Cuddling Redux Characters: Serenus, Tybalt Summary: Serenus and Tybalt discuss their options for making amends to Severus.
After they left Snape Manor, Tybalt kept his arm around Serenus reassuringly, certain that Serenus was as disconcerted by Severus' reaction as he was himself. As they crossed through the doorway into Azoth House, he glanced down at Serenus, giving him a rueful smile. "Shall we adjourn to our room for a bit?" he asked quietly. "I don't know about you, but I'm not quite ready to face the twins yet."
Serenus mirrored Tybalt's rueful smile with one of his own, and he nodded. "I'd like that," he said. "Nanny Deb can look after the boys a while longer. I think we both could use some decompression time after that."
"Good." Tybalt turned their steps toward the bedroom, escorting Serenus inside and then closing the door behind them. Sighing, he pulled Serenus into his arms and buried his face in Serenus' hair. "I would have felt better if he'd yelled. Seriously. I can handle angry Severus, but this..."
"Quiet, calm Severus is infinitely more terrifying," Serenus agreed. He wound his arms around Tybalt and held on tightly. "At least when he's angry, he shouts, and then it's over. This..." He shook his head and sighed quietly. "He's so proud. To show how hurt he was just makes it far worse."
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean for something I wanted to be so special to hurt your twin." Tybalt sighed, holding Serenus close and stroking his back. "That'll teach me to think of other people as well as you, I suppose. I just never expected him to be so hurt over it, you know?"
Serenus rested his head on Tybalt's shoulder and leaned against him. "I know," he said, giving Tybalt a reassuring squeeze. "In hindsight, though, I can see why, and I can't say I wouldn't feel the same way if I was in his position. I believe he means it when he says he knows it wasn't personal, but I think I'd be disappointed too. I mean, we didn't include any of our family the first time around, and we could have that time, and this time, we couldn't. It wasn't premeditated, it wasn't malicious; it just worked out that way, but I understand how he feels - and that makes me feel even worse."
"Yeah." Tybalt drew in a deep breath, inhaling Serenus' beloved scent. "I understand, too, which is why I feel so bad. I just... never even thought about him, or Gaius or any of the others, for that matter. I was selfish, and Severus is suffering for it." He shook his head. "I maybe be the tallest one around here, but right now I feel smaller than a house-elf."
"You and me both," Serenus said with a sigh, rubbing Tybalt's back gently. "I didn't think about them either, not in Bermuda and not last weekend - and I'm supposedly the one who's so big on family and togetherness." He grimaced and buried his face against Tybalt's neck. "I was just as thoughtless, so don't take all the blame on yourself. We share it equally, I think."
"I'm sure in Severus' eyes, there is plenty to go around," Tybalt replied, squeezing Serenus tightly. "I just wish I knew what to do to make it up to him. To prove to him that he does matter and we do want him."
"How do you make up for something like that, though?" Serenus drew back so he could slip off his shoes, and he grasped Tybalt's hand, tugging him toward the bed. He wanted to snuggle closer than being vertical would allow. "I don't even know where to begin."
"Neither do I." Tybalt took off his shoes, as well, then followed along to the bed, pulling back the coverlet and sitting down. He lounged back against the pillows, then smiled invitingly at Serenus, crooking an arm to make a place for Serenus to snuggle in next to him. "I suppose it's the Auror in me, wanting to fix things, find some sort of closure. But Severus is complex, so I know there won't be any quick, easy way to fix this; it just doesn't make me stop wishing there was."
Serenus didn't hesitate to climb onto the bed and nestle close to Tybalt, flinging one arm across his waist. "Me, too," he murmured, pillowing his head on Tybalt's shoulder. "I want to fix it too. I hate knowing I hurt him. It's the last thing I wanted to do, but I don't know what to do about it. I suppose we'll just have to wait it out and hope for the best."
"Perhaps." Tybalt pulled Serenus close and kissed his temple. "And take every opportunity to include him and do things we know will please him, to show him that he matters." He grinned. "Maybe naked massages?"
"We'll probably have to work up to that. I have a feeling we're going to be feeling the 'hands off' vibes for a while," Serenus said wryly. "But I think trying to include him and fussing over him as much as he'll allow is a good idea."
"Okay. I'll take my cues from you, if you don't mind, since you have the super-duper wonder twin bond." Tybalt chuckled. "I suppose we could try food and wine and lots of pampering."
"I'll do my best," Serenus replied, smiling slightly. "Perhaps Remus will have some advice as well." He lay quiet and still for a moment, stroking Tybalt's chest idly with his fingertips, and then he lifted himself up and fixed Tybalt with a somber look. "I want you to know that I don't regret it, despite the unexpected fallout. I regret not thinking about my family, and I regret upsetting Severus with my thoughtlessness, but this weekend was special, and marrying you according to the customs of your people is something I could never regret doing."
Tybalt smiled and pulled Serenus down to press a tender kiss to his lips. "I'm glad you feel that way, love, because I don't regret that part of it, either. It was so special to me, not just because of doing it in front of my people, but... well, because of my father. There are so many things I can never share with him, that I've missed in having him there for, but... I felt close to him there, you know? I hope he'd be pleased that I brought my love to be joined with me where he was joined with my Mum."
Serenus smiled and cupped Tybalt's cheek in his palm, his expression softening into tender affection. "I'm sure he is," he said softly. "No doubt he was with you in spirit, and I think he has every reason to be proud of you. You're a good, brave man worthy of carrying on his name, and I'm proud to be your husband and part of your family."
The smile on Tybalt's face became absolutely soppy, and he pulled Serenus closer, snuggling him happily. "Thank you, my darling... it means a lot to me for you to say that. I want you to be proud of me." His smile faded a bit. "I'm not too proud of myself for hurting Severus, though. I hope he does know it wasn't on purpose."
"I think he does," Serenus replied, snuggling close in return. "I don't think he doubts that we care for him or that we didn't exclude him deliberately, but Severus is sensitive in his own way, more than he would ever admit, and this happened to hit that soft hedgehog belly of his."
"Sometimes it's hard for me to remember that any part of Severus is soft," Tybalt admitted sheepishly. "From what I saw of him at school and during the war, you'd have thought the man was made of granite and chewed nails for breakfast. In many ways, he fits that image, but I have to make myself remember there is another side to him, even though he tries to hide it and goes out of his way to make those faces when he thinks we're all getting too soppy."
"He does fit it, you're right," Serenus said, chuckling. Sometimes he forgot that Tybalt's perception of Severus was still colored by his experiences as Severus' student, and it was little wonder Tybalt had a difficult time thinking of Severus as having so much as a single tiny chink in his formidable armor. "But yes, there is that other side of him too, the one he would rather die than admit to having. It's the side of him that made him come after me when I ran off to Italy and that lets him act silly with the children or cuddle Winslow when he thinks no one is looking." He smiled ruefully. "Perhaps we ought to ask Remus for help. He knows that side of Severus best, and he's most adept at nurturing it. He might have some advice."
"I found myself wishing for that look Remus gives Severus, actually, when we were talking to Severus - you know, the one that makes Severus just grumble but then cave in immediately to whatever Remus wants." Tybalt chuckled as well. "We could definitely learn from Remus. Advice is good, but what we really need are lessons!"
"I think we need to be werewolves with whom Severus is madly in love and who have spoiled him enough to turn him into a diva for that look to work," Serenus replied, grinning. "Anything less just isn't going to cut it. We'll have to muddle along in our own ways." He sighed quietly, his smile fading. He hoped this didn't cause a rift with Severus; he'd been in that position before, and it wasn't an experience he cared to repeat. He didn't think it would, because they hadn't betrayed Severus' trust, but even a little distance from his twin hurt, making an empty spot form within him. "It'll be all right," he said at last. "We've worked through worse. It'll just take some time and maybe some coddling and pampering, that's all."
"Well, we're both good at that, so we'll just put our hearts into it, and he'll have no choice but to welcome us back with open arms. Er... or scowls and grumbles, since this is Severus we're talking about." Tybalt sighed, aching for the hurt he saw in Serenus' eyes. "And let's not forget you, love. I want you to feel better, too, and I'm here to help make that happen, in whatever way you want or need."
"Thank you." Serenus smiled at him affectionately and shifted so he could kiss his cheek. "Cuddling is the best medicine right now, and I'll take all of that I can get."
"Anytime," Tybalt replied, lifting a hand to stroke Serenus' cheek. "It's part of my husbandly duties, a part I'm more than happy to fulfill." He chuckled ruefully. "No doubt Severus is getting cuddled about now, too. Too bad he probably wouldn't want to make it a foursome and us all be comforted together."
"No, I doubt it," Serenus replied, sighing softly. Being able to cuddle Severus, offer comfort, and receive the reassurance that Severus wasn't going to push him away would have been wonderful, but he knew it was too soon for that. He would have to wait, give Severus some space, and hope the "don't touch" vibes died down soon.
"We'll definitely talk to Remus," Tybalt said reassuringly, giving Serenus a squeeze. "If nothing else, when you get pregnant, you'll be able to be all delicate and appealing and he won't be able to resist you!"
Chuckling, Serenus nestled closer and began to relax. "I certainly hope so. I'm sure Remus is busy cuddling Severus tonight, but I'd like to talk to him soon. Very soon."
Turning his head, Tybalt pressed a tender kiss to Serenus' temple. "Very soon," he agreed softly, relaxing back with a sigh. He knew it would take time for Severus to heal, but he hoped that Severus would heal, that this wouldn't drive a wedge between the twins. The family was so close, even more so now that the two houses were linked, and it was exactly what both he and Serenus had been longing for their whole lives - literally one big, happy family. He wouldn't let this ruin what they'd worked so hard to build; even if he had to sell his soul to Severus, he'd make sure that nothing came between Serenus and his twin.