Regulus Black (mummys_boy) wrote in snark_n_bark, @ 2008-10-12 09:06:00 |
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Entry tags: | complete, gaius, regulus |
Well, This Is Awkward...
Characters: Gaius, Regulus
Summary: Regulus is behaving oddly, and Gaius doesn't understand why.
The sun beat down on the streets of Luxor mercilessly, but Gaius barely noticed, eagerly peering into the shop windows and exclaiming over the delights contained within. He was feeling rather upbeat and happy after his indulgence in fantasy the previous night. Regulus had been rather quiet, but Gaius didn't let that daunt him, laughing and pointing at the things that particularly interested him. He kept close to Regulus, trying not to be too obvious about it, but letting the crowded sidewalks serve as an excuse to press against Regulus from time to time.
"Oh, look at that!" he said, grabbing Regulus' hand and pulling him across the street where a vendor had a display of absolutely luscious silk brocades draped over rails. "I think I will have to buy some of this; what lovely pillows they would make!"
Regulus looked at the fabric, but all he saw was Gaius, writhing naked on the luxurious brocades, and he felt heat rising in his cheeks. Again.
He had barely been able to look Gaius in the eye all day, partly because he felt guilty for having spied on Gaius' moment of privacy, and partly because he couldn't stop remembering what he had seen. He knew what Gaius looked like naked, what Gaius looked like in the throes of ecstasy, and he couldn't stop thinking about it. He couldn't help wishing he could see it again. That he could be the cause of Gaius' pleasure the next time.
"Very lovely pillows," he murmured, letting Gaius tug him across the street to the vendor's booth, trying to ignore the tingles that shot up the length of his arm from the contact.
"Fabulous pillows," Gaius decided, reaching out to touch a deep forest green silk that was embroidered with shining silver thread. "I'm going to have to have this one - oh, and that purple, definitely. And the burgundy! I never would have suspected that Egypt had so much incredible fabric!"
The shopkeeper came up to them, smiling and talking in Arabic which Gaius couldn't understand. He laughed and held up a hand in a helpless gesture, then turned to Regulus with eyes dancing with amusement. "I'm lost! Can you help me negotiate a good price? I'd want say... ten meters of each of those three fabrics?"
Nodding, Regulus stepped forward and initiated a conversation with the merchant, who was happy to haggle; in a matter of minutes, Regulus had negotiated a price that was fair to both of them, and the merchant began to measure out the lengths of fabric, folding them up neatly for Gaius.
"He'll have them ready in a minute," Regulus said, glancing sidelong at Gaius without quite looking at him. "Is there anything else you want? He's offering a good price."
"Tempting... but I don't want to blow my whole budget in one place," Gaius paused, considering. "Can you please tell him that I might come back later, after I have a chance to look at other things? If that's all right with you, of course. I don't mean to sound like I'm dragging you from pillar to post, and you have your own purchases to make." Reaching out, he playfully nudged Regulus' arm, trying to coax a smile out of him. "What exotic pieces are you looking for?"
Privately, Regulus thought having Gaius sprawled on a sea of pillows made from that cloth was exotic enough for him, but he couldn't say that. Instead, he mustered a wan smile. "Whatever catches my eye," he said. "I don't have anything in particular in mind."
The smile was not what Gaius really wanted to see; it was far too uncertain. "It's good to keep your options open, so that you can really see everything," he said, then reached up to brush a look of hair out of Regulus' eyes. "Is something wrong? Not sleep well? You were so full of energy when you took me on that wonderful adventure, and now you seem pensive." More like you used to be, before you relaxed, Gaius thought, but he wasn't certain he should say it.
"No, I did not sleep well," Regulus replied, daring to look at Gaius at last. I was too busy thinking about you looking like that while lying beneath me. I was too busy thinking about all the ways I'd like to... He broke off that thought before he could get himself worked up again. "I suppose I am just tired."
Gaius frowned, his eyes full of concern. "Perhaps we should go back to the hotel, so that you can lie down? Perhaps relax by the pool, or take a nap? It's not good to get run down, especially on a trip; you end up taking ill, and I don't like to think of you suffering!"
"No, I'm not that tired," Regulus replied, straightening and reaching for Gaius' hand. The last thing he wanted to do was ruin Gaius' shopping trip since he appeared to be enjoying himself. "Let's make the rounds of the market, and then we can return to the hotel for naps and lounging. We still have tomorrow for more shopping, after all, and you can make up your mind about the fabrics."
"If you're sure," Gaius said, searching Regulus' face but not protesting further. Why would he, when Regulus was holding his hand and wanting to spend the day with him?
The merchant returned with the fabric, and Gaius passed over the amount Regulus had negotiated, then placed the package in the bag he wore over one shoulder, which he'd transfigured to be much bigger inside than out. Smiling a farewell to the merchant, he tugged on Regulus' hand. "All right, where to now? Unless you'd like tea; maybe that's what you need to pick you up, tea and cakes to boost your energy."
"Perhaps you are right." Regulus nodded and began leading Gaius away. "There is a cafe not far from here. We could take a break and get out of the heat for a little while."
"Brilliant!" Gaius smiled and followed along quite willingly. "Luxor definitely has a different feel from Cairo, doesn't it? I like it, though. I like all of Egypt that I've seen. Thank you again for asking me along, bringing me with you. I've loved every moment of this trip and of being in your exceptional company."
"I have enjoyed your company as well," Regulus replied, his smile becoming a little less forced. "We travel well together."
I imagine there are other things we would do well together, too.
Once they reached the cafe, he released Gaius' hand and held open the door, ushering Gaius inside. "Here we are. A little oasis where we can refresh ourselves before we continue our bargain-and-treasure hunting."
"Feels good already." Gaius sighed, relishing the cool air which greeted him, chilling the dampness of his skin and giving him a brief case of goosebumps. He spotted an empty table off to one side and headed toward it, sliding into a chair and beckoning eagerly to a young boy who was carrying a tray. "A pot of tea, please?" he asked, miming drinking from a cup. The boy nodded and headed off, and Gaius grinned at Regulus.
"Well, at least some languages are universal," he said, leaning back in the chair. "Although I must admit cakes might be a little bit more of a stretch."
"I can order for us," Regulus said, sinking into a chair across from Gaius. "Assuming you trust my judgment," he added, leaning his chin on his hand and gazing across the table at Gaius. It was difficult when his mind kept overlaying images of the night before, but he forcibly pushed those thoughts aside. He couldn't lean across the table and snog Gaius right here and now; the time wasn't right, and they were in public. Besides, he had no idea if Gaius would respond favorably, and if he was going to be given the 'I like you as a friend, but...' speech, he wanted it to be in private.
"Absolutely and with no hesitation," Gaius replied, tilting his head to one side as he watched Regulus. He still sensed that Regulus was withdrawn, and he thought it was something a bit more than tiredness, but he didn't press. "You've never steered me wrong yet, so I don't expect you'll start now. So, what shall we have? Something sinful and sweet and sticky that will make us moan in delight?"
Regulus stared at him, wide-eyed for a moment, and when he tried to speak, his words came out stuttery at first, flustered by Gaius' comment. "Y-yes, I thought perhaps a mixture of sweet and savory to accompany our tea."
A waiter approached bearing cups and saucers for both of them and a pot of tea, and Regulus focused on ordering for them, hoping the flush he felt rising in his face would subside before he had to look at Gaius again. The waiter nodded as he jotted down their order, and then he disappeared. Avoiding eye contact with Gaius again, Regulus poured tea for Gaius and then himself, immediately reaching for his cup and taking a deep swallow.
"They will refresh the pot as often as we like," he said once he was feeling more composed again. "And our food will be here shortly."
"See, you were thirsty," Gaius said, sipping at his own tea and enjoying the rich taste. "And food will complete the cure, I suspect. People think it's so easy being a hedonist, but it's hard work, isn't it?"
"It is indeed," Regulus said, latching onto the excuse eagerly. Anything to keep from explaining that he was obsessing over sex and Gaius. More specifically, sex with Gaius. His long-dormant libido had decided to come roaring back to life at the most inopportune moment, and he was quite annoyed that it hadn't waited until he was more certain about his chances of stealing Gaius away from That Man. "It takes more effort than one might think."
"Fortunately, we're up to the challenge. We just have to rest and recuperate from time to time." Gaius thought he saw a flush in Regulus' cheeks, and he wondered - hoped! - that it could be because of him. That was the frustrating part, though, not knowing if Regulus was noticing him, or if some other thought entirely was playing behind those cool grey eyes. "A few moments off our feet, or maybe a nap later, and we'll be good to dance the night away in a pavilion under the stars."
"Dance?" Regulus had no idea how he could hold Gaius in his arms and not do something rash and foolish; he had will power and self-control, but even he had his limits. "Well, we can see how we feel later," he said slowly, "if that is what you wish to do."
"Only if you do," Gaius said easily. "You've been tired, so maybe that isn't the best idea after all. Adventures can wait for later." If Regulus wasn't enthusiastic about repeating that night, Gaius wouldn't press. He just hoped that the way Regulus had been that night wasn't some fluke, that he really could return to seeming that happy and carefree - and all the better if he felt that way because he was with Gaius.
"I'm certain we can find some sort of adventure," Regulus said. "Even if it is merely lounging in the bathing pool. That is... er... quite a bathroom we have, after all." Belatedly, he realized how suggestive that sounded, and he hoped Gaius wouldn't take it the wrong way and get offended.
"It is, isn't it?" Gaius replied, sipping more of his tea and wondering what he could do or say to recapture the connection he'd felt with Regulus the night they'd danced under the stars. Had that been Regulus' way of trying to say he was interested, and had Gaius somehow failed a test? But no... until this morning, things had been easy between them, as easy as before Sirius had died. Perhaps that was the problem - maybe Regulus felt guilty? Or perhaps it was something entirely different? He didn't want to inadvertently make things worse by trying to make them better! He wished desperately that Serenus was at hand so that he could ask for advice - or better yet, perhaps, Severus. Regulus thought Gaius knew him well, but Severus understood Regulus, not only because of their shared history but because they were, in many ways, so much alike.
Still, Regulus was showing an interest in the bathing pool, and anything that would get Regulus nearly naked was just fine with Gaius. He smiled. "If you think the one in our hotel bath is nice, though, you should see the bathing pool Severus has; it's big enough for a party. Of course, the one we had at Vesuvius, though smaller, did have several added benefits. I found the environs to be absolutely stunning." Gaius meant his view of Regulus, not the waterfall, but Regulus didn't have to know that. Still his eyes were warm as he looked at Regulus, remembering the sight of him in the skimpy bathing attire.
Regulus' traitorous mind suddenly flung images of Gaius rising from the water of Vesuvius' pool, wet and nearly naked, and Regulus took another long, deep swallow of tea. "Yes," he mumbled as he focused desperately on pouring another cup of tea. "It was quite scenic. Quite, quite scenic." He groped around for a topic - any topic - that would take his mind off wet and naked Gaius. "So Severus has a bathing pool, does he? He seems to have become quite the hedonist himself of late."
"Oh, yes - latent desires coming out and all that, I suppose," Gaius chuckled, thinking fondly of the softer side of his snarky brother. He knew Regulus no longer had those kind of feelings for Severus, but he wished desperately that Regulus might come to have those feelings for him, instead. "Remus had it built for him as a gift. It's big enough for the whole family, including the children. I think that Severus has become quite used to having his every desire indulged, but in our family, we all believe he deserves it even if others do not." His smile became rueful, and he knew he didn't have to tell Regulus just where Sirius had stood on the issues of both Severus and Severus' relationship with Remus.
"After what he endured up through the end of the war, I am inclined to agree," Regulus said. Just then, the waiter returned with their food, and Regulus paused in order to choose a few items he thought Gaius might like best and handed the filled plate to Gaius before serving himself. "Lupin isn't the one I would have chosen for Severus, but even I cannot deny he has been good for Severus. I am continually amazed by the difference between Severus as he is now and as I remember him. Some might not see a great change, but I can, and it is a change for the better, in my opinion."
"Thank you," Gaius said, accepting the plate. His eyes lit up in delighted anticipation as he caught the scent of the morsels Regulus selected. Picking up his fork, he bit into something that seemed to be a bit of fried dough, but which was filled with a luscious mixture of spiced meat.
"Oh, delicious," he said approvingly, closing his eyes as he savored the flavor with hedonistic relish. Opening his eyes once more, Gaius smiled. "Unfortunately I've only known Severus since he's been with Remus, so I don't know what he was like before he became an utterly spoilt diva, but I do believe they are good for each other." His tone softened. "Sirius wasn't best pleased about their relationship, either. Someone drew a beautiful picture of the characters out of Remus' book that looked uncannily like Remus shagging Sirius, and Sirius admitted to me that he'd been in love with Remus for a long time. I suppose Remus and Severus were somehow destined to be together, even though it took them decades to end up that way."
Regulus laughed wryly and shook his head. "So Sirius loved Lupin, and I loved Severus. How apt. More than a little ironic, too, I think." He ate a bite or two, lost in thought for a moment. "That romantic destiny thing again. I am still not convinced it exists. Or at least, I am not convinced it exists for everyone. I certainly don't begrudge either Severus or Serenus their happiness, but I am not certain about my own chances," he said pensively.
Reaching across the table, Gaius laid a hand on top of Regulus', leaning closer and dropping his voice. He couldn't bear to see Regulus like this, doubting himself when he should be full of confidence. "I'm certain about your chances," he said softly. "I know there is someone for you, someone to love you as you deserve to be loved, to fulfill all your fantasies and make you happy. I'm so certain of it, in fact, that I'm willing to make you a wager." A grin curved his lips, and his eyes gleamed.
The touch of Gaius' hand warmed Regulus, but it was a mistake for him to look down at Gaius' hand, because he could remember the sight of it moving... stroking...
He drew in a deep breath and forced himself to look up and meet Gaius' gaze, trying to process what Gaius had said. "A wager?" he asked, then cleared his throat to rid himself of the huskiness in his voice. "What sort of wager?"
This could be a win-win situation, and Gaius chuckled. "I will bet you that you will find the man who is destined for you within the next three months, or I will walk naked through Diagon Alley. That would be in the middle of winter, you know... and I won't use magic to keep warm."
"Three months?" Regulus raised one eyebrow, eying Gaius dubiously. "Why are you so certain I will find my alleged destiny in so short a time when I have not found him in over forty years?"
"Call me psychic," Gaius said serenely, picking up another morsel and popping it into his mouth. "I have a feeling, all right? A very good feeling. What do you have to lose, anyway? Either you find the man of your dreams, or you get to point and laugh at me along with half of Wizarding Britain. Or maybe it means you will broaden your mind in order to save me from abject humiliation."
"I don't know..." Regulus mused, stroking his chin. "The idea of you being forced to parade around Diagon Alley is quite a tempting one. I might hold out for three months just to teach you a lesson." He leaned back in his chair, giving Gaius a questioning look. "You haven't mentioned what will happen if I lose the wager? Aside from finding my romantic destiny, of course," he added dryly.
"Hmmm... let's see," Gaius said, thinking over his options. He gave Regulus a slow smile, his eyes dancing. "If that happens, you have to promise to put yourself into my hands for twenty-four hours and let me do whatever I like with you."
Regulus blinked and swallowed hard. Of all the things Gaius might have said, that was the most unexpected, but surely he didn't mean it the way it sounded. No, he would probably make Regulus clean his flat with a toothbrush or something along those lines. But Regulus couldn't quite stop himself from glancing covertly at Gaius' hands again nonetheless.
"Very well, we have a bet." He held out his hand across the table. "I hope you are not too susceptible to catching cold."
Gaius took Regulus' hand, shaking it solemnly, although his eyes still sparkled with wicked amusement. "I don't think I have a thing to worry about," he replied airily. "And neither do you. You'll see... Gaius is wise, Gaius knows all... you just must have faith." He let his thumb brush Regulus' palm in an "innocent" gesture, not able to resist the temptation of Regulus' hand in his.
The casual brush of Gaius' thumb sent a shiver down Regulus' spine, but he suppressed it and released Gaius' hand with reluctance. "We shall see," he said. He wasn't convinced there was such a thing as romantic destiny, although if by some miracle he did manage to steal Gaius from That Man and win Gaius' affection for himself, he might start to have a little faith in destiny at last. "Three months, eh? Perhaps I should consult with Tybalt's grandmother and get a second opinion about whether Gaius the wise does indeed know all about my fate."
It didn't bother Gaius at all that Regulus might consult the fair Celestra, because he simply would not allow himself to believe that he couldn't win Regulus over. He had to have enough faith for the both of them, since Regulus still had so many doubts. To consider not ending up with Regulus was simply unthinkable.
"Perhaps you should, yes, just so that perhaps you will start to believe," he replied. "It happened for Severus, and Serenus, and me... it's your turn now. I'm willing to stake my skinny, pale arse on it!"
Gaius' words stung deep, reminding Regulus that he had an uphill, possibly hopeless battle ahead. What if Gaius really had found true love with someone else? Regulus wasn't even convinced he was in love yet; he only knew that he desired Gaius, but Tybalt had certainly seemed convinced. Then again, perhaps the fact that he was eaten up with jealousy over the thought of That Man being Gaius' romantic destiny was all he needed to know.
"Literally, it seems." Regulus strove to keep his voice light, but he pushed his plate aside, his appetite gone. This was a ridiculously complicated situation, and he was not quite as certain of his chances now as he had been.
It wasn't lost on Gaius that Regulus wasn't eating, and he mentally kicked himself for pushing too hard again. He could almost see Regulus withdrawing into himself, and he wanted desperately to pull Regulus into his arms and beg him to look at him, really look at him and see the love in his heart, love he longed to offer Regulus. But it wasn't time; if he messed up, he might lose Regulus forever, and his confidence of moments ago faded in the harsh light of reality.
"Still tired?" he asked softly. "Would you prefer to just go back to the hotel? Shopping can wait. I think it's more important to take care of you."
Regulus paused, not wanting to curtail the outing for Gaius, who had seemed to be enjoying himself, but he wasn't certain he was up to an afternoon of shopping and close proximity to Gaius either. He hadn't slept well - that had been true enough - and he wanted to rest and take a break from wondering about whether he was going to succeed or fail against That Man, his perpetual shadowy opponent.
"I would like that, yes," he said at last. "A little rest would do me some good, I think."
"Then that's what we'll do." Gaius smiled, then pulled out money to cover their meal, placing it on the table and rising. "I prefer to see you relaxed and smiling and happy; that's more important than anything. If we go out into the alley, we can Apparate back to the hotel."
Pushing back his chair, Regulus stood as well and mustered a smile. "That sounds fine." He reached out and rested his hand on Gaius' shoulder. "I apologize for spoiling our plans. I believe I will be ready for more adventure after some rest." He was determined to be, at any rate; he wanted Gaius to enjoy the trip, and he certainly didn't want Gaius' fun to be spoiled because of his low spirits.
Laying his hand on top of Regulus', Gaius shook his head slightly. "No apology necessary. I would much prefer you to be honest with me about how you feel than to pretend in order to make me feel better. This isn't about me, you know; it's about both of us, and I won't enjoy anything that doesn't make you happy as well."
"No pretense, then," Regulus replied as he moved away from the table and toward the exit. "Shall we go? Even adventurers need down time every so often, I suppose, and we are in no particular rush, right?"
As long as he could be with Regulus, Gaius was in no rush to do anything at all. "Right," he agreed, following Regulus toward the door. Down time didn't bother him at all, and perhaps someday, they would be napping together, holding each other close, their fatigue stemming frm more than the sated exhaustion of lovers who had indulged each other completely.