Autumn Leaves

After bathing himself and putting on fresh clothes, Draco walked downstairs and into the dining room, where Blaise was eating a late breakfast as well. Blaise looked up as he slipped into the seat opposite his host before resuming his breakfast.

Draco rang the bell, and a servant immediately came in from the servant's door, head bowed humbly before the blonde. He told the servant to fetch breakfast, and the servant left immediately, not willing to suffer the wrath of Draco or Blaise, who would definitely more than merely reprimand him if he caused any disgrace to the household.

Blaise wiped his mouth daintily with a napkin before setting the soiled cloth to the side, sapphire glass meeting Draco's quicksilver orbs. Blaise's eyes appeared empty, but when Draco looked closer, he saw a torrent of emotions lurking beneath the deceptive surface. "How was your night, Draco?" Blaise asked pleasantly.

"I quite enjoyed the 'sleep' I received last night, Blaise," Draco replied, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. No matter how much he wanted to irk Blaise, he did not smirk because Draco did not want anyone to even have suspicions that he and Blaise were more than just friends.

A half-smile appeared on Blaise's face, though his eyes still remained distantly opaque. Draco wondered how glorious, how beautiful, Blaise would look when he actually allowed a true smile to grace his face, lighting up his cold cobalt gaze, not the ones that still held a sardonic hint in them that he had given to Draco, the ones that did not light up his eyes as much a true smile could.

"I'm quite glad that you feel hospitable here," Blaise said pleasantly, and Draco wanted to be out of the presence of the filthy servants who were making their interaction too formal, too cold, too unbearable. He wanted to be with Blaise in a private setting, kissing and sucking and licking and biting and just feel Blaise.

Breakfast ended, much to the relief of Draco, who thought he and Blaise could finally be alone together in the library. Pansy and Ginny entered the dining room, however, just as the two men prepared to leave for someplace more private.

The two ladies and the two gentlemen observed the mandatory etiquette for people of their stature. Pansy then turned to Draco, saying, "Draco, dear, you must help me prepare for the ball tonight after lunch." Draco had no choice but to agree, though he cursed Pansy vehemently in an ungentlemanly manner in his mind for preventing him from spending more time with Blaise. After all, could Ginny not help her?

After their wives left, Draco and Blaise left for the library. Neither Draco nor Blaise initiated any contact but, instead, merely discussed the last book Draco read, one about ancient Greek philosophies. It was as if they were testing each other to see who would break first.

"The highest good, as said by Aristotle, is happiness. The kind that is not attained by superficial objects put on show to display wealth. Simple objects can never bring anyone true happiness."

"Yes, but he says all external goods are more of less necessary conditions."

"But happiness means perfect and reasonable activity in a perfect life. In a perfect life, a man would have the ability to spend his life with the one he loves. Would that not be happiness?"

Blaise shook his head. "Aristotle is..." But before he could continue, Draco kissed him. The kiss was everything and more than they had expected, faded memories of the previous night no match for the sheer completeness and ecstasy they felt from the kiss.

When Draco drew back, he said, "In a perfect world, we would not be condemned."

"And that would be happiness for you?"

"No," Draco replied shortly, fixing Blaise with a steely gaze. "You are the highest good."

Silence ensued as Blaise turned toward Draco. The two men locked gazes, turmoiled cobalt sifting through calm grey. Surprisingly, Blaise looked away first, not wanting to read anymore held in the clear quicksilver. Draco sighed, and he reached a hand out to tilt Blaise's face back toward him.

"Blaise..." he murmured.

Just then, a knock resounded on the door, and Draco quickly withdrew his hand. "Enter," Blaise called.

A maid entered with her eyes downcast. "My Lords, lunch is ready," she said, wringing her hands nervously.

"Stop your wringing. I will not have any member of this household not acting the way they were trained. Understand?" Blaise said sharply. The maid nodded timidly. "If you ever disgrace this household again...let's just say you will regret it." The maid scurried out of the room in a semi-dignified manner, terrified of her master.

Blaise rose out of his couch, and he held out a hand to Draco. Draco stared at the hand, then gazed at him briefly before finally placing his hand in Blaise's. Blaise raised the fair hand to his lips and kissed it briefly before pulling Draco up, and the two men stared into each other's eyes for an indefinable moment before they let go of each other and set out for lunch.

Step Six

Vanity

After lunch, Pansy dragged Draco to her room. "What are you wearing for tonight, dear? We must match, after all."

Was that the only reason she asked me? Draco could not believe his wife. However, he merely sighed and told her, "I was thinking about wearing grey."

"Grey? I know you love the color because it brings out your eyes, but I do not truly have anything that would match for me! I look terrible in grey, my dear. Surely you can wear something else to the ball?"

Draco shook his head, his resolve set. "No, I am wearing grey. Why don't you just wear white?"

Pansy's mouth fell open with scandalized horror. "WHITE? I am not going to go to a ball and be made a fool of! I will match you if it's the last thing I do on earth!" Huffing, she grabbed several outfits and marched into the bathroom, a maid following.

After what he swore was hours of waiting, Pansy finally emerged from the bathroom, dressed in a grey gown currently in style. Diamonds were embedded throughout the satin, making Pansy sparkle and look much more beautiful than she really was.

"Draco, darling, how do I look?" she purred.

"Wonderful, Pansy," he replied, looking her up and down.

"Thank you so much, dear," she gushed as she sat down in front of the dresser. The maid moved behind her to start working on her hair and makeup as she said, "I shall see you later this afternoon, Draco."

Step Seven

Lies

The four aristocrats set out for the ball at approximately five in the afternoon. They had employed only one carriage, and at Ginny's suggestion, Blaise and Draco sat on one side while Ginny and Pansy sat on the other side.

Blaise knew exactly why Ginny proposed such an action. She wanted to be by Pansy. And he had been married to Ginny long enough to know that she was not stupid. She was actually quite smart, and he wouldn't be surprised if she had already started catching on to his and Draco's little endeavors. But for now, she had asked for such an odd arrangement so she could spend more time with Pansy before Draco and Pansy left again for England.

Hmm...what was he to do when Draco left? It'd be a shame to let such a fine gentleman just slip through his fingers due to circumstances neither of them could truly alter. Draco could not stay at Cieux de Paradis, and Blaise couldn't leave his manor. There must be some way to ensure his ownership of Draco.

As the carriage sped out of Cieux de Paradis, Blaise nudged Draco's leg with his foot discreetly as the ladies were talking. Draco turned to him with surprise and annoyance mixed in his eyes, and Blaise sneaked a hand over to Draco's, gently caressing the tender flesh.

Draco confirmed that Ginny and Pansy were occupied before turning to Blaise, glaring at him. Blaise merely put on an innocent smile as he continued stroking Draco's hand, sending shivers down the blonde's spine.

Pansy and Ginny decided to engage the two men in conversation at that moment, and both men were able to appear as if nothing had happened between them. However, whenever a moment arose, Blaise would make sure to touch Draco in some way, keeping the blond wary and uptight.

It was almost too easy now that he had Draco eating out of the palm of his hand. Who would have thought how submissive a Malfoy could be once one broke him? As the carriage careened down the driveway to Le Loup Fleurit, Blaise's hand started toward Draco's hand while the ladies refreshed their makeup. Unexpectedly, though, Draco's hand met his midway , and the graceful fingers intertwined with Blaise's own, causing Blaise's heart to skip a beat.

The contact lifted as soon as it was made, and Blaise cursed their wives for not taking longer on tidying themselves. The carriage soon stopped, and the driver opened the door. Blaise left the vehicle first, and he extended a hand to his wife, helping her exit the carriage. Draco and Pansy repeated their actions, and the four soon stood in front of the manor doors, ready to waste an evening socializing with others of their stature.

Step Eight

Lust

The Four Seasons: Spring by Vivaldi wafted through the halls of Le Loup Fleurit. The four made their way into the ballroom, where Pansy and Ginny were immediately accosted by a group of chattering ladies. Draco and Blaise took off their hats and bowed, and quite a few of the women giggled as they left the two handsome men.

Blaise smirked. "Such foolish ladies they are, thinking we would take interest in them. Who could compare to you, mon cher?" he whispered the last words, a half-smile, half-smirk donning his face.

"Lord Zabini, it is a pleasure to see you here. And...you are also here, Lord Malfoy."

Blaise turned toward the newcomer, sighing inwardly as he instantly discerned the owner of the voice by the accented French that grated his ears in the most horrible fashion, though he greeted the other gentleman with a smile.

"How have you been faring, Lord Potter?" Blaise asked, wishing that Potter would just disappear.

"I am well, Lord Zabini. I'm surprised to see you here, Lord Malfoy," Potter said.

Blaise sent a questioning look at Draco, and Potter, seeing it, said, "Lord Malfoy and I attended school together."

"Unfortunately," Blaise heard Draco mutter under his breath. "How have you been?" Draco bit out.

"A bit busy. I've recently finished a bit of business and shall be heading home soon. And you, Lord Malfoy?"

Blaise saw it then. Beneath all the intense dislike lined with bitter politeness lay one single, undeniable thing. Potter lusted after Draco, no matter what their relationship was. Blaise saw it in the unconscious actions Potter made that betrayed his true emotions.

But then, who wouldn't lust after Draco? He was the very epitome of beauty, what with his flawless skin, beautiful hair, stunning eyes...No physical part of Draco Malfoy could be considered not beautiful.

"I presume I shall see you in England, Lord Malfoy. Until we meet again, Lord Zabini," Potter said.

"Farewell, Lord Potter," Blaise said out of politeness, and as soon as Potter was out of their sight, Blaise turned to Draco.

Step Nine

Jealousy

"Do you see what he feels for you?" Blaise demanded, and Draco merely blinked.

"Of course I do. That fool has never been good at covering his emotions."

"And?" Blaise whispered dangerously.

Draco laughed. "Blaise, you really aren't jealous of Potter, are you, even after I told you that I love you?" he said softly.

Blaise traced a finger down Draco's hand discreetly. "I'm just making sure you know. You are mine, and if he even dares..."

Draco laughed softly. "Dear dear Blaise, do you really think I would want Potter? He turned down my offer of friendship, and our enmity is his own fault. Besides, I'm rather glad right now...If he hadn't, would we have met?"

"He seems to think he still has a chance with you," Blaise replied.

"Oh? Then he is sadly delusional, would you not say, my dear Lord Zabini?" Draco gave a mock bow, smirking, and he watched as Blaise almost smiled, though his host stopped himself at the last second. Disappointment filled Draco. Blaise had almost smiled. Almost. What would he have to do to make Blaise truly smile?

Step Ten

Light

Draco and Blaise strolled through the rose garden after arriving back at Cieux de Paradix. They had left the ball a bit earlier than intended due to Ginny and Pansy's complaints that they were tired, and when they were back home, the two ladies immediately excused themselves. Draco had no doubt as to what they were doing at the very moment.

"Did you enjoy the ball?" Blaise asked without looking at him.

"It could have been better," Draco replied shortly.

Blaise stopped. "Oh? And pray tell me, how could it have improved?" he asked, turning to look at Draco.

Draco turned to Blaise and smirked. "We could have danced."

Blaise smirked back. "And what do you say if we dance here?" he asked, gesturing to the clearing they had stopped in.

"Why not? But who will dance as the lady?"

"You," Blaise told him.

"Me? I cannot! No gentleman would be taught to dance like a lady!"

A half-smile, half-smirk appeared on Blaise's face. "I'll be the lady since you insist, mon cher," Blaise said. "What dances do you know?"

"How about the Volte?" Draco asked with a grin.

Blaise raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

Draco placed his right hand right beneath Draco's shoulder blade and held Blaise's right hand in his left, keeping their joined hands at eye level. Blaise slipped his left hand to rest gently at the end of Draco's right shoulder, though his thumb and forefinger were tight so he could follow Draco's lead.

Draco led Blaise through the Volte, Blaise looking over Draco's right shoulder the entire time, even when they were talking, in order to keep the perfect, elegant form of the dance.

"How do you know how to dance like a lady?" Draco whispered softly as they danced through the clearing.

"My father," Blaise replied shortly, a hint of bitterness creeping into his voice. "He thought it humourous to dance with me before he took me, reminding me that I would always be beneath him, always be like a female to a male. But he was wrong," Blaise said with deep loathing in his voice.

"But why are you offering to dance the role of a lady if it holds such unpleasant reminders of the past?" Draco asked.

Blaise shrugged. "You don't know how to, and one of us must dance as the lady if we are to dance together."

"Both of us know that you did not have to consent to dancing with me, but you did anyway and even agreed to follow my lead. Why, Blaise? Why would you please a simple whim of mine that brings up so much repressed hatred and anger?"

"Because I can," Blaise said shortly and with such finality in his tone that Draco did not touch upon the subject again that night.

Step Eleven

Emotion

Blaise gazed at the blonde sleeping by him, watching the quiet rise and fall of his chest as he let his thoughts wander eventually into forbidden territory that he should never have trod upon under any circumstance.

Draco Malfoy was different. Blaise didn't know how, but he knew that Draco was different. There was something about the blonde that made him think differently, act differently. Why else would he have agreed to dance with Draco last night in a moonlit rose garden? The clichéd romance of the very event made Blaise want to vomit except for the fact that Draco had been the other one there. But why would Draco create such a difference?

Draco stirred, and he awoke as Blaise finished collecting his foolish, pointless thoughts. Grey gazed into blue intently, and Draco's hand reached up to cup his cheek before whispering, "Blaise," as if his name was something holy, something good.

Blaise looked away. Draco was causing too man unwanted emotional conflicts within him, ones he would rather not sort out. What was it about the other man that made him impact Blaise so deeply? What did he have to offer that no one else did?

He had whispered his name again, as if Blaise was his god or his savior. Potter was the savior, not him. So why did he look at Blaise as if he was everything good, right, proper, and desirable in the world? Was this because of love?

Blaise unconsciously ran a hand through Draco's hair, fingertips sliding against Draco's head as he did so. Draco gazed at him with...what? It wasn't pure lust, but it was certainly not just love. It was a mixture of too many things Blaise was feeling himself, and...Blaise did not want to delve deep into his layers of confusion because he was actually a bit afraid of the truth.

Draco laid small kisses down the side of his face, hands holding Blaise's head, and all of a sudden, for some inexplicable reason, Blaise felt too vulnerable, as if Draco could see through everything and into his mind, his heart.

His will was still strong, but could he remain under control with so much turmoil clouding his usually clear and precise mind? Could his will really be strong enough to push everything away and erase them? At that very second, Blaise hated Draco, hated the beauty for coming into his life uninvited and ending up more important than anyone should have been.

Then, the moment was gone, and all that remained were a few vestiges of the overpowering hatred Blaise had felt. He hadn't realized that he had closed his eyes, and Draco kissed his forehead before leaving Blaise to his torrent of conflicting emotions.

Step Twelve

Omen

Blaise and Draco met each other at breakfast. The two men quietly ate the meal, and as servants cleared the table, Blaise asked, "Would you like to see the waterfall?" He was still the one in charge, no matter what.

Part of the Zabini lands included a river that, more or less, circled back to itself. Blaise's ancestors had altered the height of several parts of the Zabini estate and had an artificial mountain built in order to accommodate the spectacular waterfall that crowned the middle of their land.

Draco looked at him. "Of course, Blaise. The Zabini waterfall is quite famous throughout the aristocracy, as I am sure you know all too well. We've all wondered how your family accomplished such a feat at one time or another."

"One word, Draco. Will."

Step Thirteen

Fear

Draco followed Blaise through the grounds, lush grass brushing against his knee breeches. A looming shape in the distance moved closer and closer until finally, they were standing at the foot of a small mountain, rocks protruding out of the mass.

"A cave is up there," Blaise told Draco. "Can you climb?" Draco was indignant at the thought that he couldn't climb a simple mountain, but he was more surprised at the fact that Blaise cared enough to ask.

After assenting with a hint of displeasure in his voice, Draco followed Blaise as they climbed up the side of the mountain. The trek was harder than Draco had expected, the rough rocks cutting into his soft skin. Blaise, however, gave no sign that the climb posed any difficulty to him, and Draco refused to give the impression that he was inferior. Blaise may own him, but they were equal.

After climbing for about forty-five minutes, the two men entered the cave, which was situated halfway up the mountain. The waterfall provided a perfect screen for the cave, the water droplets almost resembling strings of pearls.

Blaise and Draco sat on opposite sides of the cave, gazing at each other languidly. Draco felt the damp coolness of the rough wall against his back, felt his heartbeat return to normal and his sweat evaporating as he rested.

"What do you think?" Blaise asked, turning to look at the magnificent waterfall by them before locking gazes with Draco once again.

"It's spectacular," Draco murmured.

"Oh? Just spectacular?" Blaise asked, arching an eyebrow. "Nothing else?"

"The waterfall pales in comparison to the man before me," Draco replied.

Blaise raised an eyebrow, and the next second, the blond had Blaise pinned against the wall, kissing him urgently, as if he had been deprived of Blaise for days when in reality, they were last together the night before.

It was hotwetsticky, the damp atmosphere causing skin soaked with sweat sticking together as they bit and sucked and nipped and kissed. Neither was truly aware of the rough walls and floor of the cave as they took from each other what they wanted, as they lost themselves in a desperate game played with sucksnipsbites.

Afterward, they lay tangled together, watching the drip drip of the waterfall rushing down in an eternal cycle. Neither spoke to the other because words would only destroy the momentary calm that had settled within them, freed them from all other thoughts.

All too soon, Blaise and Draco left the cave, Blaise leading the way down. When they were about ten meters away from the ground, Draco noticed a pair of egrets in the river. He moved automatically down the mountainside as he watched the birds, and not watching where his feet were stepping, Draco stepped on a loose rock and lost his footing.

Only his left hand was grasping onto the mountainside, and Draco scrabbled to find a purchase, to no avail. Blaise looked up at that moment to see Draco dangling, his hand starting to lose grip. "Draco!" he yelled, an edge of panic barely perceptible in his voice.

Draco felt himself falling, hands trying to grab onto anything possible. Then, he stopped. He looked up to see Blaise holding his left hand, and he knew that Blaise would not be able to stay in such a position for very long.

Cursing his momentary foolishness, Draco felt for a crevice that was not too far away, finally finding one to place his right hand in. He then slid his feet over the surface of the mountain, feet grasping any foothold he could find. The blond looked up and saw Blaise struggling to keep them both from falling, and he immediately let go of Blaise as soon as he spotted an edge for his left hand to grab onto.

Blaise looked down to see Draco safely perched beneath him. The two then climbed down sullenly, still trying to digest fully what had just happened.

Step Fourteen

Love

Draco breathed a sigh of relief as his feet landed on solid ground. He looked at Blaise, who was looking at him with mild annoyance and something else in his sapphire gaze. "Draco, what did you think you were doing?" Blaise whispered dangerously. Draco merely pointed to the egrets.

Blaise's eyes softened for so short a time that Draco almost thought he imagined it. The raven-haired man then turned to him, whispering, "Do not ever do that again, Draco Malfoy." All of a sudden, an understanding passed between both of them, and Draco knew at the same moment Blaise brushed everything aside and acknowledged it.

"I won't," Draco said back softly.

The day was still relatively young, and Draco saw Blaise lie down in the grass. He turned to look as his host, who smiled back at him. As soon as Draco saw Blaise's smile, his heart stopped.

Blaise's smile was like the appearance of the sun after a devastating storm that had raged on for weeks with no hope of leaving the poor, battered citizens that had to endure its tyranny. It filled Draco, finally, truly completed him as he looked at the god reclining casually beneath him.

"Come join me," Blaise spoke softly, and Draco lay next to Blaise, needing no words to express what they felt. They had finally, truly completed each other, completed the half of a heart within the other.

They watched the sunset together.

Step Fifteen

Promise

Servants bustled around Cieux de Paradix, toting suitcases onto a carriage. Draco and Blaise stood in Blaise's bedroom, and they understood each other perfectly without the need to speak. Blaise cupped Draco's cheek. "The best of luck, Lord Malfoy," he murmured.

Draco wrapped his arms around Blaise's neck and stepped into a final embrace, Blaise automatically putting his arms around Draco's waist. They leaned against each other, relishing in the close contact that they would not have for...who knows how long?

A hint of tears shone in Draco's eyes, and Blaise smiled at Draco before leaning close to the xanthochroid and whispering, "Je t'aime." When Blaise drew back, Draco looked at him with startled eyes.

"Blaise...I..."

"Shh..." Blaise murmured, silencing Draco with a finger against the blonde's lips. He then leaned forward, and they kissed, soft and slow, trying to memorize each other and show each other how they felt through mere motions that could barely tell yet told everything.

When they broke apart, Draco traced a finger down Blaise's cheek. "If a revolution does start, you will be welcome at Malfoy Manor," he murmured. Draco gave Blaise one last kiss before leaving the room, Blaise following a few paces behind.

Draco and Pansy met at the front doors, and though Pansy often looked back as they walked to the carriage, Draco did not once turn his head. Pansy waved to Ginny before Draco helped her into the carriage, and he looked back before entering the vehicle. The two men's gazes met, and everything they wanted to say but could not or would not passed between them, and both understood. Draco entered the carriage, and Blaise and Ginny watched as the vehicle was slowly engulfed by the horizon.