RP: Jive Talking in the Jacuzzi

[anon_george]

Date: 19 June 2003
Character(s): Fred and George Weasley
Location: WWW Redux
Status: Private, me thinks
Summary: Fred and George go hottubbing
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[anon_fred]

While running a business that was turning out to be profitable was one of the most brilliant things in the world, it was also hard work. Not that Fred hadn’t known that; he remembered how it had been with the shop in Diagon Alley. Still, after nearly five years of being on his own schedule, it took some time getting completely back into gear. Or maybe this shop just was more work than the one in Diagon Alley.

Either way, it had been a long day today, and to make up for it, Fred had hunkered down in the backroom, with a cold ale, and his feet propped up on the work table, while he tried to think of what he should do tonight. Maybe he should go see if Angelina wanted to come flying or bring pizza and a couple of beers out to one of the fields, or both. Yeah, flying and then pizza and ale with Angelina, that would be a good starter for an evening.

He had made his mind up to go hunt her down - once he was done with his beer, of course - when George’s voice reached him. With a wondering frown he turned towards the door leading out to the front. What the fuck was George doing out there? George was supposed to be at Katie’s, since that’s where he spent most of his time, which really was ridiculous, in Fred’s mind. Not that George spent most of his time there, but the fact that he spent most of his time there, but still lived in the flat he shared with Fred.

George disappearance weeks ago still pissed him off, though he wasn’t going to let George in on that. It was enough that Angelina had her knickers in a twist over what she had seen of his fears in that maze. There was no reason to have George find that out too, and have him feel even more obliged to stay in the flat. No, Katie needed George now, in ways that were more important than how Fred did, and he had promised Katie that he would do anything to ensure that she and the children not be on their own. And he had meant it. So, now that Katie and George had finally managed to find their ways back together, the best thing for Katie and the children - not to mention George’s happiness - was… yeah. It scared him, but he would get over that, eventually.

Getting up from his seat, he brought along his bottle, and quirked an eyebrow when he found himself standing in front of a massive Jacuzzi, right in the middle of the shop. “Huh, I thought Thomas was the only one dealing in Bathhouses here in town,” he commented casually, and put down his ale, so he could transfigure his clothes into tartan bathing trunks and lime green floaties. “Could work, I see it,” he gave George, before he let himself sink down into the hot water, “but I don’t think the location’s right. Remember? Location, location, location.”

[anon_george]

George snorted at his brother's ridiculous outfit and then shook his head. "You're still using water wings, brother dearest?" He smiled as his brother entered the water, then leaned his head back feeling the warm cascade of water run over his ginger locks. George placed his arms on the side of the tub and relaxed for a moment before he replied, "This'll be located in the back of the flats once this is done and I expect our erstwhile residents will think it's all the rage."

He picked up his wand and floated an ale out of the cooler, watching it float toward him before he caught it and twisted off the cap. George chugged a good bit of his ale and then left the bottle floating in midair as he kicked off his flippers and said, "So looks like Annwn is going to work for Wheezes. We made more here than we did our first month in Diagon. I think that people just seem to have money here."

But he knew that this idle small talk was just the precursor for what was really going on and that was that he wanted to know what Fred was thinking because it was driving him batty. He realized that with Fred, subtlety never worked and hadn't since they were young. It was comforting in a way and after George sat up in the jacuzzi, he faced Fred and then asked, "So what's the burr up your butt, Fred?"

[anon_fred]

Fred nodded. Yep, he was still using water wings, but only with Jacuzzis. Just as brilliant as those things were, they were tricky bastards, that you couldn’t be too careful about. They’d lure you into a lull and then they’d suck you under. Water wings were a necessity when hot tubbing. Mm, hmm. Still, he wasn’t buying into George’s talk of swimming gear, or future locations of the Jacuzzi.

Languidly he drank from his bottle, quirking an eyebrow when his brother turned his talk to the shop. Oh man, whatever it was George was warming up to had to be big, considering shop talk were usually done during business hours. The fact that George was even here, after closing time, probably meant that Katie was busy elsewhere, so for him to weave about stuff like this was… disconcerting, to say the least.

He was about to put George out of his misery by straight out asking when the hell he was going to get to the point, when George’s knowledge of Fred finally seemed to catch up with his verbal diarrhea. Fred wasn’t disappointed in his assumption that this would be big. For a moment he froze, mid sip from his bottle, and just glared at George. Apparently he hadn’t been able to play it as cool as he had hoped, and now George had finally caught on. With a sigh, he let himself sink down into the water before he rested his head back against the edge and stared up at the ceiling above them. They really needed to get that re-painted; there were some unhealthy looking stains up there.

“You’re an idiot,” he finally said and looked back to George, “and I’d like that fact changed either before it settles permanently or before it lasts so long that people think your identical twin is an idiot too. You’re bad for my stock, git.”

[anon_george]

George ignored Fred's verbal diatribe, blithely drinking from his ice cold alcoholic beverage while he let the bubbles caress his skin. The words still stung though but George didn't want Fred to know that he'd hurt him. His brother was going through enough turmoil with Annwn and then Angelina plus George falling in love with Katie. He knew that it was difficult for Fred and if he was on edge, George could understand.

Nevertheless, he didn't understand why Fred wasn't more forthright instead of holding things in. After all, they knew each other better than they did anyone else, even with the separation and Fred had never been one to hide his feelings. That was until Annwn and now George had to pry things out of Fred. But he tried to understand and even when Fred went on the attack like he was now, George told himself that even though things had changed, he loved his brother and would never give this up.

"I'm an idiot?" George's voice rose as he finally let free a questioning comment. This was not quite what he expected and he chewed on Fred's words for a moment, wondering what exactly he was an idiot for now. He knew that Katie and Fred had talked and Fred had taken care of Katie. George also understood that he'd disappeared for a few days and that could be idiotic too. Still, he had no idea what Fred was talking about and after downing the rest of his ale, he asked, "Just exactly why am I an idiot?"

[anon_fred]

Fred frowned wonderingly at George’s question. Could the man really not see why he was an idiot? That came as a surprise to Fred. George, after all, wasn’t stupid, and the reason Fred thought him an idiot these days were so glaringly obvious to him. Of course, maybe it was obvious just to him. That could be. Hmm…

“You’re engaged to one hell of a bird,” he began, downing his ale and summoning a fresh one before he continued. “Not just any bird, but the one you’ve been having wet dreams and romantic daydreams over for the past ten years. At least,” he added, with emphasis, because Merlin knew how long George had longed for her. Well, technically, Fred did know, he just couldn’t be bothered to count backwards right now. He held up his hand to keep George quiet, he wasn’t done yet, he just needed a gulp of his beer.

“Now, I know things haven’t been roses and fairytales… again… until lately, but I do know that that woman loves you, just as much as you love her, and I know that anybody who gets anywhere near you two when you’re together, had better not be diabetic or they’d be in huge trouble.” A long, satisfying belch escaped him, and for a moment he just relaxed back down into the water, hoping that he would get to the point some time soon. “You have her, you’re engaged to be married, you have twins on the way with her, you spend all your time with her, and yet you still live with me?” He sent George a look as if to say ‘What the fuck are you thinking?’ He took another long quaff from the beer. “How doesn’t that make you an idiot?”

[anon_george]

George sighed as he picked up another beer and then promptly drained it. He didn't want to blow up at Fred or tell him to butt out of his life because he damn well was going to go live with Katie but he wanted to do it right and not rush into things like he had with everything else in this relationship. George knew that Fred wouldn't understand how he and Katie's headlong dash into love had been reckless and dangerous and had led to their relationship almost ending.

Instead he dipped his head under the water, then came up sputtering before he wiped off his face and shook his hair out. He finally felt calm enough to speak and frowned before he framed his words carefully in his mind, then replied. "I'm fully intending on moving in with Katie but we won't be living at her place and I don't think you'd appreciate twins crying and shitting all day long, so the two of us are looking around some."

In actuality, they hadn't looked much because they'd still been busy making up in many, many varied and interesting ways which made a small smile cross George's features. But Fred didn't need to know that and he was glad Fred belched since it seemed George was smiling at him. He shook his head a bit to clear out his thoughts before he realized he had more to say. George rubbed his hand along the stubble on his cheek, then said, "I thought you'd be happy to have me around even if I spend most nights at Katie's." He smiled wanly. "And we want to make sure we get this right."

[anon_fred]

“I want you to get this right, too,” Fred defended. It was clear that he had struck something with George there, and though he hated that he even had to tell it to him, it didn’t change the fact it was how he felt. Besides, George had asked him what was bothering him, so there it was. Fred didn’t like it, and apparently; neither did George. “And as happy as I am living with you, it doesn’t change the fact that you’ve made a choice, and that choice just showed where you belonged. Simple as that.”

He felt nauseas. He didn’t like the topic they were on right now. It wasn’t his place to say these things, which was why he hadn’t, until he’d been asked outright. With a deep sigh he sank into the water and went back to looking up at the ceiling. He wasn’t certain he could look at George right now. He felt like a huge dick for even having thought these things. “I promised Katie that no matter what happened, she wouldn’t be alone in this,” he finally muttered, not taking his eyes off the ceiling. It was time to let George know it all, no matter how ugly it was. He deserved the truth, and then he could do with it what he wanted. “Mostly, because those kiddies are my family too, as is Katie, and I’d hate to have more nieces or nephews that I didn’t see until years later.” He cleared his throat. “Like Victoire. But also because…” his voice faded. This was the embarrassing part; the selfish part, and the part that was likely to have George burst an artery or two. “Also because I was hoping it would give her a reason to stay here in Annwn, and not find someplace better for you two to settle down.”

[anon_george]

George was becoming flabbergasted. It was as if Fred wasn't hearing what he was saying and even worse, it sounded to him as if Fred actually thought he would have never come back if there was a chance. The thought angered him but he calmed himself once more, sinking back into the water again. "You know I would have been there for her, no matter what. I left to clear my mind, not permanently, Fred."

He tried to keep the bit of rage he felt out of his voice but he knew it had seeped through. George couldn't understand why Fred was doing this, pushing him out the door. It made him feel unwanted and he thought that maybe they were better off not talking about issues anymore because something had changed between them. His brother seemed scattered, all over the place and paranoid. But he knew that paranoia was partly due to him, even if it was unwarranted.

"I was coming back that night and I was arrested in London." George sighed. He really hadn't told anyone other than Katie because it was embarrassing and he didn't want to deal with all of the 'I nevers' and 'I told you so's". I was in jail for two days and my wand was at Katie's, so I had no quick way out." His voice had a hint of a growl and he looked over at Fred and then said emphatically, "I said I'd live here and I will." He bit his inner lip and then tilted his head as he continued. "So when did you stop trusting me, Fred?"

[anon_fred]

Fred turned his head to look at George. He was confused, but didn’t say anything. George had been arrested, and he hadn’t said anything to him about that. With a deep sigh he ran a wet hand through his hair and began pulling off the floaties on his arms. They just felt downright stupid right now, like Fred himself did. “It’s not that I stopped trusting you,” he said and dropped the floaties to the floor behind him, before he looked back at George. “About the same time you stopped really talking to me, and everything started revolving around Katie.” He shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame you. I’d probably do the same, if it was me. You’d do anything for her, and that’s how it should be. Just doesn’t change the fact that it’s not only you and her that affects.” He shrugged, and looked down, ashamed of himself. “When you cancelled dinner that evening I knew something was horribly wrong. Your hand on the clock showed that you had left Annwn, and the next day, you were still gone, so when I went to see if you had come back, if you were alright… maybe the clock could’ve been wrong, Katie told me she had told you to go away, and I knew you had. You’d even left your wand behind…”

This time it was his face he ran his hand over, before he looked at George. “It’s always been you and me, Fred and George, The Twins, and now…. It’s not. I know you said you’d live here, and I want nothing more than that too…” He chewed on his lips, torn between telling George everything and asking him to just leave it alone. “I didn’t know you’d been to jail, because you didn’t tell me. I don’t want you to move out, because it’s just not right when you’re not there. Fucking Hells, George, I did that for four years already, and you being there but all the time being on edge and ready to leave to be somewhere else…” He shrugged. “Not really all that different from you not being there.”

[anon_george]

"What do you mean? I still talk to you." George's tone was full of irritation and his voice had an undercurrent of a growl now. He couldn't believe that Fred would have the balls to place this all on George's shoulders. Yes, he had Katie in his life and he did spend more time with her but he didn't feel in any way that he'd abandoned Fred. "Yeah, something went wrong and I left town but I would have told you if I was staying away for any length of time." George's eyes flashed red at Fred. "Besides, I couldn't leave anyway, could I? I bound myself to this town to be with you. Long before Katie came around."

He sat up straighter and then jabbed a finger at Fred. "But you don't see that, do you? You don't see that I'm here, every day and want to hang out with you." George looked around and then threw his hands up in the air. "Look at this, Fred. I put a fucking hot tub in the middle of the store to get you to talk to me because you're so muddled up, you can't see that others are trying."

George ran his hand through his hair in exasperation. "You're so full of it. It was Fred and Angelina, remember? Did I whine when you ran off with her late at night or hung out all those times? No, because you were happy." He chuckled bitterly and shook his head. "And if you'd get off your fucking arse and do something about her, you could be happy again." George sunk back down into the tub and then replied. "I didn't tell anyone, Fred. It's not exactly a stellar moment in my life and I needed time because whether you want to admit it or not, I went through alot of shite then and I needed to sit back." He heard Fred's last words and then hissed. "I'll leave when things are right." He was about to go underwater again, but before he did, he added. "And I'll make sure to tell you before I do."

[anon_fred]

With a sigh, Fred rubbed his eyes as he waited for George to emerge again. George was right, he knew he was, but he was also so completely fucking wrong about everything that it was almost embarrassing. Why couldn’t he see? Fred wanted to take him and shake him until he understood that… that… Ugh! With an annoyed huff Fred crossed his arms over his chest and scowled in his brother’s direction. How could he make him see when he wasn’t even certain what it was he wanted him to see.

When he was about to stop being annoyed and instead being worried and maybe even begin considering fishing George out of the water, the familiar crop of red hair finally appeared above the water. “Get off my fucking arse and do something about Angelina, eh?” He snorted and shook his head. “Just shows how much you’ve been keeping up with things, doesn’t it?” Alright, maybe things weren’t as far progressed with Angelina as he could have dreamed of, but then again marriage and eternal love at this point, he would have to admit might be a tad too fast for his taste. Still, they were at a point where they were comfortable with each other, and neither of them were afraid to let the other one know what they wanted. It was a good place to be. Friends, and a bit more, just no definition. That day after the maze really had turned a thing or two for both of them.

Again, he shook his head. “I don’t know, George. That’s why I haven’t said anything, because I knew you were in a shite place and all that.” He shrugged. “You asked, I answered. Tough luck if you don’t like the answer. Am I being fair in this? Most likely not, even said so m’self before you went off on that rant of yours, but does it bother me? Fuck yeah, it bothers me. So there you have it.”

He drew in a deep breath to calm himself. “Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad if you actually looked happy, or at the very least made the most of it,” he finally confessed and sighed. “I don’t want either of you to leave, but I can’t say that I’d blame you if you did, you know? Bound or not, you’ve still more space to move around on, right?” He tried sending George a smile, though it failed and became a pathetic wan excuse for a smile instead. “I know, I know, I should get off my arse and do something about it, well… I am, and until that starts being obvious to you, the very least you could do is see how fucking great things really are for you, yeah?” This time when he tried to smile, it was a bit more genuine, but still a small, slightly wistful smile nonetheless. “Please?”

[anon_george]

"Kind of hard to keep up with things when you go lock yourself away in that workshop every chance you get." George was really beyond mad now and had gone into an odd place where he was past caring about what the hell Fred thought. That didn't happen because he'd spent his entire life making sure his brother was okay and when Fred had died, he still loved his twin so much, he couldn't get over his death.

"I don't care about your answer but it's your paranoia that's pissing me off." George snapped, his aforementioned good mood definitely evaporated now. "I've told you I didn't leave. I had no intention of leaving and Katie knows that we're going to stay in town, even if we weren't both bound here." He snatched another ale from the cooler and opened it. "Where the fuck am I supposed to go? Build a cabin in the Annwn Soods for Katie and I?" George chortled down part of his beer. "So dear brother, even if I wanted to leave, which I don't want to by the way. There is no way for me or Katie to leave. We made a commitment, each for our own reasons. Mine being you and I don't regret it for one moment, even when you're acting like a twat."

He sighed in exasperation. "I am happy. I'm beyond happy. Katie is the love of my life and she makes me smile all the time." George leaned back against the edge of the tub. "But it's hard for me to be happy around you, Fred, because it seems you never are. You worry so much that it's like you've forgotten how to just be alive." He reached forward then and put his hand on Fred's knee while he continued. "You don't need to worry about me. Things are going to be fine." George slapped Fred's knee then and added. "I think it's time you took care of yourself, brother."

[anon_fred]

Fred snorted a bit at George’s slap, though his smirk grew more genuine as they seemed to begin calming down, both of them. “I am taking care of myself,” he mused. “Just seem to be going about it the wrong way…” With a sigh he downed the rest of his ale, and summoned a new one before he let his head loll to the side, and he was looking at George again.

“I’m trying to be happy,” he continued, “really, I am, just… the wait, it’s… it gets frustrating. I mean, I’m proving to people that I’m alive, over and over and over again, and they still have to get used to it. Makes sense, though, that they do, and I can only do so much before it becomes desperate, and really? Desperate and dead?” He rolled his eyes and sent George a smirk, hoping that his brother would at least let him get away with this joke. If he couldn’t joke about being dead, then he would be completely lost.

“Easier to focus on other people, you know?” Nodding slowly he drank from the bottle. “Make sure you’re all making the most of things, while things fall into place for m’self.” With a wave of his wand he summoned one of the floaties from the floor, and slipped the bottle into it, before he let it float on the water. “And eventually Angelina will come around, and we’ll give you and Katie a run for your money.” He sent George a bright grin, before he grew pensive again. Still his eyes were twinkling with mirth and admiration when he continued. “George?” he started. “Why were you in jail, and how did you get out?”

[anon_george]

"No, you should focus on yourself, you git." George took his hand and cupped it, splashing water in Fred's face. "After all, you're the one who seems to need to kick in the arse to get going." He shook his head, then began to chuckle. "You need to tell Angie how you feel and I mean everything and you need to quit worrying about when the hell I'm going to move out. I will when I do and not a moment before."

He did love Fred but sometimes the man was just frustrating. "Who the fuck cares if they think you're alive or dead? As long as you know that everything is functioning and your crank is working properly, nobody else's opinion mattered. If it did, would we have opened up the original Wheezes because other than you, me, and Lee, no one believed we could do it." He took a sip of his ale and laughed into the bottle. "We'd have probably ended up working for the Ministry or something."

George knew that wasn't true but it proved his point. "I hope that's true." He replied, meaning every word. "After all, it would be nice to see not see your arse around here all the time." He shrugged when Fred asked him about jail before he replied. "Assaulting a police officer. I threw a whiskey bottle into a corner and didn't know there was a bobby there. But I slipped him one of those instant daydream charms you came up with." George smiled at Fred. "Thanks by the way. And the next cop to show up though he was drunk and sent him home. So all I have is a disorderly conduct charge." He took a large gulp of his ale and continued. "Or might I say that one Draco Malfoy has a charge against him."

[anon_fred]

Fred sputtered and wiped the water from his face, as he vanished his - now filled with water - beer bottle, grumbling a few choice words at George. He would get him later, for now… he’d let him fry for a bit. Still, his grin was back on his face when he heard how George had gotten out of prison. “Nice one, Forge,” he grinned approvingly, and summoned a new - and water free - beer from the cooler. “We should make them part of the Skiving Snackboxes, or start up a new line of first-aid products,” his mind was wandering, but it returned to George in a heartbeat. “Wonder how papa Malfoy’s going to burst a vein if he’s ever informed of the ferret face’s Muggle criminal record…” He held up his bottle, before he clinked it to George’s. “Great thinking there.”

The beer was refreshing as ever when he poured it down his throat. “Just so you know, I have told Ang everything,” he followed up on George’s comment there. “And she’s… coming around, but truth of the matter is, that I died and she did what any sane woman should do in that situation; she moved on. I don’t blame her for that, quite the contrary, actually. It just means that it’ll take that much longer to get to where you and Katie are.” He shrugged slightly. “Do I want to be there with Ang? Hell yeah, at some point I want to, and hopefully she wants to too.” A short laugh escaped him then. “Although, of course with Ang… who knows what she wants? Don’t really see her as the marrying or mothering type, not now, but… maybe sometime in the future.”