WiP: The Summer Al Tried to Live. Chapter 9/10
Whew! It's almost the end of ass_carnival. A rather long chapter this time, and only one more to go.
Author: asnowyowl
Title: The Summer Al Began Tried to Live: Chapter 9
Pairing: Albus Severus/Scorpius
Summary: In the summer before college, Al Potter finally begins living, but can he find the courage to show his family who he really is? In this chapter: God, I've never written such a long sex scene.
Warnings: SEX! And then some bigotry
Rating: This chapter: NC17
Beta: bk7brokemybrain. I did a lot of work on it after I got it back from her, so hopefully I didn't make any new mistakes.
Word Count: 6294
Notes: Written for week nine of the 2009 ass_carnival. I plan on writing in this verse for the full 10 weeks, completing the fic toward the end of August.
Prompts used: Person: Remus Lupin, Place: A Zoo, Object two: Saddle, Emotion: Predatory, Freeform: Branded
Previous chapters:
"Chapter 1"
"Chapter 2"
"Chapter 3"
"Chapter 4"
"Chapter 5"
"Chapter 6"
"Chapter 7"
"Chapter 8"
The Summer Al Began Tried to Live. Chapter 9
So much for Mrs. Malfoy making sure they didn't sleep in the same bed. Corey didn't even try to hide the fact that they would be sleeping together. When he said goodnight to his mother and grabbed Al's hand, she simply raised one eyebrow and asked, "Can I trust you two?"
"Trust us to do what?" Corey asked.
Instead of answering Corey, she turned to Al. "Your parents are going to kill me for this, aren't they?"
Al shrugged. Up until today, he'd have said yes, but his dad was trying to be open-minded.
"Okay. Just, for God's sakes, be safe and keep it down."
Corey laughed and dragged Al from the living room. Instead of taking him to his room, Corey ushered him into the guest bedroom. "At least if your parents ask, you can tell them you didn't sleep in my bed." He locked the door. "Anyway, this one has an attached bathroom, so when we need to clean up, we don't have to be in the hallway where mom might see us."
Al's nerves were still on edge after their fight. He kept imagining how badly the night could have turned out. He could be home in bed right now, alone, sick with worry. Being allowed to spend the night with Corey couldn’t have come at a better time. Maybe by morning he'd feel secure again. He fingered the hem of his t-shirt, wanting to pull it off, needing to be naked and close to Corey, but he hesitated, waiting for Corey's cues.
Corey only stood in the middle of the room, smiling.
He took a deep breath and pulled the shirt over his head. Glancing at Corey, Al saw his smile had widened. Emboldened, he removed his jeans, taking underwear and socks along with them.
"Come here," Corey said. He opened his arms.
Al crossed the room and pressed against Corey, wrapping his arms around him, resting his forehead on Corey's shoulder.
Corey ran his hands up and down Al's bare back. "Do you think I'm terrible?"
"For what?"
"For pushing you so hard. For not letting you hide." Corey's hands made another circuit down Al's back, turning just before they met the swell of his cheeks.
Al closed his eyes. Every nerve in his body was on fire from the way he was being stroked. He unabashedly pressed his hardening cock against Corey, wishing Corey would just take his clothes off, too. In a way, though, Al was glad Corey didn't, as the rough cotton of Corey's jeans was delicious against his prick. "I don’t think you're terrible. I could never think that. You must think I'm a chicken-shit, though."
"Mom tells me to remember not everyone's like me." His fingers brushed the ends of Al's hair and began descending again, this time on a wider route, tickling at Al's sides.
Al squirmed. He chuckled when Corey's fingers darted down his ribs. "This isn't the greatest time to talk about your mom."
Corey snorted. "True." His hands ran over Al's hips and then swept across the very top of his buttocks.
God, Al couldn't believe Corey was teasing him like this, not when Corey had voiced a definite distaste for anything anal. But with every swipe of his hands, Corey was getting closer to Al's ass, closer to a spot Al wished he'd touch. When Corey's hands started their route back up, Al groaned. They were moving in the wrong direction. He yearned for Corey to touch his entrance, despite what Corey had told him before.
When Corey said, "That's it, Al, rub against me," Al realized he'd been doing just that. He was canting his hips, thrusting shallowly against Corey.
Corey's fingers stopped their upward journey to rub circles between Al's shoulder blades. "I want you to feel good. You're so damned sexy, you know that?" His hands traced back down the center of Al's back. For an interminable moment, they hovered just at the start of Al's crack and then moved back up. "You're so sexy and you don't even know it."
Al groaned. His whole being was focused on where his cock met Corey's body and where Corey's fingers danced along his skin, teasing him. "Please," he gasped.
"Please what? What do you want, Al?" Corey's hands slowed. They were on the descent again, but going so slowly Al wanted to scream. "Tell me what you want."
"You. I just want you." Al's hips shuddered as his cock slipped over and pressed, through jeans and cotton shirt, against Corey's hip bone. He pushed against that hardness, not caring that it wasn't Corey's cock. For once he wasn't worrying about Corey's pleasure, only his own, but that was okay. That seemed to be what Corey wanted. If he wanted more, he'd surely be undressed.
"You have me," Corey said, his lips sliding over Al's neck as he spoke. "You really do have me, you know."
Al wasn't sure what Corey meant. Was he talking about sex or something more? He was too far into his own need to figure it out.
Corey's fingers dipped lower than before, danced into the very top of Al's crease, parting his cheeks, but still not dipping as far down as Al wanted. "I mean that, you know. You do have me. All of me."
Al squirmed. Corey's touch was so light, and Al's flesh so sensitive, he couldn't hope to hold still. His hips moved faster. He didn't want this strange and wonderful moment to end, but he really needed to come. Thoughts flicked randomly through his mind. What was Corey talking about? Why was he teasing at Al's ass? Why was he still dressed? And, God, why didn't Al have a condom on? He wanted to come so badly. He really needed one. "Condom," he hissed.
"Shhhh. Don't worry. You're not touching my bare skin." Corey's hands kneaded Al's cheeks, pulling them apart and then pressing them together. "Does it feel good when I touch you here?"
Al tried to slow himself, but he was so close it was like trying to stop a runaway train by dragging his foot along the ground. Everything Corey was doing felt so right. "Yesss… so good."
"Do you want me to keep touching you here, Al?" Corey's fingers dipped shallowly into his crease, not quite all the way, but so, so close.
"Fuck, yes." Al couldn't stop any longer. He pressed his cock hard against Corey, dragged it up and down on the rough fabric, nearly screamed at the sensation. He knew somewhere, though hazily, that he was probably rubbing the tender skin raw.
"I love you, Al," Corey whispered just as his fingers dove deeper and brushed against Al's entrance, finally made contact with the flesh Al'd been dreaming about him touching.
Al gasped. Just that light touch was enough for him to know that he wanted this with Corey - he wanted Corey inside him, but right now there wasn't time for that. Right now he was tipping over the edge, caught in that place of almost there. Another thrust, the feel of Corey's finger pressing lightly against his entrance, and Al found that edge and tipped over it, feeling like his world was exploding. His cock pulsed over and over, spreading his come between them.
He leaned against Corey, trying to catch his breath, trying to understand what had happened. His mind reeled around the words Corey had just said, but it seemed like the moment had passed to say them back. He wanted to tell Corey that he was in love, too, wanted to tell him that he'd never been happier, but his mouth wouldn't form the words. Finally, he whispered, "What was that?"
Corey's chuckle vibrated through Al's body. "That was the sexiest thing I've ever even imagined doing."
"Yeah, but…." Al trailed a hand from Corey's shoulder to his groin, forgetting about the wetness between them until his fingers ran through his own come. He brushed against the hard bulge in Corey's jeans. "I haven't even touched you yet."
"We'll get to that soon." Corey's hands were still on Al's ass, cupping his cheeks, lightly massaging.
Al lifted his head and pulled back enough to see Corey's face. "You touched me back there."
Corey grinned, looking as if he'd just gotten a present he'd been waiting for for years. "Yeah, I did."
"And you said…."
"I said I love you."
Al nodded. "And you really do?"
"I really do. Why would you question that?"
Al shrugged. "I usually don't get what I want."
Corey leaned forward and kissed Al lightly. "And what did I give you that you wanted? Was it the words or the actions?"
Al wanted to say it was both, but he thought that might sound shallow. After all, having his ass touched shouldn't rate as high as being told that he was loved. He raised his clean hand to Corey's face. "I love you, too."
Corey's smile got bigger, but then morphed into a mischievous grin as his eyes took on a predatory look. "Good! So are you going to let me fuck you?"
Al's throat was so tight, he didn't think he could answer. Instead, he lunged forward and crashed his lips to Corey's, realizing it was probably a little too enthusiastic when their teeth clicked together. Between kisses, Al found his voice and whispered, "Yes. I want you to fuck me." When Corey didn't answer right away, Al kissed him once more and then said, "When? Right now?"
Corey leaned back and rubbed up and down Al's arms. "A bath first, I think." His eyes flicked down Al's body. "You're a little sticky and I'm sweaty as hell just from watching you."
********
Al hadn't taken a bath with anyone since James and he were toddlers, and that wasn't the image he wanted in his head as he leaned back against Corey in the bathtub. It was an old tub, one of those that sat on clawed feet. It was a little small for them, but if they pressed close, they fit.
Corey ran a soapy washcloth lightly over Al's skin. "We're really going to do this? You're going to let me fuck you?"
"I want it, but I thought you didn't."
"I do, with you. I want to be as close to you as I can possibly get."
Al enjoyed the sensation of Corey cleaning him. He felt gluttonous, feasting on all the pleasure, giving none in return, but Corey wasn't complaining. Anyway, Corey's cock was nestled against the small of Al's back, hot and hard and slippery, and every once in a while, Corey would shift, drag his prick along Al's back, and shudder lightly.
"I can't wait to be inside you," Corey whispered. He dunked the washcloth into the water, re-warming and re-wetting it, and then brought it up to rub lightly over Al's cock. "Seeing you under me, knowing I'm the first to ever touch you there…." He moved the washcloth down over Al's balls and then pressed it momentarily to his perineum.
Al moaned and wriggled. He pressed back against Corey's erection, imagining what it would feel like inside him. His own cock was hardening, bobbing above the surface of the water.
Soapy fingers caressed up Al's side until they slid teasingly around a nipple. The washcloth dipped lower, swirled around Al's entrance. Warm breath puffed over Al's ear when Corey said, "I want to fuck you so bad. It's all I've been able to think about lately."
********
Al was so hard, hard and wanting and almost out of his mind with anticipation. They hadn't bothered drying off after the bath, so their naked bodies were moist and humid. The soft mattress under Al's back felt like it was cocooning him.
Corey unrolled a condom onto each of them and then lowered himself on top of Al, covering him and kissing him.
This was Al's favorite position, Corey on top of him, weighing him down, taking control and making Al feel wanted. He moaned and spread his legs so Corey settled between them.
"Oh, fuck," Corey said. "I want this so bad."
Al sucked on Corey's top lip lightly and then released it. "I need you."
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
When Corey sat up, Al quashed his embarrassment and pulled his knees to his chest. He'd never felt so exposed, but it was all right. Corey loved him, he'd take care of him.
Corey looked at him with darkened eyes, biting his lip. He flipped open the container of lube and squirted some directly on Al's entrance.
Al yelped and shivered at the sensation of cold gel.
"Oh, God, I'm sorry." Corey's eyes widened almost comically.
Al chuckled. A bit of tension drained from him and he relaxed against the bed. It was always good to remember that Corey was only human, flawed just like he was. "It's okay."
Corey continued nibbling on his own bottom lip. He nodded and then trailed a finger through the lube over Al's entrance. "It quivered when I touched it," he whispered.
Al laughed harder. Corey sounded so young and unsure. "I think that means it wants you."
Corey gave Al a hard look. "I'm being serious. This is serious stuff."
"Why?" Al asked. He grinned up at Corey, feeling for the first time that they were on equal footing sexually. It was making him brave to see Corey so unsure. "It's sex, it's supposed to be good. It doesn't have to be all serious."
Corey shook his head, the finger on Al's entrance stilled. "It's not just sex, it's making love."
"Yeah, it is." Al said. He wriggled his hips, trying to get Corey moving again. "Now get on with it, Scorpius."
Corey finally smiled. "You're asking for it, Albus."
Al let go of one of his thighs and reached up to caress Corey's cheek. "Yeah, I am."
They were quiet for a while after that, the only noises were gasps and heavy breaths as Corey lightly rubbed Al's entrance and then dipped a finger inside. Al watched as Corey's nostril's flared and he grinned. He could only imagine how warm and tight it must be inside his body.
Having one finger inside him felt strange, but didn't hurt. Corey carefully moved it in and out and then pressed against Al's walls. He whispered, "I found it," just as a spark raced up Al's spine. "How does that feel?" Corey asked.
"Amazing."
Two fingers were a bit of a stretch, but Al could handle them. He had to concentrate really hard not to try to expel them, and when he was unsuccessful and bore down, they both laughed lightly.
Three fingers hurt. Al pulled long breaths in through his nose and screwed his eyes closed, willing his body to allow Corey to relax him.
"Should I stop?"
Al shook his head. He didn’t dare open his eyes and show Corey the tears that were welling up. He knew if Corey realized he was in pain, he'd stop and they might never get here again. "Just go slow, okay?"
"Of course."
It got better after a few moments. Al's body suddenly accepted the invasion. His muscles loosened and quivered. Corey brushed his prostate enough to keep Al on the fringes of being turned on, though he'd lost his erection. If he wasn't concentrating so hard on staying relaxed, he might have found the sight of his flaccid prick engulfed in a stretched out condom funny. As it was, he could barely think at all.
When it seemed Corey might have settled in to finger him all night, Al lifted his hips and said, "I'm ready."
"Are you sure?" Corey pulled his fingers out.
It was strange for Al to feel so empty. It was like his body wanted part of Corey in it, and missed him now that he was gone. He lifted up and accepted a long, sweet kiss before lying back down and watching as Corey spread a large amount of lube over his prick.
If Al thought three fingers hurt, then a cock was almost unbearable. He panted like he'd seen women in movies do when they were giving birth to unreasonably large babies. He felt every millimeter of Corey's cock as it slowly slid inside him. He kept telling himself this is what he wanted, he had always wanted to be taken, to belong to someone in this way, and it was only right that it was Corey - that he belong to Corey.
"I'm all the way in. Are you okay? Do you want me to pull back out?" Corey's voice was high and thin. It sounded unnatural.
Al shook his head. "Just give me a minute." He reached out blindly and found Corey's arms. He wrapped his hands around them to anchor himself. He could feel Corey's muscles shaking. He knew it was taking all of Corey's willpower to not move. Slowly, Al's muscles loosened, accepted Corey's intrusion. Finally, when the pain had diminished to a low burn, he nodded. "I'm ready."
Corey's thrusts were slow and hesitant at first, giving Al more time to get used to the feeling. Al might have thought Corey wasn't overly affected by what they were doing, if it wasn't for the way his every exhale came out as a strangled whine, or the way his eyes were set in concentrated determination. After several thrusts, Corey whispered, "I think I need to go faster, Al."
Al nodded. He could take this, he was sure he could. He opened his eyes, needing to see Corey.
Corey breathed in through his nose and pushed in harder. His hips stuttered as he pulled shallowly back and then thrust again.
As Corey's thrusts became harder and faster, Al's body and mind responded. His cock hardened again, warmth pooled in his belly. He chanted "I love you," as he lifted his hips to meet Corey's thrusts, wouldn't stop doing that even though their rhythm was a little off. He couldn't help himself, he wanted Corey deeper and more, strove for that brush against his prostate that came every few thrusts.
Corey's low whining escalated to stuttered grunts. His hips rolled and pounded. "Jesus, Al… Jesus, it's so good." A few more thrusts and he was yelling, screaming out Al's name. His hips stuttered, and then he was quiet and still, except for his fingers biting into Al's hips.
It was the most amazing thing. Al never considered that he had nerves in his ass that would allow him to feel so much. He was sure he felt Corey's cock spasm inside him, certain that he felt the moment Corey came. Everything was hot and perfect, and it was like he was being branded, being made Corey's. He groaned and panted along with Corey, carried away on the moment.
Corey collapsed on top of him. "That was amazing. You're amazing. Just let me catch my breath and I'll take care of you."
Soon, Al was moaning and arching as Corey engulfed his cock in his mouth.
********
It was bizarre to leave Corey's house and head straight to the Sugar Shack, but Al was scheduled to work at ten. It was even weirder when he sat in the chair in front of George's computer and felt a twinge of tenderness in his ass. He wondered how long it would take for the soreness to leave so he could do it all over again. He felt like he had after his first couple of dates with Corey: scattered, unable to think about anything else.
"I heard you spent last night with your guy." George knocked into him with his hip and waggled his eyebrows when Al looked up.
"Yeah, I did."
George moved away. He began fiddling with the candy molds and decorating tips that littered the shelves of the storeroom. "So… what's it like?"
"What?"
George kept his back to Al when he said, "Sex with a guy, what's it like?"
Al's fingers froze over the keyboard. He couldn't figure out what exactly his uncle was asking. Why would he want to know this?
George finally turned. "I know it sounds crazy, but Fred promised he'd tell me all about it, but, well, you know… he never got the chance."
"I'm not Fred," Al said. He didn't mean to sound harsh, but he didn't have the relationship with George that he was sure his twin had had.
"I know you're not Fred, but who else is ever going to tell me this stuff? Come on, I'm a curious guy. I mean, I've done anal stuff with Angelina, you know… fucked her back door, so I know what that feels like, but what's it feel like to have a guy's cock inside you? What's it like to rub cocks together? You do that, right?"
Al stood up. "I… I don't want to talk about this."
He was saved from any more harassment by the ringing of the buzzer announcing a customer had entered the shop. George brushed past him, but was gone only a few moments when he called out, "Hey, Al, did you know about this?"
Al pushed out to the main store. His tenth grade math teacher, Mr. Lupin, was standing in front of the counter, his hands in his pockets, his usual mild grin in place. "Hey, Al. Having a good summer?"
"Really good."
"Lupin here was just telling me that the French Festival Parade Committee is letting Corey Malfoy march for gay rights. Did you know that?" George gave Al a piercing look.
Al's stomach twisted. Corey really should've mentioned something so important. Why would he keep it from him? Thank God Al'd already promised his dad he'd march with him and hand out campaign flyers. "I… no… I didn't know."
"Good kid, that Malfoy boy," Mr. Lupin said. "Fights for what he believes in." He slid his eyes in Al's direction and said. "With my own preferences being what they are, I wouldn't mind marching with him, but the school board might have a problem with that."
Al was momentarily stunned. He knew what Mr. Lupin meant about preferences but he couldn't believe he'd never even heard rumors about the man. It would have been nice over the last few years to know there was someone else like him in town.
George's laugh brought Al back to the conversation. "Why care what the board thinks?" George asked. "After all you're due to retire soon, right? If you want to march, then march."
Lupin shrugged. "Maybe I will. You wouldn’t be able to give me Corey's phone number, would you, Al? So I can ask him about his plans for the parade."
Al's throat constricted. His eyes darted wildly from George to Lupin. Lupin was in the store a lot and George was known to be an awful gossip.
George held up his hands. "I didn't say a word."
Mr. Lupin laughed. "I spend quite a lot of time in Bloomfield. My guy lives there, too." He winked. "I've seen you and Corey together. You make a nice couple. Cute as hell."
Al swallowed hard and nodded, taking a couple of deep breaths, trying to bleed his anger out as he fished his phone from his pocket. He tried to figure out what to say as he dialed Corey's number. When Corey answered, Al said, "Hey, an old teacher of mine is in the store and he's thinking about marching with you in the parade."
Corey was quiet for a moment, and then said, "You're mad, aren't you? I should've told you about the parade, but I didn't want you to freak out. I don’t expect you to march with me or anything, but if you'd like to…."
"Yeah, well, here's Mr. Lupin." Al handed the phone over and disappeared back into the storeroom.
********
Al couldn't stay mad at Corey, and true to his word, Corey didn't seem to expect Al to march with him, though he did give Al a Gay and Proud shirt to wear if he decided to. He even apologized for pushing Al too hard and promised to back off. But Al noticed how a flash of hurt would pass over Corey's features whenever Al insisted they go out in Bloomfield and not in Jackson.
It also became apparent that Al needed three or four days after Corey fucked him to heal enough to go again, but with each time they did it, and it'd been three now, it was easier, and Al got more out of it. In truth, he wanted Corey in him more than his body was ready to handle. Corey offered to let Al top, but Al wasn't ready to take that step yet. He loved what they were doing and found he really liked how Corey took such care with him when they made love.
Corey rolled over and pulled Al to him, kissing the top of his head. "I'm coming to your house tomorrow, okay?"
"What? Why? You know James is coming home tonight. It's better if I only visit you for a while."
"That's exactly the reason I'm coming over. Would you rather he meet me at your house or when we're out somewhere?"
Al groaned. He rolled onto his stomach, cushioned his head with his arms, and said, "You're right, but he's going to be an ass, you know."
Corey laughed. He bent forward and slapped Al's rear. "He may be an ass, but he has nothing on yours."
********
"I'm still not sure this is a good idea," Al said. He'd met Corey outside, hoping to talk him into going somewhere other than into Al's house. "James has been in a bad mood since he got home. He met some girl in France and didn't want to leave her, but mom and dad said he had to come back for college."
Corey looked toward the house. "I guess I get to meet him at his worst, then." He grabbed Al's hand and laced their fingers together.
Al leaned in and kissed Corey. "Are you sure about this?"
Before Corey could answer, the door opened and James loped down the steps. He glared at them and said, "I heard there was a cocksucker coming over, so I thought I'd get away before he came." He raked his gaze up and down Corey. "I guess I didn't make it out in time."
Al stepped forward, his hands balled into fists. "Don't be such a stupid fucker."
James narrowed his eyes and grinned. "Of course, I should be used to having a cocksucker in the house, since my brother is a fucking pansy."
The door opened again and Harry stepped out onto the porch. He stood on the top step, arms folded across his chest. "James, I told you not to give Al and Corey a hard time. Just because you're upset doesn't-"
James shook his head. "I leave for a few weeks and come home to this? Jesus, Dad, how can you put up with this shit? I sure as hell can't." He turned and strode toward his car, flipping the bird when his father tried to call him back.
Even after James left, there was trouble, as if Al's brother had brought it all home with him. After lunch, Rose called to tell Al to check the town's online Topix page. The newest post was titled, What Sheriff Potter's Trying to Hide. It read:
Has anyone else noticed that one of Potter's boys is hanging out with that queer from Bloomfield? Looks like Sheriff Potter has enough trouble keeping his family in line, how can we expect him to run the police force? I don't know about you, but I'm voting Macmillan for Sheriff.
The comments to the post weren't much better, just a bunch of gay bashing and people throwing both his and James's names around. The consensus was it was Al Potter who was gay, but really, that was no surprise. No one could have missed the way James chased pretty much anything female.
Corey swore under his breath and lightly rubbed the back of Al's neck.
"I can't believe this," Al said. He slumped back on the couch. "What do we do? It's not right that people won't vote for my dad because of me."
"Hold on. I'll be right back." Corey stood and strode from the room, returning a moment later with Al's parents. He plucked the laptop from Al and showed them the page.
Harry's frown grew deeper the longer he read, until he finally snapped the computer closed. "You know who's behind this, don't you?" he asked Ginny.
"Macmillan, I suspect."
"Of course he is. Great guy, huh? Attacks my kids just to try to get a few votes."
"I'm sorry, Dad," Al said.
"Sorry for what? You didn't do a damned thing wrong."
Corey nudged Al. "Come on, let's head for Bloomfield. We'll go out. How about pizza at Zabini's?" He turned toward Harry and Ginny. "Would you like to come along?"
Ginny smiled, but shook her head. "You two go. I'm trying out a new baguette recipe for the festival. I think this is the one."
Al couldn't understand how they could all be so nonchalant about this. To him it felt like the bottom was dropping out of his world. Everyone would figure it out now, everyone in town would know he's gay. His parents would suffer for it, and God, what if even Uncle George lost customers? "I should call Uncle George and warn him."
"Warn him about what?" Corey asked.
"He's saddled with me. Everyone knows I work for him. He might lose business when people find out I'm gay. Or what if someone vandalizes his store?"
"No one's going to do that, Al. You're blowing this out of proportion." Ginny said.
She might think so, but she hadn't spent years dreading the repercussions his decisions would have on the people he loved. Al only shook his head.
"Your mom's right," Corey said. "Mr. Jones didn't lose customers at his store when I started working there, and no one's refused to let me bag their groceries because I'm gay." He chuckled.
Al tried to think clearly. Of course the world wasn't going to come to end because he'd been pushed out of the closet. Some people might be mean to him or shun him, but he was pretty sure most wouldn't. "Okay. Let's go get some pizza. But, Mom, would you call Uncle George anyway? Tell him it's all right to tell Angelina now."
********
As Corey drove them through Jackson, Al watched the people they passed. No one paid them any attention, so he relaxed a little, slumped into the passenger seat.
"This really is good news," Corey said. "You don’t have to hide from anyone now. We could walk down this very street, holding hands, and no one would be shocked."
Al grunted in answer, not sure how he should respond. How could this be better than what they'd had? Better was him and Corey alone at Corey's house, making love. Better was going out in Bloomfield with Rose and Vince, and no one paying them any mind. Better certainly wouldn't be people staring at him because he was holding hands with another guy.
They were almost out of town when they had to stop for a traffic light. "Is that your brother in the car over there?" Corey asked.
Sure enough, James and a bunch of his friends were in a car across the intersection. James rolled down the passenger window, pushed himself most of the way out, and yelled, "Hey everyone. I'm not the gay Potter, that'd be my pansy-fucking, queer brother, Al." He sneered and pointed toward Al, then laughed and slid back into the car just as the light changed.
"Bastard," Corey muttered.
"I told you he was."
"If anyone's going to lose the election for your father, it's him."
*******
Zabini's was packed. Al tried not to look at any of the other customers as he and Corey were shown to their table. The waitress gave them a big smile and said, "You never told me you were a Potter boy. Whole town's buzzin' about our Corey making trouble for the Jackson County Sheriff."
"Janine, I'm not making a bit of trouble." Corey smiled and reached across the table, taking hold of Al's hand. "It can't be trouble when it's love, can it?"
Janine giggled. She tapped Corey's arm with her pencil. "You've got your own trouble brewing right here." She pointed across the restaurant to where Vanessa Edgecomb was sitting at a table with some pimply boy. "She's been spouting off all afternoon about how she's the one who tipped everyone off about him." She nodded toward Al.
Al had to take a deep breath. His heart felt like it might pound its way right out of his chest.
Corey's hand tightened on his. "God, she's a bitch."
Janine nodded. "She is. So, what can I get ya?"
As Corey ordered, Al watched Vanessa. She looked over at him, smiled, winked, and then made a show of pointing her phone at him. Al read her lips when she said, "I'll upload this to YouTube."
Al wanted to tell Corey, but Corey would probably only smile and wave at the camera phone, or worse yet, lean across the table and kiss him. So, he tried to concentrate on what Corey was saying, but he could barely hear him over the echo of his heartbeat thudding in his ears.
Janine had just brought their drinks over when Al saw a flash of red hair at the restaurant's door. The only people he knew with red hair were either Potters or Weasleys. He tried to calm himself. Really, there must be some red haired people in Bloomfield, at least one or two. He hardly dared look, fearing James had found them. When he did peek over, what he saw might not be as bad as James, but it wasn't good.
Uncle Percy was staring at Al, while at the same time motioning for Aunt Audrey to take Molly and Lucy back out the door. When his wife and daughters were gone, Uncle Percy strode over to Al. "I don’t judge people, Al, you know I don't," he said. His voice carried through the room, helped by everyone else's sudden silence.
Al wasn't sure if Percy was kidding or serious. He judged everyone.
"But you have to at least think about what this," he motioned at Corey, "will do to your grandparents."
"Grandma Potter's fine with me being gay," Al said, hoping to keep his voice low enough that at least his end of the conversation wouldn’t be broadcast. "She's even met Corey."
"I didn't mean Lily. I meant my parents. They're not as liberal as your Grandma Potter. What do you think this is going to do to them?"
"If they love me, they won't care," Al said. He was feeling so lightheaded he was almost slurring his words.
"He's right, you know," Corey said. "Anyone who really loves Al will be happy if he's happy."
Percy turned to Corey. "I have some respect for you because you fight for what you believe in. I just wish your ideas weren't so radical."
"What? People in love should be allowed to marry? Yeah, that's pretty radical. Or is it that no one should be discriminated against? Because that's some pretty new stuff, there."
Percy narrowed his eyes. He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, but then spun on his heel and strode back out of the restaurant.
"One of your uncles? He's strung a little tight, isn't he?"
Al didn't answer. He glanced around the restaurant. Everyone was turned their way, looking at them like they were the favorite exhibit in the zoo. God, Al hated to be stared at. He'd never wanted to be the center of attention. Some people were whispering behind their hands. Some had their phones out, talking excitedly. Vanessa still had hers pointing at them. Al tugged at his collar. When had it gotten so hot? He pulled his hand from Corey and wiped it down his shirt. He needed to do something, but couldn't figure out what. It felt like his brain was immersed in murky water. He gasped for breath, needed some fresh air. His gaze met Vanessa's. She smiled as she loudly said, "Serves the faggots right."
Al lurched to standing, knocking over his chair. "I can't do this," he said. "I can't live like this. I'm sorry, Corey. I love you, I really do, but I can't do this to my family. Christ… I think I'm going to be sick."
He didn't wait for Corey to respond. He ran from the restaurant into the warm evening air. Even that felt stifling. He clapped a hand over his mouth to keep the bile from rising and then darted down an alley. As he raced up and down unfamiliar side streets, all he could think about were the looks on everyone's faces as they stared at him, and Corey's shocked expression that morphed into pain as he realized Al was leaving.
He walked as far as he could, letting the night swallow him up, not even sure where he was, not really caring. When his legs wouldn’t go any farther, he slumped down onto the grassy shoulder of the road. He ignored his phone as it rang for the twentieth time, dropped his head into his hands, and sobbed.
TBC
"Chapter 10"
End Note: For those of you not familiar with the internet site, Topix, go to www.topix.com. Click on the little orange flag at the top that prompts you to change the town. Type in any town, state in the US. Scroll down to recent discussions. I really think the worst of the worst post on these pages, so it wouldn't be surprising that a story like the one in this chapter would show up on there.
Author: asnowyowl
Title: The Summer Al Began Tried to Live: Chapter 9
Pairing: Albus Severus/Scorpius
Summary: In the summer before college, Al Potter finally begins living, but can he find the courage to show his family who he really is? In this chapter: God, I've never written such a long sex scene.
Warnings: SEX! And then some bigotry
Rating: This chapter: NC17
Beta: bk7brokemybrain. I did a lot of work on it after I got it back from her, so hopefully I didn't make any new mistakes.
Word Count: 6294
Notes: Written for week nine of the 2009 ass_carnival. I plan on writing in this verse for the full 10 weeks, completing the fic toward the end of August.
Prompts used: Person: Remus Lupin, Place: A Zoo, Object two: Saddle, Emotion: Predatory, Freeform: Branded
Previous chapters:
"Chapter 1"
"Chapter 2"
"Chapter 3"
"Chapter 4"
"Chapter 5"
"Chapter 6"
"Chapter 7"
"Chapter 8"
The Summer Al Began Tried to Live. Chapter 9
So much for Mrs. Malfoy making sure they didn't sleep in the same bed. Corey didn't even try to hide the fact that they would be sleeping together. When he said goodnight to his mother and grabbed Al's hand, she simply raised one eyebrow and asked, "Can I trust you two?"
"Trust us to do what?" Corey asked.
Instead of answering Corey, she turned to Al. "Your parents are going to kill me for this, aren't they?"
Al shrugged. Up until today, he'd have said yes, but his dad was trying to be open-minded.
"Okay. Just, for God's sakes, be safe and keep it down."
Corey laughed and dragged Al from the living room. Instead of taking him to his room, Corey ushered him into the guest bedroom. "At least if your parents ask, you can tell them you didn't sleep in my bed." He locked the door. "Anyway, this one has an attached bathroom, so when we need to clean up, we don't have to be in the hallway where mom might see us."
Al's nerves were still on edge after their fight. He kept imagining how badly the night could have turned out. He could be home in bed right now, alone, sick with worry. Being allowed to spend the night with Corey couldn’t have come at a better time. Maybe by morning he'd feel secure again. He fingered the hem of his t-shirt, wanting to pull it off, needing to be naked and close to Corey, but he hesitated, waiting for Corey's cues.
Corey only stood in the middle of the room, smiling.
He took a deep breath and pulled the shirt over his head. Glancing at Corey, Al saw his smile had widened. Emboldened, he removed his jeans, taking underwear and socks along with them.
"Come here," Corey said. He opened his arms.
Al crossed the room and pressed against Corey, wrapping his arms around him, resting his forehead on Corey's shoulder.
Corey ran his hands up and down Al's bare back. "Do you think I'm terrible?"
"For what?"
"For pushing you so hard. For not letting you hide." Corey's hands made another circuit down Al's back, turning just before they met the swell of his cheeks.
Al closed his eyes. Every nerve in his body was on fire from the way he was being stroked. He unabashedly pressed his hardening cock against Corey, wishing Corey would just take his clothes off, too. In a way, though, Al was glad Corey didn't, as the rough cotton of Corey's jeans was delicious against his prick. "I don’t think you're terrible. I could never think that. You must think I'm a chicken-shit, though."
"Mom tells me to remember not everyone's like me." His fingers brushed the ends of Al's hair and began descending again, this time on a wider route, tickling at Al's sides.
Al squirmed. He chuckled when Corey's fingers darted down his ribs. "This isn't the greatest time to talk about your mom."
Corey snorted. "True." His hands ran over Al's hips and then swept across the very top of his buttocks.
God, Al couldn't believe Corey was teasing him like this, not when Corey had voiced a definite distaste for anything anal. But with every swipe of his hands, Corey was getting closer to Al's ass, closer to a spot Al wished he'd touch. When Corey's hands started their route back up, Al groaned. They were moving in the wrong direction. He yearned for Corey to touch his entrance, despite what Corey had told him before.
When Corey said, "That's it, Al, rub against me," Al realized he'd been doing just that. He was canting his hips, thrusting shallowly against Corey.
Corey's fingers stopped their upward journey to rub circles between Al's shoulder blades. "I want you to feel good. You're so damned sexy, you know that?" His hands traced back down the center of Al's back. For an interminable moment, they hovered just at the start of Al's crack and then moved back up. "You're so sexy and you don't even know it."
Al groaned. His whole being was focused on where his cock met Corey's body and where Corey's fingers danced along his skin, teasing him. "Please," he gasped.
"Please what? What do you want, Al?" Corey's hands slowed. They were on the descent again, but going so slowly Al wanted to scream. "Tell me what you want."
"You. I just want you." Al's hips shuddered as his cock slipped over and pressed, through jeans and cotton shirt, against Corey's hip bone. He pushed against that hardness, not caring that it wasn't Corey's cock. For once he wasn't worrying about Corey's pleasure, only his own, but that was okay. That seemed to be what Corey wanted. If he wanted more, he'd surely be undressed.
"You have me," Corey said, his lips sliding over Al's neck as he spoke. "You really do have me, you know."
Al wasn't sure what Corey meant. Was he talking about sex or something more? He was too far into his own need to figure it out.
Corey's fingers dipped lower than before, danced into the very top of Al's crease, parting his cheeks, but still not dipping as far down as Al wanted. "I mean that, you know. You do have me. All of me."
Al squirmed. Corey's touch was so light, and Al's flesh so sensitive, he couldn't hope to hold still. His hips moved faster. He didn't want this strange and wonderful moment to end, but he really needed to come. Thoughts flicked randomly through his mind. What was Corey talking about? Why was he teasing at Al's ass? Why was he still dressed? And, God, why didn't Al have a condom on? He wanted to come so badly. He really needed one. "Condom," he hissed.
"Shhhh. Don't worry. You're not touching my bare skin." Corey's hands kneaded Al's cheeks, pulling them apart and then pressing them together. "Does it feel good when I touch you here?"
Al tried to slow himself, but he was so close it was like trying to stop a runaway train by dragging his foot along the ground. Everything Corey was doing felt so right. "Yesss… so good."
"Do you want me to keep touching you here, Al?" Corey's fingers dipped shallowly into his crease, not quite all the way, but so, so close.
"Fuck, yes." Al couldn't stop any longer. He pressed his cock hard against Corey, dragged it up and down on the rough fabric, nearly screamed at the sensation. He knew somewhere, though hazily, that he was probably rubbing the tender skin raw.
"I love you, Al," Corey whispered just as his fingers dove deeper and brushed against Al's entrance, finally made contact with the flesh Al'd been dreaming about him touching.
Al gasped. Just that light touch was enough for him to know that he wanted this with Corey - he wanted Corey inside him, but right now there wasn't time for that. Right now he was tipping over the edge, caught in that place of almost there. Another thrust, the feel of Corey's finger pressing lightly against his entrance, and Al found that edge and tipped over it, feeling like his world was exploding. His cock pulsed over and over, spreading his come between them.
He leaned against Corey, trying to catch his breath, trying to understand what had happened. His mind reeled around the words Corey had just said, but it seemed like the moment had passed to say them back. He wanted to tell Corey that he was in love, too, wanted to tell him that he'd never been happier, but his mouth wouldn't form the words. Finally, he whispered, "What was that?"
Corey's chuckle vibrated through Al's body. "That was the sexiest thing I've ever even imagined doing."
"Yeah, but…." Al trailed a hand from Corey's shoulder to his groin, forgetting about the wetness between them until his fingers ran through his own come. He brushed against the hard bulge in Corey's jeans. "I haven't even touched you yet."
"We'll get to that soon." Corey's hands were still on Al's ass, cupping his cheeks, lightly massaging.
Al lifted his head and pulled back enough to see Corey's face. "You touched me back there."
Corey grinned, looking as if he'd just gotten a present he'd been waiting for for years. "Yeah, I did."
"And you said…."
"I said I love you."
Al nodded. "And you really do?"
"I really do. Why would you question that?"
Al shrugged. "I usually don't get what I want."
Corey leaned forward and kissed Al lightly. "And what did I give you that you wanted? Was it the words or the actions?"
Al wanted to say it was both, but he thought that might sound shallow. After all, having his ass touched shouldn't rate as high as being told that he was loved. He raised his clean hand to Corey's face. "I love you, too."
Corey's smile got bigger, but then morphed into a mischievous grin as his eyes took on a predatory look. "Good! So are you going to let me fuck you?"
Al's throat was so tight, he didn't think he could answer. Instead, he lunged forward and crashed his lips to Corey's, realizing it was probably a little too enthusiastic when their teeth clicked together. Between kisses, Al found his voice and whispered, "Yes. I want you to fuck me." When Corey didn't answer right away, Al kissed him once more and then said, "When? Right now?"
Corey leaned back and rubbed up and down Al's arms. "A bath first, I think." His eyes flicked down Al's body. "You're a little sticky and I'm sweaty as hell just from watching you."
********
Al hadn't taken a bath with anyone since James and he were toddlers, and that wasn't the image he wanted in his head as he leaned back against Corey in the bathtub. It was an old tub, one of those that sat on clawed feet. It was a little small for them, but if they pressed close, they fit.
Corey ran a soapy washcloth lightly over Al's skin. "We're really going to do this? You're going to let me fuck you?"
"I want it, but I thought you didn't."
"I do, with you. I want to be as close to you as I can possibly get."
Al enjoyed the sensation of Corey cleaning him. He felt gluttonous, feasting on all the pleasure, giving none in return, but Corey wasn't complaining. Anyway, Corey's cock was nestled against the small of Al's back, hot and hard and slippery, and every once in a while, Corey would shift, drag his prick along Al's back, and shudder lightly.
"I can't wait to be inside you," Corey whispered. He dunked the washcloth into the water, re-warming and re-wetting it, and then brought it up to rub lightly over Al's cock. "Seeing you under me, knowing I'm the first to ever touch you there…." He moved the washcloth down over Al's balls and then pressed it momentarily to his perineum.
Al moaned and wriggled. He pressed back against Corey's erection, imagining what it would feel like inside him. His own cock was hardening, bobbing above the surface of the water.
Soapy fingers caressed up Al's side until they slid teasingly around a nipple. The washcloth dipped lower, swirled around Al's entrance. Warm breath puffed over Al's ear when Corey said, "I want to fuck you so bad. It's all I've been able to think about lately."
********
Al was so hard, hard and wanting and almost out of his mind with anticipation. They hadn't bothered drying off after the bath, so their naked bodies were moist and humid. The soft mattress under Al's back felt like it was cocooning him.
Corey unrolled a condom onto each of them and then lowered himself on top of Al, covering him and kissing him.
This was Al's favorite position, Corey on top of him, weighing him down, taking control and making Al feel wanted. He moaned and spread his legs so Corey settled between them.
"Oh, fuck," Corey said. "I want this so bad."
Al sucked on Corey's top lip lightly and then released it. "I need you."
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
When Corey sat up, Al quashed his embarrassment and pulled his knees to his chest. He'd never felt so exposed, but it was all right. Corey loved him, he'd take care of him.
Corey looked at him with darkened eyes, biting his lip. He flipped open the container of lube and squirted some directly on Al's entrance.
Al yelped and shivered at the sensation of cold gel.
"Oh, God, I'm sorry." Corey's eyes widened almost comically.
Al chuckled. A bit of tension drained from him and he relaxed against the bed. It was always good to remember that Corey was only human, flawed just like he was. "It's okay."
Corey continued nibbling on his own bottom lip. He nodded and then trailed a finger through the lube over Al's entrance. "It quivered when I touched it," he whispered.
Al laughed harder. Corey sounded so young and unsure. "I think that means it wants you."
Corey gave Al a hard look. "I'm being serious. This is serious stuff."
"Why?" Al asked. He grinned up at Corey, feeling for the first time that they were on equal footing sexually. It was making him brave to see Corey so unsure. "It's sex, it's supposed to be good. It doesn't have to be all serious."
Corey shook his head, the finger on Al's entrance stilled. "It's not just sex, it's making love."
"Yeah, it is." Al said. He wriggled his hips, trying to get Corey moving again. "Now get on with it, Scorpius."
Corey finally smiled. "You're asking for it, Albus."
Al let go of one of his thighs and reached up to caress Corey's cheek. "Yeah, I am."
They were quiet for a while after that, the only noises were gasps and heavy breaths as Corey lightly rubbed Al's entrance and then dipped a finger inside. Al watched as Corey's nostril's flared and he grinned. He could only imagine how warm and tight it must be inside his body.
Having one finger inside him felt strange, but didn't hurt. Corey carefully moved it in and out and then pressed against Al's walls. He whispered, "I found it," just as a spark raced up Al's spine. "How does that feel?" Corey asked.
"Amazing."
Two fingers were a bit of a stretch, but Al could handle them. He had to concentrate really hard not to try to expel them, and when he was unsuccessful and bore down, they both laughed lightly.
Three fingers hurt. Al pulled long breaths in through his nose and screwed his eyes closed, willing his body to allow Corey to relax him.
"Should I stop?"
Al shook his head. He didn’t dare open his eyes and show Corey the tears that were welling up. He knew if Corey realized he was in pain, he'd stop and they might never get here again. "Just go slow, okay?"
"Of course."
It got better after a few moments. Al's body suddenly accepted the invasion. His muscles loosened and quivered. Corey brushed his prostate enough to keep Al on the fringes of being turned on, though he'd lost his erection. If he wasn't concentrating so hard on staying relaxed, he might have found the sight of his flaccid prick engulfed in a stretched out condom funny. As it was, he could barely think at all.
When it seemed Corey might have settled in to finger him all night, Al lifted his hips and said, "I'm ready."
"Are you sure?" Corey pulled his fingers out.
It was strange for Al to feel so empty. It was like his body wanted part of Corey in it, and missed him now that he was gone. He lifted up and accepted a long, sweet kiss before lying back down and watching as Corey spread a large amount of lube over his prick.
If Al thought three fingers hurt, then a cock was almost unbearable. He panted like he'd seen women in movies do when they were giving birth to unreasonably large babies. He felt every millimeter of Corey's cock as it slowly slid inside him. He kept telling himself this is what he wanted, he had always wanted to be taken, to belong to someone in this way, and it was only right that it was Corey - that he belong to Corey.
"I'm all the way in. Are you okay? Do you want me to pull back out?" Corey's voice was high and thin. It sounded unnatural.
Al shook his head. "Just give me a minute." He reached out blindly and found Corey's arms. He wrapped his hands around them to anchor himself. He could feel Corey's muscles shaking. He knew it was taking all of Corey's willpower to not move. Slowly, Al's muscles loosened, accepted Corey's intrusion. Finally, when the pain had diminished to a low burn, he nodded. "I'm ready."
Corey's thrusts were slow and hesitant at first, giving Al more time to get used to the feeling. Al might have thought Corey wasn't overly affected by what they were doing, if it wasn't for the way his every exhale came out as a strangled whine, or the way his eyes were set in concentrated determination. After several thrusts, Corey whispered, "I think I need to go faster, Al."
Al nodded. He could take this, he was sure he could. He opened his eyes, needing to see Corey.
Corey breathed in through his nose and pushed in harder. His hips stuttered as he pulled shallowly back and then thrust again.
As Corey's thrusts became harder and faster, Al's body and mind responded. His cock hardened again, warmth pooled in his belly. He chanted "I love you," as he lifted his hips to meet Corey's thrusts, wouldn't stop doing that even though their rhythm was a little off. He couldn't help himself, he wanted Corey deeper and more, strove for that brush against his prostate that came every few thrusts.
Corey's low whining escalated to stuttered grunts. His hips rolled and pounded. "Jesus, Al… Jesus, it's so good." A few more thrusts and he was yelling, screaming out Al's name. His hips stuttered, and then he was quiet and still, except for his fingers biting into Al's hips.
It was the most amazing thing. Al never considered that he had nerves in his ass that would allow him to feel so much. He was sure he felt Corey's cock spasm inside him, certain that he felt the moment Corey came. Everything was hot and perfect, and it was like he was being branded, being made Corey's. He groaned and panted along with Corey, carried away on the moment.
Corey collapsed on top of him. "That was amazing. You're amazing. Just let me catch my breath and I'll take care of you."
Soon, Al was moaning and arching as Corey engulfed his cock in his mouth.
********
It was bizarre to leave Corey's house and head straight to the Sugar Shack, but Al was scheduled to work at ten. It was even weirder when he sat in the chair in front of George's computer and felt a twinge of tenderness in his ass. He wondered how long it would take for the soreness to leave so he could do it all over again. He felt like he had after his first couple of dates with Corey: scattered, unable to think about anything else.
"I heard you spent last night with your guy." George knocked into him with his hip and waggled his eyebrows when Al looked up.
"Yeah, I did."
George moved away. He began fiddling with the candy molds and decorating tips that littered the shelves of the storeroom. "So… what's it like?"
"What?"
George kept his back to Al when he said, "Sex with a guy, what's it like?"
Al's fingers froze over the keyboard. He couldn't figure out what exactly his uncle was asking. Why would he want to know this?
George finally turned. "I know it sounds crazy, but Fred promised he'd tell me all about it, but, well, you know… he never got the chance."
"I'm not Fred," Al said. He didn't mean to sound harsh, but he didn't have the relationship with George that he was sure his twin had had.
"I know you're not Fred, but who else is ever going to tell me this stuff? Come on, I'm a curious guy. I mean, I've done anal stuff with Angelina, you know… fucked her back door, so I know what that feels like, but what's it feel like to have a guy's cock inside you? What's it like to rub cocks together? You do that, right?"
Al stood up. "I… I don't want to talk about this."
He was saved from any more harassment by the ringing of the buzzer announcing a customer had entered the shop. George brushed past him, but was gone only a few moments when he called out, "Hey, Al, did you know about this?"
Al pushed out to the main store. His tenth grade math teacher, Mr. Lupin, was standing in front of the counter, his hands in his pockets, his usual mild grin in place. "Hey, Al. Having a good summer?"
"Really good."
"Lupin here was just telling me that the French Festival Parade Committee is letting Corey Malfoy march for gay rights. Did you know that?" George gave Al a piercing look.
Al's stomach twisted. Corey really should've mentioned something so important. Why would he keep it from him? Thank God Al'd already promised his dad he'd march with him and hand out campaign flyers. "I… no… I didn't know."
"Good kid, that Malfoy boy," Mr. Lupin said. "Fights for what he believes in." He slid his eyes in Al's direction and said. "With my own preferences being what they are, I wouldn't mind marching with him, but the school board might have a problem with that."
Al was momentarily stunned. He knew what Mr. Lupin meant about preferences but he couldn't believe he'd never even heard rumors about the man. It would have been nice over the last few years to know there was someone else like him in town.
George's laugh brought Al back to the conversation. "Why care what the board thinks?" George asked. "After all you're due to retire soon, right? If you want to march, then march."
Lupin shrugged. "Maybe I will. You wouldn’t be able to give me Corey's phone number, would you, Al? So I can ask him about his plans for the parade."
Al's throat constricted. His eyes darted wildly from George to Lupin. Lupin was in the store a lot and George was known to be an awful gossip.
George held up his hands. "I didn't say a word."
Mr. Lupin laughed. "I spend quite a lot of time in Bloomfield. My guy lives there, too." He winked. "I've seen you and Corey together. You make a nice couple. Cute as hell."
Al swallowed hard and nodded, taking a couple of deep breaths, trying to bleed his anger out as he fished his phone from his pocket. He tried to figure out what to say as he dialed Corey's number. When Corey answered, Al said, "Hey, an old teacher of mine is in the store and he's thinking about marching with you in the parade."
Corey was quiet for a moment, and then said, "You're mad, aren't you? I should've told you about the parade, but I didn't want you to freak out. I don’t expect you to march with me or anything, but if you'd like to…."
"Yeah, well, here's Mr. Lupin." Al handed the phone over and disappeared back into the storeroom.
********
Al couldn't stay mad at Corey, and true to his word, Corey didn't seem to expect Al to march with him, though he did give Al a Gay and Proud shirt to wear if he decided to. He even apologized for pushing Al too hard and promised to back off. But Al noticed how a flash of hurt would pass over Corey's features whenever Al insisted they go out in Bloomfield and not in Jackson.
It also became apparent that Al needed three or four days after Corey fucked him to heal enough to go again, but with each time they did it, and it'd been three now, it was easier, and Al got more out of it. In truth, he wanted Corey in him more than his body was ready to handle. Corey offered to let Al top, but Al wasn't ready to take that step yet. He loved what they were doing and found he really liked how Corey took such care with him when they made love.
Corey rolled over and pulled Al to him, kissing the top of his head. "I'm coming to your house tomorrow, okay?"
"What? Why? You know James is coming home tonight. It's better if I only visit you for a while."
"That's exactly the reason I'm coming over. Would you rather he meet me at your house or when we're out somewhere?"
Al groaned. He rolled onto his stomach, cushioned his head with his arms, and said, "You're right, but he's going to be an ass, you know."
Corey laughed. He bent forward and slapped Al's rear. "He may be an ass, but he has nothing on yours."
********
"I'm still not sure this is a good idea," Al said. He'd met Corey outside, hoping to talk him into going somewhere other than into Al's house. "James has been in a bad mood since he got home. He met some girl in France and didn't want to leave her, but mom and dad said he had to come back for college."
Corey looked toward the house. "I guess I get to meet him at his worst, then." He grabbed Al's hand and laced their fingers together.
Al leaned in and kissed Corey. "Are you sure about this?"
Before Corey could answer, the door opened and James loped down the steps. He glared at them and said, "I heard there was a cocksucker coming over, so I thought I'd get away before he came." He raked his gaze up and down Corey. "I guess I didn't make it out in time."
Al stepped forward, his hands balled into fists. "Don't be such a stupid fucker."
James narrowed his eyes and grinned. "Of course, I should be used to having a cocksucker in the house, since my brother is a fucking pansy."
The door opened again and Harry stepped out onto the porch. He stood on the top step, arms folded across his chest. "James, I told you not to give Al and Corey a hard time. Just because you're upset doesn't-"
James shook his head. "I leave for a few weeks and come home to this? Jesus, Dad, how can you put up with this shit? I sure as hell can't." He turned and strode toward his car, flipping the bird when his father tried to call him back.
Even after James left, there was trouble, as if Al's brother had brought it all home with him. After lunch, Rose called to tell Al to check the town's online Topix page. The newest post was titled, What Sheriff Potter's Trying to Hide. It read:
Has anyone else noticed that one of Potter's boys is hanging out with that queer from Bloomfield? Looks like Sheriff Potter has enough trouble keeping his family in line, how can we expect him to run the police force? I don't know about you, but I'm voting Macmillan for Sheriff.
The comments to the post weren't much better, just a bunch of gay bashing and people throwing both his and James's names around. The consensus was it was Al Potter who was gay, but really, that was no surprise. No one could have missed the way James chased pretty much anything female.
Corey swore under his breath and lightly rubbed the back of Al's neck.
"I can't believe this," Al said. He slumped back on the couch. "What do we do? It's not right that people won't vote for my dad because of me."
"Hold on. I'll be right back." Corey stood and strode from the room, returning a moment later with Al's parents. He plucked the laptop from Al and showed them the page.
Harry's frown grew deeper the longer he read, until he finally snapped the computer closed. "You know who's behind this, don't you?" he asked Ginny.
"Macmillan, I suspect."
"Of course he is. Great guy, huh? Attacks my kids just to try to get a few votes."
"I'm sorry, Dad," Al said.
"Sorry for what? You didn't do a damned thing wrong."
Corey nudged Al. "Come on, let's head for Bloomfield. We'll go out. How about pizza at Zabini's?" He turned toward Harry and Ginny. "Would you like to come along?"
Ginny smiled, but shook her head. "You two go. I'm trying out a new baguette recipe for the festival. I think this is the one."
Al couldn't understand how they could all be so nonchalant about this. To him it felt like the bottom was dropping out of his world. Everyone would figure it out now, everyone in town would know he's gay. His parents would suffer for it, and God, what if even Uncle George lost customers? "I should call Uncle George and warn him."
"Warn him about what?" Corey asked.
"He's saddled with me. Everyone knows I work for him. He might lose business when people find out I'm gay. Or what if someone vandalizes his store?"
"No one's going to do that, Al. You're blowing this out of proportion." Ginny said.
She might think so, but she hadn't spent years dreading the repercussions his decisions would have on the people he loved. Al only shook his head.
"Your mom's right," Corey said. "Mr. Jones didn't lose customers at his store when I started working there, and no one's refused to let me bag their groceries because I'm gay." He chuckled.
Al tried to think clearly. Of course the world wasn't going to come to end because he'd been pushed out of the closet. Some people might be mean to him or shun him, but he was pretty sure most wouldn't. "Okay. Let's go get some pizza. But, Mom, would you call Uncle George anyway? Tell him it's all right to tell Angelina now."
********
As Corey drove them through Jackson, Al watched the people they passed. No one paid them any attention, so he relaxed a little, slumped into the passenger seat.
"This really is good news," Corey said. "You don’t have to hide from anyone now. We could walk down this very street, holding hands, and no one would be shocked."
Al grunted in answer, not sure how he should respond. How could this be better than what they'd had? Better was him and Corey alone at Corey's house, making love. Better was going out in Bloomfield with Rose and Vince, and no one paying them any mind. Better certainly wouldn't be people staring at him because he was holding hands with another guy.
They were almost out of town when they had to stop for a traffic light. "Is that your brother in the car over there?" Corey asked.
Sure enough, James and a bunch of his friends were in a car across the intersection. James rolled down the passenger window, pushed himself most of the way out, and yelled, "Hey everyone. I'm not the gay Potter, that'd be my pansy-fucking, queer brother, Al." He sneered and pointed toward Al, then laughed and slid back into the car just as the light changed.
"Bastard," Corey muttered.
"I told you he was."
"If anyone's going to lose the election for your father, it's him."
*******
Zabini's was packed. Al tried not to look at any of the other customers as he and Corey were shown to their table. The waitress gave them a big smile and said, "You never told me you were a Potter boy. Whole town's buzzin' about our Corey making trouble for the Jackson County Sheriff."
"Janine, I'm not making a bit of trouble." Corey smiled and reached across the table, taking hold of Al's hand. "It can't be trouble when it's love, can it?"
Janine giggled. She tapped Corey's arm with her pencil. "You've got your own trouble brewing right here." She pointed across the restaurant to where Vanessa Edgecomb was sitting at a table with some pimply boy. "She's been spouting off all afternoon about how she's the one who tipped everyone off about him." She nodded toward Al.
Al had to take a deep breath. His heart felt like it might pound its way right out of his chest.
Corey's hand tightened on his. "God, she's a bitch."
Janine nodded. "She is. So, what can I get ya?"
As Corey ordered, Al watched Vanessa. She looked over at him, smiled, winked, and then made a show of pointing her phone at him. Al read her lips when she said, "I'll upload this to YouTube."
Al wanted to tell Corey, but Corey would probably only smile and wave at the camera phone, or worse yet, lean across the table and kiss him. So, he tried to concentrate on what Corey was saying, but he could barely hear him over the echo of his heartbeat thudding in his ears.
Janine had just brought their drinks over when Al saw a flash of red hair at the restaurant's door. The only people he knew with red hair were either Potters or Weasleys. He tried to calm himself. Really, there must be some red haired people in Bloomfield, at least one or two. He hardly dared look, fearing James had found them. When he did peek over, what he saw might not be as bad as James, but it wasn't good.
Uncle Percy was staring at Al, while at the same time motioning for Aunt Audrey to take Molly and Lucy back out the door. When his wife and daughters were gone, Uncle Percy strode over to Al. "I don’t judge people, Al, you know I don't," he said. His voice carried through the room, helped by everyone else's sudden silence.
Al wasn't sure if Percy was kidding or serious. He judged everyone.
"But you have to at least think about what this," he motioned at Corey, "will do to your grandparents."
"Grandma Potter's fine with me being gay," Al said, hoping to keep his voice low enough that at least his end of the conversation wouldn’t be broadcast. "She's even met Corey."
"I didn't mean Lily. I meant my parents. They're not as liberal as your Grandma Potter. What do you think this is going to do to them?"
"If they love me, they won't care," Al said. He was feeling so lightheaded he was almost slurring his words.
"He's right, you know," Corey said. "Anyone who really loves Al will be happy if he's happy."
Percy turned to Corey. "I have some respect for you because you fight for what you believe in. I just wish your ideas weren't so radical."
"What? People in love should be allowed to marry? Yeah, that's pretty radical. Or is it that no one should be discriminated against? Because that's some pretty new stuff, there."
Percy narrowed his eyes. He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, but then spun on his heel and strode back out of the restaurant.
"One of your uncles? He's strung a little tight, isn't he?"
Al didn't answer. He glanced around the restaurant. Everyone was turned their way, looking at them like they were the favorite exhibit in the zoo. God, Al hated to be stared at. He'd never wanted to be the center of attention. Some people were whispering behind their hands. Some had their phones out, talking excitedly. Vanessa still had hers pointing at them. Al tugged at his collar. When had it gotten so hot? He pulled his hand from Corey and wiped it down his shirt. He needed to do something, but couldn't figure out what. It felt like his brain was immersed in murky water. He gasped for breath, needed some fresh air. His gaze met Vanessa's. She smiled as she loudly said, "Serves the faggots right."
Al lurched to standing, knocking over his chair. "I can't do this," he said. "I can't live like this. I'm sorry, Corey. I love you, I really do, but I can't do this to my family. Christ… I think I'm going to be sick."
He didn't wait for Corey to respond. He ran from the restaurant into the warm evening air. Even that felt stifling. He clapped a hand over his mouth to keep the bile from rising and then darted down an alley. As he raced up and down unfamiliar side streets, all he could think about were the looks on everyone's faces as they stared at him, and Corey's shocked expression that morphed into pain as he realized Al was leaving.
He walked as far as he could, letting the night swallow him up, not even sure where he was, not really caring. When his legs wouldn’t go any farther, he slumped down onto the grassy shoulder of the road. He ignored his phone as it rang for the twentieth time, dropped his head into his hands, and sobbed.
TBC
"Chapter 10"
End Note: For those of you not familiar with the internet site, Topix, go to www.topix.com. Click on the little orange flag at the top that prompts you to change the town. Type in any town, state in the US. Scroll down to recent discussions. I really think the worst of the worst post on these pages, so it wouldn't be surprising that a story like the one in this chapter would show up on there.