it up Gaius' chest to tweak and tease one nipple, and he rocked against Gaius in turn; if Gaius needed a distraction, then by Merlin, Severus was going to help give him a damned good one. Besides, it was always fun to play with a new toy, and Gaius was a particularly warm and wriggly toy that Severus already quite liked the feel of.
The feel of Gaius' nails on his skin made Serenus suck in a hissing breath, and he began to move with Gaius as well, the kiss turning more intense and forceful as his arousal flared higher.
The three of them were moving, and Gaius moaned again as Severus' fingers tormented his sensitive flesh, turning his knees to jelly. Serenus seemed determined to devour him, and Gaius felt himself starving as well; his tongue twined with Serenus', stroking, exploring, driving him to new heights of pleasure. He was just as antsy as Severus had claimed, and he pulled back from the kiss with a gasp.
"Perhaps... we should make use of the bed," he said, his voice sounding more needy than he could have imagined. He wanted, he needed them both, more desperately than he could remember needing anything in his life.
"I think that's a good idea," Serenus said huskily, and he began walking backward, guiding both Gaius and Severus. Once there, he hopped up onto the bed and reclined against the mounds of pillows, holding out his arms. "Well? Who's going to join me?"
Gaius needed no second invitation, and he grabbed Severus' hand. "Come on," he said, turning to press a swift, hard kiss to Severus' lips before moving onto the mattress, crawling toward Serenus like a predator ready to strike. He slid into Serenus' arms, purring in anticipation, and pushed his hands under Serenus' shirt. "Off! There is too much clothing for being in a bed."
"Bossy little thing, isn't he." Serenus chuckled even as he obliged, lifting up enough to strip off his shirt and toss it over the side of the bed.
"I happen to agree with him," Severus said as he removed his own shirt before climbing onto the bed to join them. "Less clothes, more skin."
"Oh, lovely, I have two of them!" Serenus mock-grumbled, and Severus grabbed a pillow and swatted him.
"And aren't you lucky?" Gaius asked, chuckling as he stripped off his own shirt. He caressed Serenus' chest, licking his lips, then turned and pushed Severus down to the mattress, his lips against the clean line of Severus' throat as he begin to nibble and lick his way down Severus' body.
Severus wound his arms around Gaius, tilting his chin up to accommodate Gaius' attentions, and he raked his nails down Gaius' back, purring to show his approval. Not to be left out, Serenus rose up so he could lick, kiss, and bite his way along Gaius' bare back, teasing by letting his hand roam lower and giving Gaius' pert arse a swat.
Chuckling, Gaius wriggled against Serenus' hand, humming at the feel of Serenus' mouth on his back, a counterpoint to the stimulation of Severus' nails. He continued his exploration of Severus, mapping a trail down his body, enjoying Severus' spicy taste and the musky scent of arousal rising from his skin. With a purr of satisfaction, he moved his lips over Severus' nipple, biting down on it lightly before laving it with his tongue.
"I never knew Snapes tasted so delicious," he said, looking up toward Severus with a wicked gleam in his eyes. "I should have been charging my lovers extra just for taste."
"Now you understand why we're in such high demand," Severus said haughtily, causing Serenus to start laughing. "Well, Remus says Snape is his favorite flavor," he retorted, scowling over Gaius' shoulder at Serenus, who grinned back at him.
"So does Tybalt, but they have the slight bias of being madly in love with us," Serenus pointed out.
"It just proves they have good taste." Severus wriggled beneath Gaius, growing restless as well, and he pinched Gaius' nipples between his thumb and forefinger in retaliation for the teasing bites.
"They have very good taste, to have picked the two of you," Gaius replied, then moaned as Severus tweaked him, making him writhe in pleasure. He looked at Severus, managing a wink. "'I think we should gang up on big brother; he's being entirely too disrespectful of our Snapean charms."
Fast as his feline self, Gaius rolled over, pulling Serenus with him. He grinned up at Serenus, wrapping his legs around Serenus' waist and holding him fast. "Gotcha," he crowed, then latched his teeth onto Serenus' collarbone, nibbling it playfully.
Gasping with pleasure at the feel of Gaius' teeth, Serenus laughed breathlessly. "You're asking to be tickled, you know." But instead of tickling, he braced himself over Gaius and rocked his hips sinuously against Gaius, wanting to drive Gaius' need even higher.
Meanwhile, Severus nestled against Gaius' side, a wicked light in his eyes. "No tickling," he said. "Not this time. Just this..." He slipped his hands between their bodies and began stroking and caressing Gaius' warm, damp skin wherever he could reach.
They were both trying to drive him mad, that was the only explanation for why Gaius suddenly felt aroused to the point of spontaneous combustion. Every inch of his skin felt on fire, tingling where Severus touched and burning where Serenus' arousal pressed against his. "More," he moaned, giving up any pretense of being able to hold his own with both of them focusing on him. "Anything... everything... Please!"
"What do you want?" Serenus bent to whisper in Gaius' ear. "Tell us, and we'll give it to you. Anything you want."
Severus slid his fingers below Gaius' waistband, teasing lower and lower. "We are all yours tonight, Gaius. You may as well take advantage of this opportunity," he said with a knowing smirk.
"Take me," Gaius whispered, eyes dark with need. "I want both of you. I want to touch you and feel you and know that you want me. I want to hear you both screaming with pleasure." He moved his hands to Serenus' back, scraping harder and arching up against him to show how his desperate desire was. "Please!"
The twins exchanged looks, and Severus gave a little nod, silently consenting to wait his turn. Serenus smiled gratefully, then cocked one eyebrow. "A little help? I'd rather not move while I'm in such an advantageous position."
"Oh, fine." Severus rolled away and reached for his wand, and with a casual flick, he banished their clothes, leaving all three of them bare. He smiled wolfishly as he rolled onto his back, putting himself on display. "Satisfied?"
"Not yet." Serenus glanced at him appreciatively, then ogled Gaius, a heated gleam in his eyes. "But I will be soon."
Gaius moaned, catching his breath as he felt the slide of Serenus' bare skin against his. He glanced over at Severus, letting his eyes slide over the beautiful lines of Severus' body, and he couldn't resist reaching out a hand, laying it on Severus' thigh and sliding upward to caress. "We'll all be satisfied," he said, then bucked up against Serenus suggestively. "If someone will stop running his mouth and start moving his arse."
Severus hissed with pleasure and rocked his hips up against Gaius' roving hand, and then he rolled to lie on his side so he would have an unobstructed view of the action. Reaching out, he caressed Serenus' back and Gaius' stomach. "I agree. Or rather, I want to use my mouth while you two move your arses," he said before moving closer and claiming Gaius' mouth in a deep kiss.
Chuckling, Serenus took the hint, and he summoned his wand and prepared Gaius quickly; he watched avidly as Severus ravished Gaius' mouth, the sight of it fanning the flames of his own desire unbearably, and he groaned as he positioned himself and began easing into Gaius at an agonizing pace.
Gaius closed his eyes and gave himself over to the kiss, returning Severus' passion with his own. Then he moaned into the kiss as he felt the first movement Serenus made, sliding forward slowly, so slowly, filling him with exquisite heat and pure sensation. He held still, not wanting to miss a single moment of it, his hand still caressing Severus as he and Serenus were joined.
"Perfect," Serenus whispered, bending to nuzzle Gaius tenderly as he gave one last little push to fill Gaius completely. "You feel perfect." Another low groan escaped him as he began to move, thrusting slowly at first, not wanting to rush; this was too perfect to rush, and he wanted to savor every second of it, to give Gaius as much pleasure as possible. He focused all his intensity and skill on moving exactly the right way to drive Gaius out of his mind with pleasure and need while Severus focused all his intensity and skill on that single kiss, devouring Gaius' mouth as he rocked against Gaius' hand, moaning.
If it were possible to die of pleasure, Gaius was in danger of doing just that.
Every movement of Serenus' hips caused pure, molten pleasure to ripple along every nerve in his body, making him arch up in helpless reaction. Severus, meanwhile, seemed determined to draw out his very soul with the passion and intensity of his kiss, both of them moaning and breathless. It kept building and building, a glorious feedback between the three of them, until Gaius wasn't certain where he ended and the two of them began.
It took great effort for Serenus not to wrap his fingers around Gaius and drive him over the edge, but he didn't want to spoil Severus' fun, and so he resisted the urge and focused on watching Gaius, wanting to see the play of emotion on his face, letting the sight make his own desire spiral higher. He thrust deep, but not fast, wanting to prolong the pleasure for both of them; this joining was special, and he wanted to savor it, to imprint the feel of Gaius' body sheathing him in his memory. But as much as he wanted to, he couldn't hold out forever, and he quickened the tempo, his breathing little more than ragged gasps.
Beside them, Severus released Gaius from the kiss, reaching out to touch them both instead; he wanted to watch now, his own heartbeat accelerating as he drank in the sight of their rapidly building pleasure.
When Severus pulled back, Gaius looked up into Serenus' eyes, rapt at the expression on his brother's face. He couldn't help but give a fierce, smug smile, knowing that he was responsible for the look of pleasure on Serenus' face, and he reached up with his free hand to cradle Serenus' cheek. The other was still on Severus, and Gaius could feel Severus there, drinking in the sight of them. "Serenus," he murmured, his voice a low purr. Tightening his legs around Serenus' thighs, he met every thrust, urging Serenus deeper. "Yes, yes! Let go for me..."
It took no more urging, not when Serenus was already hovering on the brink, and he cried out as he let go and fell, seeking and finding ecstasy in Gaius' arms. Panting, he bent to nuzzle Gaius' cheek before easing away and collapsing beside Gaius; he threw one arm across Gaius' waist and snuggled close, humming with pleasure.
"Brilliant," he murmured, rubbing his cheek against Gaius' shoulder. Then he peeked at Severus, smiling mischievously. "Your turn! Let's see if you can wear him out."
Severus sat up and trailed his fingertips along Gaius' sweat-damp torso, smirking wickedly. "I don't think that will be a problem."
Gaius turned his head to kiss Serenus softly and tenderly on the lips, his body still taut and thrumming. "Yes, you were brilliant," he said, his eyes full of love as he gazed at Serenus for a long moment. "And beautiful too."
Then he looked up at Severus, meeting the smirk with a challengingly lifted brow. "Prove it," he said with all the haughtiness of a Snape, then grinned and held out his free arm to invite Severus to him. "Perhaps we can wear each other out - but it is a game that has no losers!"
Severus wasted no time in moving into Gaius' embrace; he braced himself above Gaius and bent to kiss him, lingering, as he positioned himself and claimed Gaius with one swift, powerful thrust. "Mine now," he growled against Gaius' lips as he began to move, setting a different pace than Serenus. Where Serenus had been slow and gentle, Severus was demanding and rough, and his dark eyes were alight with a predatory gleam.
Gaius groaned, arching up helplessly as Severus took him with forceful determination. Serenus' lovemaking was tender, while Severus' was passionate in a way Gaius hadn't ever experienced before. He wrapped his arms and legs around Severus, holding on for dear life as every demanding thrust pushed him closer and closer to the edge, leaving him breathless.
"Yes, yes," he chanted, not certain if he were speaking in English or German as he urged Severus on, his head thrown back as Severus seemed determined to wring every bit of pleasure he could from Gaius' body. He was in danger of melting from the ferocity of it, but it was so incredible, he didn't want it to end.
Sliding his hand lower, Serenus curled his fingers around Gaius' hard length, stroking it to match the pounding rhythm of their bodies as he watched avidly, licking his lips even though he was already sated himself.
Severus could feel Gaius' body growing tight, and he growled with satisfaction as he continued to claim Gaius relentlessly. "That's it... let go... let us see you come undone..."
Gaius couldn't have resisted that order if he'd wanted to, and he most certainly didn't, not with Severus pounding him into the mattress and Serenus' hand stroking him with determination. He felt the coil of heat winding tighter and tighter within him, and then suddenly it released, ecstasy coursing over him as his toes curled and he gave a long, low cry of release.
The waves of pleasure went on and on, until at last with a strangled moan, he relaxed against the mattress, his heart pounding, arms and legs heavy with satiation. "Perfect," he purred, echoing Serenus' earlier statement. He slid his hands up Severus' damp back. "Your turn, now... let go for me."
The sight of Gaius in the throes of ecstasy and the illicit thrill of knowing he and Serenus had been the ones to cause it were more than enough to push Severus to the breaking point as well; he cried out Gaius' name as he buried himself deep, overcome with sensation, and he rode out the waves of pleasure until he too was limp and heavy with repletion.
"Hmmm..." he released a contented sigh as he moved away, but only to settle beside Gaius, flinging one arm across Gaius' chest as Serenus had done. "Well, that was pleasant."
"Very pleasant," Serenus agreed, his eyes sparkling with mirth at Severus' understatement.
Completely weak and boneless, all Gaius could manage to do was snuggle between the two of them, a pleasant tangle of warm, damp bodies and the scent of satisfaction. "Pleasant wouldn't leave me feeling as though I won't be able to walk for a week," Gaius said, letting out a gusty sigh of contentment. "That had about as much relation to pleasant as the sun has to a candle flame."
He didn't want to move, and he gave as soft purr. "Let's stay like this for a few days. Certainly Remus and Tybalt won't mind, right?"
"Not if we let them join us," Serenus replied, grinning. "Otherwise, I think they might have a few objections, if only because of being left alone with the Snape broodlings for so long."
"Although I imagine they can both commiserate with your feeling unable to walk," Severus added with a satisfied smirk.
"Invite them both, I've no objections - though we might want a bigger bed," Gaius replied, giving a satisfied chuckle. "If we wait long enough, they'll probably show up looking for you both... I just hope they think to bring some take away, because we'll probably need the sustenance."
Gaius sighed again, then turned his head to either side, kissing each of them tenderly. "Thank you, both of you. That was undoubtedly one of the most incredible things I've ever experienced. Not just the way you made me feel physically... but how much you made me feel desired and loved."
"Well, you are," Serenus replied simply, leaning in to return the kiss. "It may be unconventional of us, but we've never been a conventional family, and we want to help you feel better in any way we can."
"Indeed." Severus shifted closer to return the kiss as well. "You are our brother, and now you're ours in a more literal sense. I expect you not to forget that no matter what happens, you will always have a place with us."
"I don't think there is any way I ever could forget," Gaius said, humming with pleasure as he relaxed once again, feeling a great sense of healing. "Mmmm... could you stay for a least a little while longer? You've both worn me out, and I don't think I could move if my life depended upon it."
"Of course." Serenus summoned his wand and cleaned them all up with a flick and a thorough cleansing charm while Severus retrieved his wand and flicked it at the covers, bringing them slithering up the bed. "We aren't in any hurry to dash home. I told Tybalt I wasn't certain when I'd be back, so he isn't expecting me at any particular time."
"Neither is Remus," Severus said, tossing his wand aside and settling in with a yawn. "He's probably expecting this and will want all the sordid details when I do get home."
"Excellent!" Gaius gave a lazy yawn of satisfaction, stretching luxuriously and then cuddling them both close. "A nap, then... and after I'll have to find something to show your partners just how grateful I am to them as well for their generosity in sharing you."