In A Time Of Uncertainty

Marauder

Story Summary:
They once longed for each other years ago, but neither was ready to face his feelings. Now Voldemort has returned, Oliver is recruiting wizards to fight against him, and Percy is estranged from his family. Hesitant and apprehensive, they decide to try to be a couple.

Chapter 22

Chapter Summary:
"All right, men."
Posted:
11/24/2003
Hits:
1,268
Author's Note:
Well, this is the end of Part Two, so the next time you read a new chapter, it'll be from Oliver's perspective. Thank you to all my lovely reviewers, especially EnchantedOnyx, illegal Animagus seagull voyeur and constant source of encouragement.

Part Two, Chapter Thirteen

Dear Charlie,

Well, things haven't been as boring as I thought they would be since you left. A couple of pipes burst in Fred and George's flat, so they've moved back home while it's being fixed. They talk to me, but they're very stiff and formal - very civil, but I can tell they still think I ought to be left to suffer for my mistakes. Dung's trying to help a bit, seeing as they like him. It doesn't seem to be working, though.

Ginny got the dragon-tooth necklace you sent her; she's been wearing it just about every day.

Mr. Tibbles, it seems, impregnated the Siamese cat next door to Mrs. Figg. The Siamese's owner is furious - she said Mrs. Figg can deal with the kittens. Oliver's already claimed one.

Love, Percy

Dear Percy,

Too bad about F & G. They'll have to snap out of it eventually - being stiff and formal is not in their natures. How are Mum and Dad dealing with it?

I got a letter from Ginny yesterday; now she wants earrings to go along with the necklace. I sense another Bill in the making.

So, junior Tibbleses! I'd take one except it would probably get fire breathed on it. Speaking of babies, we found three abandoned eggs yesterday.

Tell everyone I said hello.

Love, Charlie

Dear Perce,

So, three more days. Although I might have to make it shorter if you wear that tight pair of jeans again.

Yours, Ol

Dear Oliver,

Oh, so you don't like the jeans? Maybe I should take them off.

Love, Percy

Dear Charlie,

Fred and George went back home today, taking about half the food in the house with them. They still don't like me, but I think they've stopped thinking of me as Satan incarnate. They still don't know about Oliver, though...that might change their minds back again. Mum and Dad are all right, just a bit frustrated.

Ginny didn't want the earrings for herself after all, she gave them to her friend Luna, who was over here yesterday. I'll ask you, because you're the one who knows about animals - there isn't such a think as a heliopath, is there?

Love, Percy

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"What do you think a part-Siamese, part-Tibbles cat will look like?" Oliver asked as he opened the door to the flat.

"I couldn't tell you."

"I've been trying to think of names, but nothing's coming to mind. Oh well, maybe I'll think of one when I see it."

As they entered the flat, Percy noticed that Oliver seemed to have spent extra time cleaning it. The stacks of lists and the numerous ink bottles were gone from the table, and the thin layer of dust that had covered everything for the last few days had disappeared. Percy's stomach gave a lurch that was half nervousness, half excited anticipation.

"I liked dinner," he said, trying to say something normal to calm his apprehension.

"Me too, I've always liked Italian food." Oliver locked the door and turned towards Percy. "So."

"So." Oh God, this was it.

"Bed? It doesn't have to be in bed, we can be on the couch or anyplace else you want."

Anyplace else, hmm?

Percy thought. After the incident in the lift, he'd figured Oliver was pretty traditional when it came to sex. Then again, the man did own around four hundred erotic novels... "Bed." At least for the first time, anyway.

Oliver grinned. "Okay, go and get in, I have to get something. And don't get undressed."

As he walked down the corridor, Percy's breath began to shake. The walls seemed unnaturally bright, like something from a dream. He reached Oliver's bedroom and went inside. The white quilt was still the same, though the pictures on the bureau had been put away. There was a book about great moments in professional Quidditch by Oliver's bedside. Hastily, Percy kicked off his socks and got into the bed. The sheets smelled of Oliver: part soap, part sweat, part fresh air. He leaned over and, pressing his face to the pillowcase, inhaled deeply.

He heard Oliver's footsteps and sat up. Oliver walked over to the side of the bed and set something down on the night table. He kept his hand on it; Percy couldn't see what it was, although he suspected it was either a box of condoms or a jar of lubricant.

Oliver reached over and stroked Percy's hair. "Nervous?"

"A bit."

"Me too."

"You aren't the one who's going to be sore in the morning."

To Percy's great surprise, Oliver laughed. "And when did we decide that?"

His face turned read as he realized they'd never discussed it. "You look so beautiful when you blush," Oliver said softly. His hand left the object on the bedside: lubricant. He pulled back the sheets and slid into bed next to Percy. His arms slipped around Percy's waist and his lips grazed his ear. "I'm open to experimentation."

Percy heard his own gasp before he felt it.

Oliver's hands drifted lower until they rested on Percy's buttocks and squeezed. "Then again, this is a very nice arse..."

With a small cry, Percy lunged at Oliver and pushed him onto his back. Oliver moaned. Keeping his hands on his lover's shoulders, Percy straddled him.

Their mouths undulated hungrily together; Oliver's robe buttoned down the front, and Percy began to undo the buttons. He wanted Oliver to groan, he wanted him to scream, he wanted his ecstasy to increase until it reached an intense climax because Oliver was Oliver and he deserved every bit of it. Once he had unbuttoned down to the waist, Percy spread the robe open and lightly rubbed his hands over Oliver's chest. Unlike his own, it was nearly hairless; the nipples were peaked and taut. Percy covered one with his lips and began to circle it with his tongue.

Oliver groaned, one hand grabbing Percy's hair and clenching it. "God, Perce, keep doing that."

Percy obeyed for another few seconds and then moved upward towards Oliver's neck, hands still trying to finish unbuttoning the robe. Oliver shifted. "Here, I'll get it." His hands took over where Percy's had left off.

Percy stared. "What are you wearing?!"

Oliver glanced down and smiled sheepishly. "My lucky corduroys."

"Your what? They look like they came from a trash bin."

"Lucky corduroys. I was wearing these when Gryffindor won the Cup, and when I was signed to Puddlemere, and - "

Percy cut him off with a wet, biting kiss.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Afterwards he lay collapsed on top of Oliver, trying desperately to recover his breath. Both of them were warm and flushed with the afterglow of pleasure, bodies completely at rest. Oliver's fingertips traced slowly up and down Percy's spine.

"I'm sorry it hurt at first," he said.

"Don't be. It was just for a second or so." And then...

He could hear the smile in Oliver's voice. "You still scream when you come. Good thing the walls are soundproofed."

"You bite and pull hair."

Oliver's hand rested over Percy's shoulder. "I didn't bite too hard, did I?"

"No."

"Good." A pause. "Spend the night with me."

Percy sat up. "I can't. Everyone thinks I'm coming home."

"So send them an owl. I don't want you to go. Please?"

That was all the encouragement Percy needed. "Okay."

Oliver glanced down. "We're a bit of a mess."

Percy laughed, softly. "Yeah."

"Shower."

Oliver's bathroom was completely black tile and chrome. Inside the shower, they passed the soap back and forth, sometimes washing themselves, sometimes washing each other. They shampooed each other's hair and watched the foamy soap running down their bodies.

Within fifteen minutes, they were both hard again.

"Back to bed?" Oliver asked between kisses.

"No," replied Percy. "Right here." And he slowly dropped to his knees.