Severus Snape (ensnared_senses) wrote in snark_n_bark, @ 2008-08-21 17:23:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | complete, gaius, regulus, serenus, severus |
A Little Brotherly Advice
Characters: Severus, Serenus, Gaius, Regulus
Summary: Severus sees the signs.
A little after noon, Severus left Alchemy & Ecstasy and walked the short distance to Regulus' new shop, where the windows were still draped, and the overhead sign hadn't yet been changed from "Nabob's Notions" in faded, peeling gilt. He would have gone home for lunch, but Remus was taking the children out for a picnic, and Severus wasn't inclined to endure sunshine, fresh air, and insects. If they were having the picnic in the cemetery behind the manor, he would have considered joining them, but no, they were going out in a meadow with flowers and trees, and he got quite enough of that when he took the children on walks.
Instead, he decided to see if Gaius and Regulus were interested in having lunch at the pub with him. They were both so work-obsessed of late, he doubted they would remember to stop and eat on their own, so it was up to him to save them from their own single-minded foolishness.
Although the shop was closed up, the door was open, and he walked in, peering around to see where they were. A large striped cat sauntered toward him, peering at him with regal hauteur, and he bent and extended his hand, recognizing a kindred spirit in feline form. This, he thought, must be Sekhmet, the cat Gaius had brought from Bast's temple. She sniffed his fingers and rubbed her cheek against them, which he supposed meant he had met her approval.
"Good afternoon," he said. "I'm looking for the humans."
Sekhmet turned and trotted off toward the back room, her tail held high, and after a moment, Regulus poked his head out and looked around, appearing surprised but pleased when he spotted Severus.
"What brings you by?" Regulus asked as he emerged from the back room and went to meet Severus, smiling warmly. "Business or pleasure?"
"Food," Severus replied curtly. "It's lunch time, I am hungry, and I assumed neither you nor Gaius would have sense enough to realize you need to stop and eat, and so I am here to fetch you."
Regulus blinked, startled, and then he chuckled. "You're right. I didn't realize what time it is. Lunch sounds like an excellent idea."
"The pub?" Severus suggested. "Or we could ask Gaius if he has a preference. He is back there, I presume?" As soon as he received a confirming nod from Regulus, he shouted, "Gaius! Get out here!"
Gaius had vaguely noted the entrance of Sekhmet and Regulus' subsequent departure, but he was so intently focused on transfiguring the brocade on the settee in front of him that he didn't even wonder who or what could have drawn Regulus away. At least, he didn't wonder until he heard Severus' bellow, which startled him in the middle of a change and caused him to turn the settee a violent shade of crimson. He snorted in disgust, then sighed and put his wand away; there was no way that Severus was going to tolerate so much as a minute's delay when he used that tone.
He stepped out into the main part of the shop, crossing to give his irascible brother a kiss on the cheek, which he was fairly certain would irritate him. With a grin, he poked Severus in the chest. "You bellowed, oh Diva?" he asked playfully. "I'll have you know that thanks to your dulcet tones, Regulus is now in possession of a sofa fit only for a bordello or the house of someone blissfully colorblind."
"You will fix it, I'm sure," Severus replied with a negligent wave, and he fixed Gaius with a stern look. "It's lunch time. I am hungry. We're going to go and eat now. The only question is whether you would prefer to go somewhere other than the Leaky Cauldron."
Gaius tilted his head to one side, lifting a brow. "Well, the pub is fine with me, but you know, I work for The Man now, so my time isn't my own. I'll have to ask my slave-driving boss if I can break for a meal." He turned, miming removing a cap from his head as he faced Regulus, ducking his head and looking up meekly from beneath his lashes. "Please, sir, may I go to lunch with my brother? I promise to eat only gruel and not enjoy it."
Severus rolled his eyes at Gaius' antics, although he supposed it was a good sign that things were improving if Gaius felt safe enough to be silly again. "Don't be stupid," he said, smacking the back of Gaius' head. "I invited the slave-driver too."
"He did," Regulus confirmed with a shrug. "All the better to be certain you don't enjoy the gruel, I suppose."
"Severus is thoughtful that way," Gaius said, turning to beam fatuously at Severus, then ducking away to avoid another smack. "Well, come on, slow pokes. What are you waiting for?" With that, he turned and headed for the door, knowing they would follow him.
Severus did follow, but Regulus paused to make sure Sekhmet was settled and would be all right alone for a while before heading for the door and locking up behind them. Once they were in the street, Severus glanced back, tutting over the dilapidated sign over the door.
"Haven't you chosen a name for the place yet?" he asked.
"Yes. It's called The Shop With No Name," Regulus replied, earning a disparaging look from Severus. "I've been thinking about it, but I haven't settled on anything I like yet."
Gaius looked back over his shoulder at them. "Don't rush him, mein bruder. This is important, you know, especially as your shop has such a great name. He'll find the perfect one, and I'll make a sign that will draw people in from all over Diagon Alley. Besides, the insides aren't going to be finished for some time, so there's no need to pick for a while." He smiled at Regulus. "You'll find the right one, I know it."
"It will come to me," Regulus replied. He wasn't concerned since he did have some time to consider his options, and this was a decision he didn't want to rush since whatever he chose would be the name people associated with him and his wares.
"So you are making the sign, too?" Severus raised a questioning eyebrow. "Is that an extra or all part of the package?" Sometimes it seemed Gaius was spending more time on Regulus' shop than his own, and it made Severus wonder if it was part of Gaius' continued attempts to atone.
"Well, I am if Regulus wishes it," Gaius said, pausing and blushing as he realized he might have overstepped his bounds in his enthusiasm. He shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable under Severus' regard. "Anyway, here we are. Pea soup again, I assume?"
"I am not always so predictable," Severus replied with a sniff as he swept into the pub and looked around for a place to sit. He spotted an empty booth and headed toward it, deciding he would rather have a little more privacy than the tables afforded. He slid into the booth, facing the bar so he could look at the menu. "I believe I will have shepherd's pie today instead. I want something more substantial than soup."
Regulus took a seat opposite Severus, his stomach growling now that he was being tempted by the scent of food. "I would like something substantial as well. Roast beef, perhaps."
Gaius looked between the two of them, then slid in next to Regulus, turning his head to avoid Severus' eyes. "I'm not too hungry, actually, but I think I'll settle for chicken soup instead of gruel." He raised a hand, and Tom nodded, wiping his hands and heading toward them. "Although I'll indulge in a pint, I guess. Just to relax a bit."
Severus didn't fail to notice Gaius' deliberate avoidance of eye contact, and he sat back and studied Gaius, wondering what all that was about. He was surprised Gaius hadn't sat beside him; apparently things had improved even more than he'd thought! Although a glance at Regulus showed Regulus appeared surprised too and perhaps a little disconcerted.
Tom arrived at the table, interrupting his train of thought, and Severus placed his order and waited for the other two to do the same before speaking again.
"Have you made much progress on the interior of the shop, then?" he asked. "Have you found any interesting pieces you want to use at Alchemy and Ecstasy?"
Gaius placed his own order, then turned to Severus and nodded. "Making some progress, yes, although it's taking a bit longer than I originally thought. No doubt because it's the first place I've done, but I'll be done when Regulus needs me to be." He didn't mention that part of the slowness was that he wanted everything to be absolutely perfect, to bring Regulus' vision to life in the precise way Regulus wished. "And yes, I've found some pieces for our shop, too, and I've set those aside. Right now I'd prefer to keep things simple at Alchemy and Ecstasy until I finish Regulus' shop. After that, I'll expand my own bit quite a lot, when I can concentrate on the ideas to help things fuse with the scents and colors in a way I'd like."
"That makes sense." Severus folded his arms and gazed at Regulus steadily. "I assume this is going to be one hell of a commission fee, considering how many hours of work he is putting into your shop."
"I will pay whatever fee Gaius asks," Regulus replied. "It will be worth not having to do all that interior design work myself." He smiled slightly and shrugged. "I would like to open the shop sooner rather than later, but I'm not on any particular schedule. Just having all my stock in one place where I can organize it is helping matters immensely, and I have had some responses to my ad in the paper. I hope to begin interviewing people soon."
"I'll have it done in a week," Gaius promised Regulus, crossing his heart somberly. He knew what commission fee he would have liked to ask, but that was out of the question. "I did warn him not to poach from your staff, Severus; I'd hate to see him rendered into component parts for one of your potions."
"Very wise of you," Severus said dryly. "I met your cat, by the way," he added, turning to Regulus. "She is quite different."
"She is indeed," Regulus replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "I admit I was concerned about being disappointed. I was afraid a real cat couldn't measure up, but she is quite intelligent and affectionate. I've grown accustomed to her, and I am not disappointed."
Uncomfortable with what Regulus was indicating he'd been afraid Sekhmet wouldn't measure up to - namely Anubis - Gaius looked down at the table, tracing out a water ring on the dark wood and saying nothing. In light of what his feelings for Regulus were swiftly becoming, he was even more mortified than before at what he had done, and he realized that he might have made permanently impossible something he'd not even known he'd ever want. Tom reappeared, dropping off their drinks, and he picked up his ale and took a long gulp, happy to have the excuse to not contribute to the particular turn of the conversation.
Severus wasn't adept at dealing with other people's emotions, but he could recognize a problem when he saw it, and he quickly realized Gaius was uncomfortable with the indirect reminder of what he had done. It was, he decided, time to steer the conversation in other directions.
"Intelligent, eh?" he drawled, taking a sip of his own pint. "I don't suppose you'd want to trade for Winslow. That damned mutt has brain damage. I'm convinced of it. Yet one of Serenus' boys has his heart set on having 'a Winslow' of his own. Serenus hasn't said what they have decided, but I believe they were considering getting a crup."
"Those are supposedly quite clever," Regulus said, nodding. "At least a full-blooded crup wouldn't have the unfortunate tendency to steal shiny things," he added, remembering when Winslow snatched one of his antique cuffs. He glanced at Severus, an amused twinkle in his eyes. "Are you sure, though, you want to argue for brain damage? It seems to me the creature is quite fond of you."
"Severus won't admit it, but I think he's fond of Winslow as well," Gaius said, pleased that the subject had turned toward more neutral territory. "I offer into evidence the fact that Winslow is still alive, rather than doing his own part to contribute to the icky things in jars gracing the shelves in Severus' workroom."
"Hmph!" Severus shook his head, refusing to admit anything aloud. "Remus is too fond of the damned creature for me to get rid of it, much less turn it into something useful. The children would be upset too, I should imagine, so it seems I am stuck with it."
"A great hardship for you, I'm sure," Regulus said, keeping a straight face.
"You have no idea." Severus heaved an aggrieved sigh. "At any rate, we have enough pets for the time being. A mutt, a dragon, and a cat will suffice. Serenus and Tybalt are the ones thinking of expanding with both four and two legged additions."
"It's just as well I left teaching before the brood hits school age," Gaius said, swiping a hand across his brow. "They all know me too well to have any respect for my authority in the classroom, and I'd just as not have Cymbeline reduce me to a gibbering mess in front of an entire room of students. Etienne promises to be just as bad, too; if there was ever a miniature Severus, that boy is it." He raised a brow at Severus, his irrepressible sense of humor coming forth again. "You are certain they didn't switch Etienne and Gaia at birth, aren't you? Or perhaps there was..." He stopped, realizing he'd almost said something a bit too personal in front of someone who wasn't part of the family, and he silently chided himself for forgetting that. "Perhaps a reverse switch by Cymbeline? You know, hoping you'd switch the babies back and she'd get the brother rather than the sister?"
"Dear Merlin, don't say anything like that where Cymbeline can hear you," Severus said, grimacing. "If she thought there was the remotest possibility of trading, she would do it. She adores Etienne," he explained for Regulus' benefit. "But she is still less than fond of Gaia."
"I'm sorry to hear it," Regulus said, giving him a sympathetic look. "She did seem quite adamant about not wanting a sister when I spoke to her, but I had hoped she would come to appreciate having a sibling of the same gender."
"Perhaps when they are older," Severus said, shaking his head. "Perhaps never. She doesn't seem to resent Gaia as she used to, thanks to your talk, but the truce is an uneasy one at best."
"I suspect she'll change when she goes to Hogwarts," Gaius said soothingly, reaching across the table to pat Severus' hand. "If for no other reason than she'll have more competition there for everyone's attention." His lips twitched. "At least until she gets her bearings and starts putting together a coup to overthrow the entire faculty and run the school her way. The scary thing is, she just might succeed."
"If not by herself, then she will when Etienne arrives," Severus said. "Provided they aren't mortal enemies by then. It will be quite interesting to see what sort of turn their relationship takes as he grows older. I suspect they will either be inseparable or at each other's throats."
"Not both?" Regulus asked. "They might end up squabbling constantly until someone attacks one of them, and then they will present a united front."
"That is indeed a possible scenario." Severus took a sip of beer, mulling over the idea. "I really should warn Minerva. She might hold it against me if I don't give her a clear idea of what to expect before they show up and start causing more trouble than a passel of Weasleys."
"I've given her some idea of the potential trouble," Gaius chimed in. "I don't know if anything could adequately prepare the universe for those two growing up, but she has been warned."
Tom arrived with their food, and Gaius helped pass around the plates and napkins until they were all settled again. "Ah, that smells good," he said, then winked at Regulus as Tom walked away. "Not as good as the feast Asar prepared for us, but alas, that wouldn't be possible, I fear. Oh, I meant to ask, were you going to look for someone to provide food for the events at the shop? If so, it might be necessary to add some hot and cold storage areas as well as a sink, just as a staging area. I could magically expand the front of the storage room enough to put it in."
"I haven't explored the options yet," Regulus replied as he began cutting up his roast beef and potatoes. "If I can find someone who will cater events, I won't need any extra space, I hope." He paused, thinking about Asar and the food his hotel kitchen had provided. "On the other hand, I might see if I can bring in someone from Cairo, in which case, it might be necessary. I'll need to speak with some friends before I decide."
"You're going to have events?" Severus glanced back and forth between them, blatantly hinting for an explanation.
"I think bringing someone from Cairo would be brilliant," Gaius said, nodding enthusiastically. He glanced at Severus. "Regulus will have to explain, since it was his idea. A fantastic idea, I might add."
"Live cultural displays would sum it up, I think," Regulus said. "The layout of the shop is going to be different in that the items will be shown in use, and I will enhance awareness and traffic - I hope, at any rate! - by bringing in performers from whatever country is being spotlighted at the time. I want to make the shop more of an experience rather than merely another place to shop."
"The novelty will generate traffic, if nothing else," Severus said, impressed by what he heard. It sounded as if Regulus had hit upon some ideas that could very well distinguish his shop and increase the demand for his wares. "That all sounds quite intriguing. Not to mention hedonistic," he added dryly. "I am not surprised the two of you came up with such ideas."
"That one was all Regulus," Gaius said, shaking his head. "I'm just the person to bring his vision to life. In as hedonistic a manner as possible, of course. I do have a reputation to maintain." He glanced sidelong at Regulus, for a moment wishing that he could bring his own visions to life as well; they'd be even more beguiling than anything he'd be putting in any shop.
Severus narrowed his eyes as he peered at Gaius, a suspicion forming in his mind. No, surely not...
"Whatever the case, it sounds rather interesting," he said, taking a bite of his shepherd's pie. "I do hope you will give us a preview before the grand opening."
"Of course." Regulus smiled across the table at Severus, gratified that Severus liked his ideas. For all that he had managed to extinguish the torch he had carried, he still couldn't stop himself from being inordinately pleased by Severus' approval. "I would like some outside opinions before I open it up to the public."
Gaius swallowed hard, wishing that Regulus would one day smile at him as easily as he did at Severus. Suddenly he wasn't hungry at all, and he slid from the booth and stood. "Well, enough slacking off on my part. I'd better get back to work if I'm going to get the shop ready this century." Reaching into a pocket, he put a couple of coins on the table to pay for his meal. "I'll see you both later. Enjoy the rest of lunch."
Severus quickly added a few coins to cover the cost of his meal, and he too slid out of the booth. "Excuse me," he said, glancing at Regulus, who was watching the two of them with visible confusion over what must seem like sudden abandonment. "I'd like to have a word with Gaius before he goes back to the drudgery."
With that, he grasped Gaius' arm and led him away, hustling him back to Alchemy & Ecstasy. Not until they were in the privacy of the back room did he release Gaius' arm, and then it was only to reach out and smack Gaius.
"Have you lost your damned mind?" he demanded, bracing his fists on his hips.
As confused by Severus' actions as Regulus was, Gaius shot Regulus an apologetic glance as Severus hurried him away. He was only more confused as Severus immediately took him back to their own shop, and he flinched as Severus smacked him, rubbing the back of his head as he looked at Severus in shock.
"What did I do?" he asked, trying to figure out what had set Severus off. "I've no idea what you're talking about!"
"Do you think I'm blind?" Severus shook his head, still glaring. "Did you think I wouldn't notice you mooning over Regulus like a soppy adolescent girl with her first crush?"
Gaius stepped back, a look of utter horror on his face. If Severus had seen... "Oh, Merlin... you don't think he realizes, do you?" he asked, his voice full of agonized embarrassment. "I can't believe this... Severus, please, don't say anything, all right? This is... hard for me. Harder than you can imagine!"
"You needn't worry," Severus said, waving his hand. "As far as I can tell, Regulus is about as aware of what is going on as last year's Christmas pudding, and I have no intention of enlightening him. Your secret is safe with me." He stared at Gaius, his mouth thinned. "When the hell did this happen? Black has been gone barely a couple of months. Granted, I think you would be trading up, but this is entirely too hasty and ill-advised."
Severus' reassuring words were a relief, but his observation cut to the quick. "I can't help how I feel," he said miserably, scrubbing his hands over his face as though he could wipe out the sight of Severus' disapproval. "I've always... been drawn to Regulus. Felt a connection to him. It made it very easy for him to convince me that we were brothers back then, you know, because of it. But I was with Sirius, and they hated each other, and even when they drew closer... well, suffice to say, Sirius once told me that he didn't care if I had another lover, as long as it wasn't Regulus."
Restlessly, Gaius began to prowl around the small room. "I only thought of him as a friend, I swear it, until we went on this past trip to Egypt together. I know him so well, Severus... I can't help it, because of the things he said to me when he thought I was nothing but a cat. I never meant for it to happen, certainly not when I became Anubis and was trying to get away from my pain. I wish it had never happened, because now that I... care for him, I know it can't go anywhere. He doesn't trust me anymore." He looked at Severus, his eyes full of agony. "Sirius left me, Severus. He left, he didn't even try to fight it, to find a way to stay. He preferred to die like some noble hero, and part of me hates him for it, for stealing my heart and then throwing it away without a care. But this time... this is worse, in a way, because it's my fault. I wrecked it before it even got started, because I didn't know!"
Severus listened as Gaius poured out his heart, and at the end of it, he couldn't think of anything wise or insightful; he wasn't good at this sort of thing, and he had no idea how to advise Gaius in this situation.
"We need Serenus," he said at last. "I can't have this conversation without assistance."
"Oh, Merlin..." Gaius shuddered, shaking his head. "Look, just forget it, all right? I know I have no chance with him, and I'll resign myself to it eventually. I'll finish his shop and then I'll go out and get myself spectacularly drunk and find solace in the arms of some big, brawny man to forget him. I won't push where I'm not wanted. It wouldn't do any good, anyway."
"Don't be stupid!" Severus retorted. "If anyone knows about distrust and how to get over it, it's Serenus. Besides, obviously you need to discuss this, or you wouldn't have unloaded all of that on me, the one who does not dispense hugs and comforting words of wisdom. Your desperation must have been great indeed," he added dryly. "I have no idea whether you have a chance with him or not, but we will not just forget it. Stay here," he said sternly, pointing one finger at Gaius as he might have at Winslow. "I will be right back."
With that, he swept out of the back room and went to summon Serenus via the Floo.
Gaius could think of a million things he'd rather be doing than having this conversation with Severus, much less with Serenus, who would understand, but that was the very reason Gaius didn't want to dump this on his brothers. Severus had caught him by surprise and it had all come tumbling out like a dam bursting, and now he regretted it. Better to just let it all fade away, one more regret in his life, one of mercifully few. He gave half a thought to leaving via the back door, but his brothers were persistent, and there was no escaping what was coming.
When Severus returned with Serenus in tow, Serenus glanced back and forth between them with obvious bewilderment over why he had been summoned.
"What's going on?" he asked, looking at Gaius searchingly. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, there is something wrong," Severus replied, folding his arms. "Gaius has feelings for Regulus."
Serenus blinked, shocked into silence, and he opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before words would form. "Oh, dear," he said at last, his expression turning sympathetic, and he quickly went to enfold Gaius in a warm, comforting embrace. "What happened?" he asked. "Did it happen while you were a cat?"
Gaius wanted to resist, to laugh it all off as nothing, a passing fancy, but he simply couldn't do it. He sighed, wrapping his arms around Serenus and taking what comfort he could from his brother's warm support. "No, it didn't. Well, not exactly. I mean, I've always been fond of Regulus, perhaps even in a more than purely friendly way. Even after the bad start we got off to..." He shook his head against Serenus' shoulder. "I got to know him so well as Anubis, and then when we were in Egypt, I realized that what I felt was more than friendship, more than remorse for having hurt him."
He raised his head, looking at Serenus with misery in his eyes. "I didn't ask for it to happen, it simply did. Severus thinks it's too soon after Sirius, but... the time I spent as a cat is... different. It almost seems as though Sirius has been gone forever, a whole lifetime in a way. It still hurts; it probably always will, but I swear this isn't about Sirius. What I feel for Regulus is different, very different, because he's a different man, and so am I now. But I've mucked it up good and proper between us without meaning to. He doesn't trust me now, not as he used to, and he might never trust me again. Ironic, isn't it? He hurt me on purpose to get at Sirius, and I forgave him completely for it, but he might never fully forgive me for hurting him without meaning to do it. Oh, he says he's forgiven me, but I know it isn't the same. There's a barrier between us now, and it's all my fault. I don't know what to do to get past it... I'm not even certain it would be right for me to try. Perhaps I should just stay away from him and hope these feelings go away. Especially if both of you think it's wrong."
"I wouldn't say it's wrong exactly," Serenus began hesitantly, drawing back enough that he could look Gaius in the face, his expression pensive. "A little hasty perhaps. I have some reservations about whether you aren't confusing sympathy and guilt with affection." He cupped Gaius' cheek in his palm, stroking it gently. "I can't begin to understand what it was like for you living as a cat, so if you say it was different in terms of time sense, I believe you, but there's still the matter of what you learned about Regulus. I'm sure it affected the way you think and feel about him, and maybe that, combined with your guilt over hurting him, has led you to believe you feel affection for him." He smiled wryly. "I don't know what to think, really. On the one hand, Severus had the same 'it's too soon' talk with me because of Tybalt, and you know how that turned out, but on the other, I don't want either you or Regulus to be hurt more than you already have been because you rushed into something that wasn't what you thought it was."
"Believe me, I never thought I would be in a position to utter the words 'It's too soon after Black'," Severus grumbled. "But yes, there is the issue of rebounding to consider. You and Regulus experienced the same loss, and you helped each other grieve, albeit in an unorthodox manner. That is naturally bound to create an attachment, but you should be certain you aren't making more of it than it is, especially if you were in love with Black but what you feel for Regulus is different."
Gaius listened somberly, then sighed. "I can't argue with your logic, even if my feelings say differently," he said softly. His shoulders slumped. "I seem to keep making one mistake after another since Sirius died. I don't even know what to think or feel any more. Perhaps... perhaps I should leave for a while. For real this time. I'll finish up with Regulus' shop, and afterward, I can go meet some of the other sellers he recommended." He gave Severus a rueful smile. "It would give me the chance to work on the business without the risk of being caught mooning over him like a... what was it? A soppy adolescent girl with her first crush?"
"Severus!" Serenus shot his twin a reproachful look, not even having to ask the source of those words.
"Well, you should have seen him at lunch," Severus replied tartly, and Serenus shook his head in fond exasperation.
"It isn't a mistake," he said, giving Gaius a little squeeze before releasing him and stepping back. "I think it's safe to say both of us would be happy for you if things worked out for you and Regulus. You know Severus likes him, and so do I. It's just that we're both concerned about things moving too quickly for both your sakes. Perhaps instead of thinking about your feelings for him right now, you could focus on winning back his trust."
"A good idea." Severus nodded his approval. "After all, you can't expect things to move forward until you overcome that obstacle."
"Exactly so." Serenus slid one arm across Gaius' shoulders, smiling reassuringly at him. "Whether you end up as friends or more, you need a foundation of trust to build on, and we can help with that."
"Trust issues do tend to be a Snape specialty," Severus said dryly.
"I'm trying, I have been doing everything I can think of." Gaius bit his lip for a moment, leaning back in the circle of Serenus' arm and drawing comfort from the reassuring touch. "I brought him Sekhmet and I'm working on his shop and I talked him into going to Egypt with me. I've apologized more times than I can count, and I've tried to make amends in every way I can. It's better, of course, but he's as suspicious as Severus in a room full of Gryffindors!" He turned to face Severus directly. "What would you do, if you were me? Should I just leave him completely alone and hope that he'll come around eventually? Woo him? How did Remus bring you around?"
"Leaving him alone is not the strategy to use," Severus replied matter-of-factly. "Doing that is far more likely to result in him leaving you alone in return, likely using your distance as an excuse to keep his own." He paused for a moment, considering the best options. "Remus won me over through sheer persistence," he said at last. "He wouldn't leave me alone, and eventually, I stopped minding."
Serenus laughed. "I'm sure it was such a hardship for you," he said, his dark eyes twinkling. "Tybalt was rather persistent himself, although his big mistake was pushing too hard and too quickly. You'll want to be careful about not doing that with Regulus." He regarded Gaius quizzically. "Do you know if he feels anything for you? Can you tell if he is attracted to you and fighting it as I was with Tybalt and Severus was with Remus? Or does he simply regard you as a friend, nothing more? That will affect the strategy you need to take with him as well."
"I have no idea," Gaius replied slowly, trying to think if there was any time he could remember Regulus looking at him in a way that might indicate something beyond friendship. "I can't think of anything, actually. But that doesn't mean there wasn't something and I simply was too blind to notice." He sounded pathetic, even to himself, and he groaned, closing his eyes. "Oh, Merlin, what am I going to do?"
"You're going to take things one step at a time," Serenus said, rubbing Gaius' back soothingly. "Let's work under the assumption that he sees you as a friend, just to be on the safe side, and we'll go from there."
"You have apologized enough," Severus said. "Stop worrying about making amends as well. You have done enough, and trust isn't built with gifts. If he hadn't forgiven you, he wouldn't be working with you; you would already be well shut out of his life by now. But you must remember who he is," he reminded Gaius firmly. "A Black and a Slytherin. A double dose of pride and secrecy. He has never been as bitterly distrusting as I have been, but he isn't the type to forgive and forget either. Obviously, he values your friendship, because he is making an attempt to move past what happened, but I suspect his biggest problem is feeling too vulnerable and embarrassed over having inadvertently revealed so much of himself to you. I wouldn't like it either," he stated flatly.
"Perhaps he needs time to feel safe again," Serenus suggested. "Does he resist talking about personal things with you?"
Gaius told himself that Serenus was right, that he should work toward friendship, and not seek anything more, at least for a long time. Severus' advice was also sound, although Gaius had to firmly squelch a part of himself - a part he distinctly thought of as being Snape - which chafed at being denied. He firmly told it to shut the hell up, thank you very much, and drew in a deep breath.
"He talks about things, yes... it seems we can't keep most discussions from coming 'round to personal topics, even though he seems uncomfortable at times."
"That's promising, at least," Serenus said, smiling. "It would be much more difficult if he kept things strictly business all the time. My suggestion would be to get away from work with him as often as possible, somewhere he feels safe and comfortable, and keep nudging him toward personal topics until he stops shying away from them and can relax. I think he needs to get used to the idea of discussing such things with you again, even if it isn't on the same, deep level as he did when you were a cat."
Gaius turned and hugged Serenus, then reached out to grab Severus' arm and pull him into the embrace. "Thank you, both of you. I know I have a long way to go, but hopefully Regulus will come to trust me again. Beyond that... well, I won't say I don't have hopes, but I won't dwell on it. If it's just some manifestation of guilt or something, no doubt it will fade, and if not..." Gaius shrugged and gave a lopsided smile. "Well, I suppose I'll cross that bridge if and when I come to it."
Serenus returned the hug with affection and enthusiasm, and Severus allowed himself to be drawn into it with a minimal of grumbling, deigning to wrap one arm around each of his brothers in return.
"One step at a time," Serenus said again, brushing a kiss to Gaius' cheek. "You'll get him to trust you again, I'm sure, and after that, why, infatuation is inevitable. You're a Snape, after all," he added with a cheeky grin.
"There is that," Severus agreed. "Perhaps we should send him to have tea with Remus and Tybalt and tell them to wax eloquent about the wonders and joys of having a Snape of their own. That should provide three or four hours of brainwashing at the very least."
Gaius laughed outright at that, hugging his brothers hard. "It certainly couldn't hurt, if they were willing," he replied. "And think of it as an investment, helping me to get together with someone whom the whole family can tolerate. It would be nice to have holidays all together, wouldn't it?"
"Yes, it would," Serenus agreed fervently.
"That would indeed be a bonus," Severus said. "As I said, I believe you would be trading up."
Serenus rolled his eyes and gave Severus an affectionate smack. "Tybalt would agree with you, I think. He wasn't overly fond of Sirius either, although I'm not quite sure why unless it had something to do with me. He does like Regulus, though."
"I believe it was because Sirius contributed toward your... melancholy," Gaius said gently, then kissed Serenus on the cheek. "Not precisely logical, but then your big, hulking Auror is pretty protective, I've noticed. God help that man who left you at the altar if Tybalt ever gets hold of him. I suspect he'd not even use magic, just tear the man apart with his bare hands." He winked at Severus. "And I bet I know who would help him dispose of the body, too. Besides me, that is."
"You would be right," Severus growled, his expression darkening. Even though it had been years, he hadn't forgiven or forgotten the harm that had been done to his twin.
"That's all behind us," Serenus said, a faint flush rising in his cheeks, but he smiled, warmed by protectiveness that spoke of affection. "At any rate, I doubt whoever you end up with, whether it is Regulus or not, will be objectionable." He paused, then grinned at Severus. "Well, unless you take up with Harry."
Gaius choked, giving Serenus a positively horrified look. "Dear Merlin, are you trying to give me a heart attack? Even if he wasn't young enough to be my son, he was Sirius' godson! I'd feel like the worst kind of pervert, even if Severus didn't kill me to put me out of his misery!"
"Regulus is Sirius' brother, and you don't seem to mind that!" Serenus teased back, enjoying winding Gaius up, and Severus growled again and swatted Serenus on the arse without comment. He didn't need to; the look he gave Serenus said it all.
"After making love with my own brothers, lusting after Regulus seems positively tame," Gaius replied. Then he sighed. "I really should get back to work, you know. Poor Regulus is probably wondering if all the Snapes have gone around the bend, the way Severus rushed us out of the pub." He paused, considering. "I'll tell him you suddenly remembered plans for a surprise for Remus or something, a secret you needed my help with. That way, he won't wonder if we've both lost our minds."
"You were the one who wanted to run off," Severus pointed out, sniffing haughtily, and then his tone turned plaintive. "I didn't even get to finish my shepherd's pie."
"You can come home with me, then," Serenus said soothingly. "I have leftover pasta from last night and some fresh bread. If you're very good, I'll even give you some tirimisu for dessert."
"And I promise to buy you lunch tomorrow to make up for it, too," Gaius said, craning up to brush a light kiss against Severus' lips. "Plus I'll take the children for an evening so you and Remus can go out, all right? It's the least I can do after tearing you away from your meal with my nonsense."
Severus accepted the kiss and returned it just as lightly, mollified by all the offers of food. "All right," he agreed. "Now run along if you must. I'm going to let Serenus feed me for now."
Serenus raised one eyebrow and chuckled. "Just don't even think about trying to talk me into feeding you in the literal sense," he teased, wagging his finger at Severus and earning a 'hmph!' in response. He leaned over and kissed Gaius on the lips, claiming his turn. "Good luck," he said, giving Gaius a squeeze before releasing him.
"Thank you - both of you," Gaius said, then took a deep breath and turned for the door. His brothers were right, he needed to win Regulus' trust before trying for his heart. He knew he had an uphill battle on his hands, but he was definitely Snape enough to not consider failure an option, no matter what the odds.