How Soon Is Now?
Date: 10 September 1999, evening
Remus prowled towards the stage, black leather trousers riding low on his hips, a wicked smile curving his lips. Mounting the steps, he took the microphone in his hand, then turned into the spotlight. His leather jacket was halfway unzipped, revealing the upper expanse of his chest, completely ungraced by any sign of a shirt.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Remus Lupin, in case anyone here doesn't know me," he said in a low drawl. "I've not sung in public in... well, I suppose ever, so I hope I don't frighten you all. This is a song that has a great deal of meaning to me, and well, just keep drinking, and I promise you it will all be over soon."
With that he grinned widely, then nodded off stage, and the music began. A throbbing bass line was overlaid by a haunting, nearly wailing guitar. Looking out at the audience through his lashes, Remus raised the microphone and began to sing in a husky but surprisingly melodious baritone.
I am the son,
and the heir,
of a shyness that is criminally vulgar -
I am the son and heir,
of nothing in particular.
You shut your mouth,
how can you say,
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved -
just like everybody else does...
Raising a hand to his jacket, he undid the zipper the rest of the way, so that the leather gaped open over his chest, which was hairless and lightly tanned with well defined muscles. The light caught on the white-gold of the sunburst shaped nipple shield on the left side of his chest. With a somewhat sly grin, he pushed his long fringe out of his eyes and began to sing again.
I am the son,
and the heir,
of a shyness that is criminally vulgar -
I am the son and the heir,
of nothing in particular.
You shut your mouth,
how can you say,
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved -
just like everybody else does...
Walking to the edge of the stage, he leant down near Bill Weasley, reaching out to run his fingers through the long red ponytail seductively, then tweaking Bill's earring as he sang.
There's a club if you'd like to go,
you could meet somebody who really loves you!
So you go, and you stand on your own -
and you leave on your own -
and you go home, and you cry,
and you want to die.
Straightening up with a wink for Bill, Remus looked out into the audience, amber eyes fastening immediately and unerringly on a dark form in the back of the room. His voice lowered, becoming a bit rougher as he sang the next verse directly to that person.
When you say it's gonna happen "now" -
well, when exactly do you mean?
See I've already waited too long
and all my hope is gone...
The haunting guitar riff played again, and Remus almost whispered the last verse.
You shut your mouth,
how can you say,
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved -
just like everybody else does.
The last beats died throbbingly away, and the hand holding the microphone dropped to the werewolf's side. He was quiet for a moment, strangely still, standing with his head bowed and shoulders slumped. Then he straightened abruptly, flashing a grin at everyone, and took a small bow before replacing the microphone and jumping down from the stage.
From his place in a secluded corner, Severus watched the performance with a disdainful sneer curling his lip. At first, he had been surprised to see Lupin take the stage; he hadn't thought Lupin would put himself forward, especially not in so blatant a manner. Perhaps Lupin had already been drinking, although that didn't explain his clothes. Not that it mattered to Severus if Lupin wanted to prance around on-stage and make a fool of himself or put himself on shameless display like some common trollop.
Something on Lupin's chest caught the light, but from his vantage point, Severus couldn't tell what it was. Surely not a piercing. Lupin was too... tweedy for that.
Just then, Lupin bent to stroke Bill Weasley's hair and play with his earring, and Severus watched with narrowed eyes for a moment longer before turning away in disgust. He should have known better than to come here. Perhaps it wasn't as good an idea as he had thought it would be, especially not if the nightly entertainment consisted of sickening Gryffindor Love Fests.
The werewolf and the curse-breaker. How charming.
Lifting the snifter in his hand, he downed the rest of his brandy in one swallow and pushed back his chair. If he was to endure more caterwauling, he would need more brandy. Lots more brandy. Perhaps even something stronger.
--
Moving off to one side, heart racing from having done something so... well, blatant, Remus took a deep breath. Adrenaline surged through him, but also a strange sense of pleasure and accomplishment. For better or worse, he had started down a road far different from any he had travelled before.
Amber eyes were drawn again to the back of the room, to the dark figure who rose from his chair like a looming spectre. Unsurprisingly, Severus seemed to be sneering. Well, it had been too much to hope, perhaps, that the man would have picked up on the verse Remus directed at him. He continued to watch as Severus headed towards the bar, and then he followed.
He needed something to drink, after all. Gryffindor he might be, but a little bit of liquid courage wouldn't come amiss when taking on someone like Severus.
--
Severus strode to the bar, ignoring everyone in his path. He was having second thoughts about this particular means of enacting change in his life; it involved people, after all, including Gryffindors, and that might, in the end, prove a greater obstacle than he anticipated.
Tossing a few coins on the bar, he ordered another round of brandy and cradled the snifter in one hand as he glanced around, hoping to see a familiar face that did not belong to a Gryffindor -- someone who might be inclined to speak to him.
--
Remus deliberately did not look directly at the Potions Master as he sidled up to the bar, but he carefully made certain that he was right next to Severus as he pulled his money out of his jacket pocket and asked Tom for a class of cognac. Accepting the proffered glass with a smile, he turned around, leaning back against the bar casually.
Severus was right there, and Remus longed to reach out and touch him, but he couldn't. Instead he took a sip from his glass, then gave a low, throaty chuckle.
"Not exactly your normal scene, is it, Severus?" he asked softly. "I never thought you one for a place that had so many people in it. Or at least people who weren't students."
Severus glanced over at Lupin, surprised for the second time in less than 10 minutes; after Lupin's tasteless little display, Severus assumed Lupin and Bill Weasley would be excavating each other's tonsils by now, and to find Lupin here at the bar, talking to him, was unexpected.
His gaze flicked down to whatever it was he had seen glinting in the light on-stage -- it was indeed a piercing. But not just a piercing. No, Lupin's nipple was surrounded by what looked like a sunburst, and Severus repressed a snort. He hadn't realized Lupin possessed such a keen sense of irony.
One would need to be careful with one's tongue--. The thought rose unbidden before he viciously squelched it and looked away.
"My reasons for being here are none of your business, Lupin," he replied, his smooth, deep voice covered in ice as he gave Lupin a cold, disdainful once-over, making his contempt for Lupin's clothes and negligent lounging pose clear. "Now why don't you go and peddle your cheap, tawdry wares to someone who might actually be interested in them."
The old Remus Lupin, the retiring man in tweed and cardigans, would have smiled slightly and taken off for more friendly climes at such a statement. That Remus would have been just as aroused by the snarking of the Potions Master, but would have been far too subdued to say or do anything about it.
Not so this Remus.
A feral smile curved the werewolf's lips, and he straightened, taking a slight step closer to the other man, crowding him but not touching. Looking up at Severus through his lashes, Remus lowered his voice to a husky growl.
"Tawdry, perhaps, but I'm hardly cheap, Severus," he replied. Leaning even closer, Remus licked his lips, then drew in a deep, deliberate breath, catching Severus' scent. His eyes glittered for a moment, then he bared his teeth in something that bore little resemblance to a smile. "Yes, I can see that. Pity. But I appreciate the advice - after all, I'm certain there are other attractive, vicious bastards out there who would be interested in me, since you so obviously aren't."
Tossing back the rest of the cognac, Remus smiled once more, leaning in until his lips were close to Severus' ear. "Have fun molesting the kiddies then, Severus," he whispered. He thunked the empty glass down on the bar, before spinning on his heel and stalking away, hips swaying provocatively as he moved.
Take that, Severus, he thought to himself. Let's see how you like taking it instead of dishing it out.
Severus stared after Lupin's retreating figure, his hand clenching on the snifter as he fought the urge to hurl it at Lupin's back. How dare he! How dare he speak to Severus like that and then saunter away! Bastard!
With a snarl, he turned away and gulped down the remainder of his brandy, forcing himself to put all thoughts of Remus bloody Lupin, his damned piercing, and his damned new-found insolence aside.
Brandy, Severus decided, simply wasn't going to do it. He needed something stronger to help him calm down before he did something that he wasn't certain he would actually regret, such as hexing Lupin into oblivion and then returning to the safety and comfort of his own chambers.
Bill watched in amazement as Remus Lupin - of all people! - took the stage, wearing a breathtaking ensemble. Bill had been a bit surprised at the interest in karaoke in the first place here. Really, English wizards singing. Of course, in Cairo, it had been all the rage, but he hadn't expected any of his former associates here to be even remotely interested.
However. Speaking of interest, Remus suddenly bent down and touched Bill. Bill's breath hitched unexpectedly, and he watched in renewed fascination as Remus continued his number. He noted a shift of Remus' attention to the back of the room, but decided to pay it no mind. Just a flicker. But as the number ended, he watched Remus' purposeful conversation with Severus Snape at the bar.
Interesting. Perhaps more than a flicker. Still, very quickly, Remus was walking back in his direction. Bill worried he would pass without speaking; impulsively, he reached out and touched Remus' arm.
"I was just about to order another," Bill said, indicating his nearly-empty Leaky Special Boilermaker. "Perhaps you'd care to join me? We should get reacquainted."
Heart still hammering from his encounter with Severus, Remus stopped at Bill's touch, blinking in surprise for a moment before smiling widely.
"I would love to join you," he replied, before taking Bill's glass right out of his hand and draining the remainder of the contents. Smiling once again, he chuckled. "But I'm buying. What do you say we forgo the kiddie drinks and get a bottle of something good? Name your poison. I feel like celebrating, and you, dear man, have just gotten invited to the party."
"Um..." Unsure of how to respond to such an enthusiastic response, Bill gathered his wits and smiled right back. "I'm a bit of a Firewhiskey man myself, but I'm up for anything. Really," he said, leaning close. "So, I didn't know you were a singer. Or that you had a piercing. Nice." Bill tried not to stare, but was having a great deal of trouble.
"Firewhiskey it is," Remus said, signalling to Tom at the bar. He had no desire to go back in that direction at the moment.
Turning back to Bill, he grinned. "I didn't know I was a singer, either, but it was fun," he admitted. Looking down at his own chest, he ran fingers over the sunburst for a moment before glancing back up into Bill's green eyes. "As for the piercing... well, call it a whim. I was getting the ear done," he pointed to the small stud in his right ear, "and a bloke was in there getting his nipple done at the same time. I don't know, it looked..." Remus hesitated to say arousing, but then he shrugged. "Arousing. So I went for it. Hurt like hell for a few days, but I think I rather like it now. It certainly does get the looks."
Raising one brow nonchalantly, he tweaked Bill's earring again, just as he had done from the stage. "So, how many drinks will it take to get you to confess if you have any others, my friend? And how many more than that to talk you into doing it?"
"Oh, I don't need drinks to confess anything. There's a tattoo, but no more piercings." The bottle appeared and Bill poured two healthy tumblers, passing one over, brushing Remus' fingers lightly. "Haven't had time to...explore...any more body modification lately."
Bill smiled devilishly, throwing back his Firewhiskey in one neat gulp and pouring another. "And uh, doing what? You weren't specific on what 'it' is? You mean piercings, or did you have something else in mind?"
Remus downed his firewhiskey, then picked up the bottle and refilled his glass. "Tattoo, eh?" Returning Bill's smile, he winked. "I have two of those, as well. I had specifically meant piercings, but I'm flexible. We could play I'll-Show-You-Mine, if you'd like."
"Oh?" Bill was getting more interested by the minute. Somewhere in the back of his mind was a little cautionary third eye that kept drifting over to the murderous look coming from another part of the bar, but he thought maybe that was just a figment of his imagination. "I might be game for a little of that. I have a little secret," Bill said, leaning over very close and pushing Remus' glass out of the way. "I don't even have to be drunk to play that game."
Remus' eyes darkened. "Is that so?" he growled. "Well, one of mine I could show you just by taking off my jacket. The other, however... well, Tom is forgiving, but I think even he might have some problems if I took down my trousers in public just to display my love of skin art."
Bill loved a challenge more than anything else; it was why he was a cursebreaker and why he found the words spilling out of his mouth. "Oh really?" he said, "it's nice that there's a much more private place right across the street. My place, that is." Bill winked and leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs, and slowly undid his loosening ponytail to reveal his long hair. "I don't have that much to show, myself; what you see is what you get, really. But I wouldn't mind seeing yours sometime, you know, purely for research purposes."
Remus watched Bill's hair fall around his face, and drew in a silent breath as the gorgeous mass of red fell free. It was soft, he knew that from running his fingers through it earlier.
Damn Severus anyway, he thought suddenly, licking his lips.
Refilling his glass, he downed it again, feeling the cumulative effects of the alcohol beginning to affect him. It took a great deal to get him drunk, but it could be done; and suddenly it seemed like a smashing idea.
Another refill, and down it went, and the amber eyes were feral when they looked back at Bill. "Let's see if you like the easy one, first," he said, pulling off his leather jacket. He turned in his seat so that Bill could see his his back, and looked back at him over his shoulder.
The image of a howling wolf was inked on the tanned skin, the golden eyes of the creature seeming to glow.
"Well, what do you think?" he asked softly.
"I think..." Bill said, reaching out, then hesitating. "May I? I just want to touch it. It looks alive. It's perfect. I mean, I have a tattoo of a snitch on my shoulder that flutters when there is a breeze on my bare shoulders, but... this one is special."
"Of course you can touch it," Remus smiled back encouragingly. "It's not all that special, trust me." He leaned back closer, to make it easier for Bill to reach him. "It doesn't bite. I reserve that privilege for myself."
Bill leaned over, skating his fingers across the tattoo lightly, running his calloused thumb over the outline. "Nice," was his low comment. "I guess now you'll need to show me that other one. And I really have to take my shirt completely off to show mine, so..."
He leaned back again, crossing his legs and looking expectantly at Remus. It had become apparent now that for whatever reason, Remus was hunting. And Bill wasn't at all reluctant to be prey.
Remus shivered from the light touch on his skin. It had been a very, very long time since anyone had touched him anywhere except on the hand or arm, and he had forgotten how incredible it felt. The light caress made him want to remember many other feelings.
Shrugging back into his jacket, he turned back to the table, pouring himself another drink. Slamming it back, he thumped the glass on the table and smiled at Bill again. "Tell you what. If you can guess what my other tattoo is, you get a private showing. For each wrong guess you make, you take a drink. Then I can have my wicked way with you."
"Why does that sound so appealing?" Bill said, laughing. "But it's not entirely fair that I get drunk and you don't. So you'll have to guess something about me. Um..." Bill thought for a moment. "I have a number of scars, but there's one on me that was given to me by none other than Lucky the House-Elf over there, back when he was Lucius. Guess where the scar is; if you get it wrong, you drink. Fair?"
With an amused chuckle, Remus nodded. "Fair enough, then."
Making certain both their glasses were full, Remus regarded Bill with a predatory look. "So, Lucius scarred you? Bastard. Let's see, what is his speed. Whip marks on your back?"
"Take a drink," Bill said, grinning his most devilish (and drunken) grin. "Let's see. Full moon on your left thigh?"
Remus downed his drink, then poured another as Bill made his guess.
"Ha! No, that's not it, but you're close on one part," he murmured, smiling. Quirking a brow, he inclined his head. "Did he whap his pimp cane across your arse?"
"Ah, close. Not quite. Drink up, Remus." Bill poured a shot, then looked expectant. "Was it the thigh, or the moon? Let's see. Um, a cauldron on your left arse cheek, then." Bill winked at the not-so-subtle hint that he wasn't oblivious to the exchange earlier at the bar. At this point, he didn't particularly care.
Swallowing his drink again, Remus grinned, feeling pleasantly warm. "Hmmm. Right location, wrong picture," he said, leaning across the table and putting his hand on Bill's wrist. His eyes glittered brightly, and he lowered his voice to a husky whisper. "Since you got half of it, you have your choice. You can drink your drink, or you can have a kiss."
"Well," Bill said, feeling pleasantly unsteady and very warm at the touch. "That's not really hard, is it?" Bill leaned over, putting his hands on either side of Remus' face and leaning in to brush his lips with his own, as might be appropriate with an audience. Bill was actually surprised he still had any notion of propriety given the amount of alcohol he'd consumed at this point, and was just considering that maybe, just maybe, Remus would consent to come over to the flat for more. If they could stumble over there.
Remus smiled softly at the light caress. But a chaste buss was definitely not what he had in mind.
Curving a hand around Bill's neck, he pressed his mouth firmly against Bill's, then parted his lips to draw Bill's lower lip between his own. He nibbled gently on the temptingly full flesh, then brushed his tongue across it, drinking in the taste of firewhiskey and Bill's own pleasant, distinct flavor.
"That's it," Bill said, drawing back, "no more dancing around the issue. My flat's across the street. So, are we going to play show and tell, or sit here and pretend we aren't going to end up over there anyway?"
It was good to be practical, Molly had always said.
Tonks and Harry made their way to the closest table, which just happened to be right behind where Bill and Remus were currently snogging in the middle of the pub.
She tried not to look, she really did, but when Remus just grabbed Bill and kissed him, she found that she wasn't quite watching where she was going, and by the time she heard Bill's proposition she had slammed directly into their table.
With a loud "OOF" she lost her footing and tumbled over the table leg, landing directly in Bill's lap.
"Well hey, there, Tonks, long time no see." Bill touched her shockingly red hair, and smiled at her startled look. "I like it. Don't you like it, Remus?" Bill kissed her, because, well, he was in a snogging mood now, then had to steady her. "We need to talk, sometime, soon. Catch up."
Tonks' eyes widened, her lips slightly parted, and at this point she wasn't completely sure they were her lips. OhmygodBillkissedmeohmygodohmygod...
Reaching across to take the wide-eyed witch from Bill's arms, Remus regarded her hair with a critical eye. "Yes, I think I do like it. I'm partial to redheads, you know." Grinning wickedly, Remus kissed her as well, then easily tipped her up onto her feet.
"Thanks for dropping in," he said drolly, rising to his feet. "We'd love to stick around and chat, but something has... er, come up." He winked at Bill, then held out a hand to the other man. "I believe you said your place, yes?"
Tonks somehow managed to nod at the pair, her mind racing with something along the lines of ohmygodBillkissedmeRemuskissedmewhatthebloodyhell... as she shakily walked back over to Harry.
"I'll lead, then," Bill said, picking up the half-empty bottle of Firewhiskey. "You'll want to mind the stairs, and...well...come on." They exited, to the street and Bill's flat.
Severus' glare bore holes in the back of Bill's head while Severus sipped his first glass of absinthe; if looks could have killed, Bill would have been a sticky patch on the floor. At the sight of Lupin and Bill inching closer and gazing at each other like besotted adolescents, he snarled and turned away, ignoring them and focusing on his drink -- and his own plans for the evening.
Remus prowled towards the stage, black leather trousers riding low on his hips, a wicked smile curving his lips. Mounting the steps, he took the microphone in his hand, then turned into the spotlight. His leather jacket was halfway unzipped, revealing the upper expanse of his chest, completely ungraced by any sign of a shirt.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Remus Lupin, in case anyone here doesn't know me," he said in a low drawl. "I've not sung in public in... well, I suppose ever, so I hope I don't frighten you all. This is a song that has a great deal of meaning to me, and well, just keep drinking, and I promise you it will all be over soon."
With that he grinned widely, then nodded off stage, and the music began. A throbbing bass line was overlaid by a haunting, nearly wailing guitar. Looking out at the audience through his lashes, Remus raised the microphone and began to sing in a husky but surprisingly melodious baritone.
I am the son,
and the heir,
of a shyness that is criminally vulgar -
I am the son and heir,
of nothing in particular.
You shut your mouth,
how can you say,
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved -
just like everybody else does...
Raising a hand to his jacket, he undid the zipper the rest of the way, so that the leather gaped open over his chest, which was hairless and lightly tanned with well defined muscles. The light caught on the white-gold of the sunburst shaped nipple shield on the left side of his chest. With a somewhat sly grin, he pushed his long fringe out of his eyes and began to sing again.
I am the son,
and the heir,
of a shyness that is criminally vulgar -
I am the son and the heir,
of nothing in particular.
You shut your mouth,
how can you say,
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved -
just like everybody else does...
Walking to the edge of the stage, he leant down near Bill Weasley, reaching out to run his fingers through the long red ponytail seductively, then tweaking Bill's earring as he sang.
There's a club if you'd like to go,
you could meet somebody who really loves you!
So you go, and you stand on your own -
and you leave on your own -
and you go home, and you cry,
and you want to die.
Straightening up with a wink for Bill, Remus looked out into the audience, amber eyes fastening immediately and unerringly on a dark form in the back of the room. His voice lowered, becoming a bit rougher as he sang the next verse directly to that person.
When you say it's gonna happen "now" -
well, when exactly do you mean?
See I've already waited too long
and all my hope is gone...
The haunting guitar riff played again, and Remus almost whispered the last verse.
You shut your mouth,
how can you say,
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved -
just like everybody else does.
The last beats died throbbingly away, and the hand holding the microphone dropped to the werewolf's side. He was quiet for a moment, strangely still, standing with his head bowed and shoulders slumped. Then he straightened abruptly, flashing a grin at everyone, and took a small bow before replacing the microphone and jumping down from the stage.
From his place in a secluded corner, Severus watched the performance with a disdainful sneer curling his lip. At first, he had been surprised to see Lupin take the stage; he hadn't thought Lupin would put himself forward, especially not in so blatant a manner. Perhaps Lupin had already been drinking, although that didn't explain his clothes. Not that it mattered to Severus if Lupin wanted to prance around on-stage and make a fool of himself or put himself on shameless display like some common trollop.
Something on Lupin's chest caught the light, but from his vantage point, Severus couldn't tell what it was. Surely not a piercing. Lupin was too... tweedy for that.
Just then, Lupin bent to stroke Bill Weasley's hair and play with his earring, and Severus watched with narrowed eyes for a moment longer before turning away in disgust. He should have known better than to come here. Perhaps it wasn't as good an idea as he had thought it would be, especially not if the nightly entertainment consisted of sickening Gryffindor Love Fests.
The werewolf and the curse-breaker. How charming.
Lifting the snifter in his hand, he downed the rest of his brandy in one swallow and pushed back his chair. If he was to endure more caterwauling, he would need more brandy. Lots more brandy. Perhaps even something stronger.
--
Moving off to one side, heart racing from having done something so... well, blatant, Remus took a deep breath. Adrenaline surged through him, but also a strange sense of pleasure and accomplishment. For better or worse, he had started down a road far different from any he had travelled before.
Amber eyes were drawn again to the back of the room, to the dark figure who rose from his chair like a looming spectre. Unsurprisingly, Severus seemed to be sneering. Well, it had been too much to hope, perhaps, that the man would have picked up on the verse Remus directed at him. He continued to watch as Severus headed towards the bar, and then he followed.
He needed something to drink, after all. Gryffindor he might be, but a little bit of liquid courage wouldn't come amiss when taking on someone like Severus.
--
Severus strode to the bar, ignoring everyone in his path. He was having second thoughts about this particular means of enacting change in his life; it involved people, after all, including Gryffindors, and that might, in the end, prove a greater obstacle than he anticipated.
Tossing a few coins on the bar, he ordered another round of brandy and cradled the snifter in one hand as he glanced around, hoping to see a familiar face that did not belong to a Gryffindor -- someone who might be inclined to speak to him.
--
Remus deliberately did not look directly at the Potions Master as he sidled up to the bar, but he carefully made certain that he was right next to Severus as he pulled his money out of his jacket pocket and asked Tom for a class of cognac. Accepting the proffered glass with a smile, he turned around, leaning back against the bar casually.
Severus was right there, and Remus longed to reach out and touch him, but he couldn't. Instead he took a sip from his glass, then gave a low, throaty chuckle.
"Not exactly your normal scene, is it, Severus?" he asked softly. "I never thought you one for a place that had so many people in it. Or at least people who weren't students."
Severus glanced over at Lupin, surprised for the second time in less than 10 minutes; after Lupin's tasteless little display, Severus assumed Lupin and Bill Weasley would be excavating each other's tonsils by now, and to find Lupin here at the bar, talking to him, was unexpected.
His gaze flicked down to whatever it was he had seen glinting in the light on-stage -- it was indeed a piercing. But not just a piercing. No, Lupin's nipple was surrounded by what looked like a sunburst, and Severus repressed a snort. He hadn't realized Lupin possessed such a keen sense of irony.
One would need to be careful with one's tongue--. The thought rose unbidden before he viciously squelched it and looked away.
"My reasons for being here are none of your business, Lupin," he replied, his smooth, deep voice covered in ice as he gave Lupin a cold, disdainful once-over, making his contempt for Lupin's clothes and negligent lounging pose clear. "Now why don't you go and peddle your cheap, tawdry wares to someone who might actually be interested in them."
The old Remus Lupin, the retiring man in tweed and cardigans, would have smiled slightly and taken off for more friendly climes at such a statement. That Remus would have been just as aroused by the snarking of the Potions Master, but would have been far too subdued to say or do anything about it.
Not so this Remus.
A feral smile curved the werewolf's lips, and he straightened, taking a slight step closer to the other man, crowding him but not touching. Looking up at Severus through his lashes, Remus lowered his voice to a husky growl.
"Tawdry, perhaps, but I'm hardly cheap, Severus," he replied. Leaning even closer, Remus licked his lips, then drew in a deep, deliberate breath, catching Severus' scent. His eyes glittered for a moment, then he bared his teeth in something that bore little resemblance to a smile. "Yes, I can see that. Pity. But I appreciate the advice - after all, I'm certain there are other attractive, vicious bastards out there who would be interested in me, since you so obviously aren't."
Tossing back the rest of the cognac, Remus smiled once more, leaning in until his lips were close to Severus' ear. "Have fun molesting the kiddies then, Severus," he whispered. He thunked the empty glass down on the bar, before spinning on his heel and stalking away, hips swaying provocatively as he moved.
Take that, Severus, he thought to himself. Let's see how you like taking it instead of dishing it out.
Severus stared after Lupin's retreating figure, his hand clenching on the snifter as he fought the urge to hurl it at Lupin's back. How dare he! How dare he speak to Severus like that and then saunter away! Bastard!
With a snarl, he turned away and gulped down the remainder of his brandy, forcing himself to put all thoughts of Remus bloody Lupin, his damned piercing, and his damned new-found insolence aside.
Brandy, Severus decided, simply wasn't going to do it. He needed something stronger to help him calm down before he did something that he wasn't certain he would actually regret, such as hexing Lupin into oblivion and then returning to the safety and comfort of his own chambers.
Bill watched in amazement as Remus Lupin - of all people! - took the stage, wearing a breathtaking ensemble. Bill had been a bit surprised at the interest in karaoke in the first place here. Really, English wizards singing. Of course, in Cairo, it had been all the rage, but he hadn't expected any of his former associates here to be even remotely interested.
However. Speaking of interest, Remus suddenly bent down and touched Bill. Bill's breath hitched unexpectedly, and he watched in renewed fascination as Remus continued his number. He noted a shift of Remus' attention to the back of the room, but decided to pay it no mind. Just a flicker. But as the number ended, he watched Remus' purposeful conversation with Severus Snape at the bar.
Interesting. Perhaps more than a flicker. Still, very quickly, Remus was walking back in his direction. Bill worried he would pass without speaking; impulsively, he reached out and touched Remus' arm.
"I was just about to order another," Bill said, indicating his nearly-empty Leaky Special Boilermaker. "Perhaps you'd care to join me? We should get reacquainted."
Heart still hammering from his encounter with Severus, Remus stopped at Bill's touch, blinking in surprise for a moment before smiling widely.
"I would love to join you," he replied, before taking Bill's glass right out of his hand and draining the remainder of the contents. Smiling once again, he chuckled. "But I'm buying. What do you say we forgo the kiddie drinks and get a bottle of something good? Name your poison. I feel like celebrating, and you, dear man, have just gotten invited to the party."
"Um..." Unsure of how to respond to such an enthusiastic response, Bill gathered his wits and smiled right back. "I'm a bit of a Firewhiskey man myself, but I'm up for anything. Really," he said, leaning close. "So, I didn't know you were a singer. Or that you had a piercing. Nice." Bill tried not to stare, but was having a great deal of trouble.
"Firewhiskey it is," Remus said, signalling to Tom at the bar. He had no desire to go back in that direction at the moment.
Turning back to Bill, he grinned. "I didn't know I was a singer, either, but it was fun," he admitted. Looking down at his own chest, he ran fingers over the sunburst for a moment before glancing back up into Bill's green eyes. "As for the piercing... well, call it a whim. I was getting the ear done," he pointed to the small stud in his right ear, "and a bloke was in there getting his nipple done at the same time. I don't know, it looked..." Remus hesitated to say arousing, but then he shrugged. "Arousing. So I went for it. Hurt like hell for a few days, but I think I rather like it now. It certainly does get the looks."
Raising one brow nonchalantly, he tweaked Bill's earring again, just as he had done from the stage. "So, how many drinks will it take to get you to confess if you have any others, my friend? And how many more than that to talk you into doing it?"
"Oh, I don't need drinks to confess anything. There's a tattoo, but no more piercings." The bottle appeared and Bill poured two healthy tumblers, passing one over, brushing Remus' fingers lightly. "Haven't had time to...explore...any more body modification lately."
Bill smiled devilishly, throwing back his Firewhiskey in one neat gulp and pouring another. "And uh, doing what? You weren't specific on what 'it' is? You mean piercings, or did you have something else in mind?"
Remus downed his firewhiskey, then picked up the bottle and refilled his glass. "Tattoo, eh?" Returning Bill's smile, he winked. "I have two of those, as well. I had specifically meant piercings, but I'm flexible. We could play I'll-Show-You-Mine, if you'd like."
"Oh?" Bill was getting more interested by the minute. Somewhere in the back of his mind was a little cautionary third eye that kept drifting over to the murderous look coming from another part of the bar, but he thought maybe that was just a figment of his imagination. "I might be game for a little of that. I have a little secret," Bill said, leaning over very close and pushing Remus' glass out of the way. "I don't even have to be drunk to play that game."
Remus' eyes darkened. "Is that so?" he growled. "Well, one of mine I could show you just by taking off my jacket. The other, however... well, Tom is forgiving, but I think even he might have some problems if I took down my trousers in public just to display my love of skin art."
Bill loved a challenge more than anything else; it was why he was a cursebreaker and why he found the words spilling out of his mouth. "Oh really?" he said, "it's nice that there's a much more private place right across the street. My place, that is." Bill winked and leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs, and slowly undid his loosening ponytail to reveal his long hair. "I don't have that much to show, myself; what you see is what you get, really. But I wouldn't mind seeing yours sometime, you know, purely for research purposes."
Remus watched Bill's hair fall around his face, and drew in a silent breath as the gorgeous mass of red fell free. It was soft, he knew that from running his fingers through it earlier.
Damn Severus anyway, he thought suddenly, licking his lips.
Refilling his glass, he downed it again, feeling the cumulative effects of the alcohol beginning to affect him. It took a great deal to get him drunk, but it could be done; and suddenly it seemed like a smashing idea.
Another refill, and down it went, and the amber eyes were feral when they looked back at Bill. "Let's see if you like the easy one, first," he said, pulling off his leather jacket. He turned in his seat so that Bill could see his his back, and looked back at him over his shoulder.
The image of a howling wolf was inked on the tanned skin, the golden eyes of the creature seeming to glow.
"Well, what do you think?" he asked softly.
"I think..." Bill said, reaching out, then hesitating. "May I? I just want to touch it. It looks alive. It's perfect. I mean, I have a tattoo of a snitch on my shoulder that flutters when there is a breeze on my bare shoulders, but... this one is special."
"Of course you can touch it," Remus smiled back encouragingly. "It's not all that special, trust me." He leaned back closer, to make it easier for Bill to reach him. "It doesn't bite. I reserve that privilege for myself."
Bill leaned over, skating his fingers across the tattoo lightly, running his calloused thumb over the outline. "Nice," was his low comment. "I guess now you'll need to show me that other one. And I really have to take my shirt completely off to show mine, so..."
He leaned back again, crossing his legs and looking expectantly at Remus. It had become apparent now that for whatever reason, Remus was hunting. And Bill wasn't at all reluctant to be prey.
Remus shivered from the light touch on his skin. It had been a very, very long time since anyone had touched him anywhere except on the hand or arm, and he had forgotten how incredible it felt. The light caress made him want to remember many other feelings.
Shrugging back into his jacket, he turned back to the table, pouring himself another drink. Slamming it back, he thumped the glass on the table and smiled at Bill again. "Tell you what. If you can guess what my other tattoo is, you get a private showing. For each wrong guess you make, you take a drink. Then I can have my wicked way with you."
"Why does that sound so appealing?" Bill said, laughing. "But it's not entirely fair that I get drunk and you don't. So you'll have to guess something about me. Um..." Bill thought for a moment. "I have a number of scars, but there's one on me that was given to me by none other than Lucky the House-Elf over there, back when he was Lucius. Guess where the scar is; if you get it wrong, you drink. Fair?"
With an amused chuckle, Remus nodded. "Fair enough, then."
Making certain both their glasses were full, Remus regarded Bill with a predatory look. "So, Lucius scarred you? Bastard. Let's see, what is his speed. Whip marks on your back?"
"Take a drink," Bill said, grinning his most devilish (and drunken) grin. "Let's see. Full moon on your left thigh?"
Remus downed his drink, then poured another as Bill made his guess.
"Ha! No, that's not it, but you're close on one part," he murmured, smiling. Quirking a brow, he inclined his head. "Did he whap his pimp cane across your arse?"
"Ah, close. Not quite. Drink up, Remus." Bill poured a shot, then looked expectant. "Was it the thigh, or the moon? Let's see. Um, a cauldron on your left arse cheek, then." Bill winked at the not-so-subtle hint that he wasn't oblivious to the exchange earlier at the bar. At this point, he didn't particularly care.
Swallowing his drink again, Remus grinned, feeling pleasantly warm. "Hmmm. Right location, wrong picture," he said, leaning across the table and putting his hand on Bill's wrist. His eyes glittered brightly, and he lowered his voice to a husky whisper. "Since you got half of it, you have your choice. You can drink your drink, or you can have a kiss."
"Well," Bill said, feeling pleasantly unsteady and very warm at the touch. "That's not really hard, is it?" Bill leaned over, putting his hands on either side of Remus' face and leaning in to brush his lips with his own, as might be appropriate with an audience. Bill was actually surprised he still had any notion of propriety given the amount of alcohol he'd consumed at this point, and was just considering that maybe, just maybe, Remus would consent to come over to the flat for more. If they could stumble over there.
Remus smiled softly at the light caress. But a chaste buss was definitely not what he had in mind.
Curving a hand around Bill's neck, he pressed his mouth firmly against Bill's, then parted his lips to draw Bill's lower lip between his own. He nibbled gently on the temptingly full flesh, then brushed his tongue across it, drinking in the taste of firewhiskey and Bill's own pleasant, distinct flavor.
"That's it," Bill said, drawing back, "no more dancing around the issue. My flat's across the street. So, are we going to play show and tell, or sit here and pretend we aren't going to end up over there anyway?"
It was good to be practical, Molly had always said.
Tonks and Harry made their way to the closest table, which just happened to be right behind where Bill and Remus were currently snogging in the middle of the pub.
She tried not to look, she really did, but when Remus just grabbed Bill and kissed him, she found that she wasn't quite watching where she was going, and by the time she heard Bill's proposition she had slammed directly into their table.
With a loud "OOF" she lost her footing and tumbled over the table leg, landing directly in Bill's lap.
"Well hey, there, Tonks, long time no see." Bill touched her shockingly red hair, and smiled at her startled look. "I like it. Don't you like it, Remus?" Bill kissed her, because, well, he was in a snogging mood now, then had to steady her. "We need to talk, sometime, soon. Catch up."
Tonks' eyes widened, her lips slightly parted, and at this point she wasn't completely sure they were her lips. OhmygodBillkissedmeohmygodohmygod...
Reaching across to take the wide-eyed witch from Bill's arms, Remus regarded her hair with a critical eye. "Yes, I think I do like it. I'm partial to redheads, you know." Grinning wickedly, Remus kissed her as well, then easily tipped her up onto her feet.
"Thanks for dropping in," he said drolly, rising to his feet. "We'd love to stick around and chat, but something has... er, come up." He winked at Bill, then held out a hand to the other man. "I believe you said your place, yes?"
Tonks somehow managed to nod at the pair, her mind racing with something along the lines of ohmygodBillkissedmeRemuskissedmewhatthebloodyhell... as she shakily walked back over to Harry.
"I'll lead, then," Bill said, picking up the half-empty bottle of Firewhiskey. "You'll want to mind the stairs, and...well...come on." They exited, to the street and Bill's flat.
Severus' glare bore holes in the back of Bill's head while Severus sipped his first glass of absinthe; if looks could have killed, Bill would have been a sticky patch on the floor. At the sight of Lupin and Bill inching closer and gazing at each other like besotted adolescents, he snarled and turned away, ignoring them and focusing on his drink -- and his own plans for the evening.